Alabama Senate Passes Economic Boycotting Bill | |
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The Alabama Senate passed legislation Thursday to protect Alabama businesses from being compelled to adopt ideological policies or being penalized for not ascribing to such standards.
SB 261 by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, passed by a 27-8 vote, along party lines, after substitute language and amendments were approved to address concerns of financial institutions.
The bill would prohibit government entities from entering into public contracts with companies that engage in economic boycotting; prevent companies from being required to engage in economic boycotting by a government entity or being penalized for failing to do so; and require the state attorney general to fight federal laws that would compel or penalize residents or companies for activities based on economic boycotting criteria.
Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth tweeted praise for the bill following passage.
"The Alabama Senate passed a bill today that requires governments to invest taxpayer dollars based on what brings the largest return on investment, not crazy liberal social agendas based on woke policies," he said. "The anti-ESG bill ensures the interest of AL (Alabama) taxpayers are always protected."
Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin thanked the sponsor and Senate leadership for making SB 261 a priority.
"Sen. Roberts has been a passionate champion for this legislation," Hardin said. "He understands the danger of granting non-governmental organizations and think tanks regulatory power. Sen. Roberts worked with Gov. Ivey's administration and the business community to craft a bill that protects businesses while preserving their ability to compete in the marketplace. We appreciate Lt. Gov. Ainsworth, President Pro Tem Greg Reed and Rules Committee Chair Jabo Waggoner for placing SB 261 on the special order calendar. We also thank Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, for his work as chair of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee, and Sen. Sam Givhan for defending the bill on the Senate floor."
Givhan stepped in to field questions during a Democratic filibuster after Roberts learned of the tragic passing of his longtime friend, Rev. Harry Reeder of Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Vestavia Hills.
Senators voting for passage of SB 261 were: Sens. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore; Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa; Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery; Lance Bell, R-Pell City; Tom Butler, R-Madison; Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise; Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville; Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva; Chris Elliott; R-Josephine; Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville; Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman; Jay Hovey, R-Auburn; Andrew Jones, R-Centre; Keith Kelley, R-Anniston; Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro; Tim Melson, R-Florence; Arthur Orr, R-Decatur; Randy Price; R-Opelika; Greg Reed, R-Jasper; Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook; Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville; David Sessions, R-Grand Bay; Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville; Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia; Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills; April Weaver, R-Brierfield; and Jack Williams, R-Gilmer.
Voting against were: Sens. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton; Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham; Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham; Vivian Figures, D-Mobile; Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery; Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro; Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham; and Robert Stewart, D-Selma.
The measure will now be considered by a House committee.
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Attorney General Marshall Talks ESG with Capitol Journal | |
Attorney General Steve Marshall sat down with Todd Stacy on Alabama Public Television's Capitol Journal Monday to discuss a number of issues, including Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scoring. Click to watch. | |
Sweet Grown Alabama Holds Legislative Reception | |
Elected officials enjoyed Alabama foods during the Sweet Grown Alabama legislative reception Wednesday at the Alabama Cattlemen's Association office. The lunch featured fresh blueberries from Ferguson Farms; pound cake with strawberries from Sunshine Farms; fresh salad with Penton Farms lettuce and Popwell's Produce tomatoes; and lasagna with Trinity Farms beef. Alabama Farmers Federation is a founding member of Sweet Grown Alabama, and Federation President Jimmy Parnell serves on the organization's board of directors. | |
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Senate Passes Short-Term Driver's License Bill
Legislation to help farmers who utilize legal guest workers unanimously passed the Senate Thursday.
SB 266 by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, would reduce the minimum time period an Alabama driver's license can be issued from 160 to 30 days. The change is needed because delays within the H-2A guest worker program have resulted in some farm employees being in the state for shorter periods of time.
A companion bill, HB 432 by Rep. Van Smith, R-Billingsley, awaits action in the full House.
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Revenue Department Halts Police Jurisdiction Tax for 128 Cities | |
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The Alabama Department of Revenue has put 128 municipalities on notice they must halt tax collections in police jurisdictions June 1. The action resulted from the towns failing to file annual reports as required by legislation passed in 2021.
The updated law, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, and supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation, reined in the expansion of police jurisdictions, as well as regulation and taxation by municipalities in those areas. It gave municipalities until March 1, 2023, to file annual reports on their tax activities outside city limits. Despite almost two years of advance notice, 128 towns failed to submit reports, thereby losing taxing authority under the law. Municipalities impacted are:
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Alabama Agriculture and Industries Board appointees were on hand Wednesday for confirmation by the Alabama Senate. From left are Bill Cook, Art Sessions, Senate Confirmations Committee Chairman Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate, Dennis Maze and Hezekiah Early. | |
Ag & Industries Board Appointments Confirmed | |
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The Alabama Senate confirmed the appointments of seven members to the Alabama Board of Agriculture and Industries (AGI) Wednesday, as well as one member to the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Alabama Farmers Federation county leaders appointed to the AGI Board included Federation State Board Member Bill Cook of Montgomery County, Dennis Maze of Blount County, Frankie Speake of Russell County and Mobile County Farmers Federation President Art Sessions. All were reappointed except Sessions, who filled the seat vacated by Dr. Billy Powell. Carnell McAlpine of Lowndes County also was reappointed to represent farmers. Hezekiah Early of Montgomery County and Joseph Harris of Decatur were reappointed to represent industry. All AGI Board terms expires Jan. 16, 2027.
Robert Sharp of Mobile was reappointed to the Alabama Forestry Commission, representing foresters. His term will expire Nov. 5, 2028.
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Sen. David Sessions, right, answers questions about HB 379 on the Senate floor Thursday. | |
Foreign Land Ownership Bill Passes Senate | |
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Legislation prohibiting the purchase of land by countries hostile to the United States passed the Senate Thursday by a 26-7 vote.
HB 379 by House Majority Leader Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, would prohibit countries on the sanctions list of the Office of Foreign Assets Control from acquiring agricultural and forest property in Alabama or acquiring property within 10 miles of a military installation or critical infrastructure.
Senators from both parties praised Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Chairman David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, for shepherding the bill through committee and working with the sponsor and stakeholders to address concerns.
The original bill was specific to China and included prohibitions against property ownership by individual residents. A public hearing by the committee earlier in the week brought to light the potential impact of such language on students, college faculty, physicians and others. The final bill also addressed concerns about limiting the expansion businesses already operating in the state.
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Rural Logging Support Act — SB 76 by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Montgomery, and HB 189 by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, passed their respective chambers Tuesday. The legislation would designate the 15% of proceeds from state license tax now going into the General Fund for investment related to the forest products industry. This bill would direct a portion of the funds to the Alabama Forestry Commission for grants to support logging workforce development, research and implementation of technologies to promote forest product harvesting and transportation efficiency. The remainder would go to counties for maintaining and constructing rural bridges.
Grocery Tax Reduction — The House version of legislation to reduce the state sales tax on food was introduced this week with 100 cosponsors. HB 479 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would reduce the state 4% tax on food one-half of 1% each year, until the rate equals 2%. Reductions in the tax would be paused if growth in total net receipts for the Education Trust Fund in the immediately preceding fiscal year is less than 2%. It uses the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) definition for "food." The Senate version of the bill, SB 257 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, was introduced last month with all 35 senators as co-sponsors. HB 479 has been assigned to the House Ways and Means Education Committee, which Garrett chairs.
Rural and Community Fire Protection Development and Improvement Grant Program — Legislation that would create a mechanism within the Alabama Forestry Commission for the administration of grants to volunteer fire departments passed the House of Representatives Tuesday and received a favorable report from the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee Wednesday. HB 455 by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, would create the Rural and Community Fire Protection Development and Improvement Grant Program funded by the Rural and Community Fire Protection Development and Improvement Fund. The bill does not include funding, rather it creates a system by which lawmakers can allocate resources and deliver grants. Alabama Farmers Federation supports the bill.
Alabama A&M University Trustees — The Alabama Senate approved three Gov. Kay Ivey appointments to the Alabama A&M University Board of Trustees Tuesday. New appointments were Ralph Williams of Irondale, representing the Sixth Congressional District, and Elizabeth Richardson of Madison, representing the Fifth Congressional District. Reappointed was John Hackett of Fairfield, representing the Seventh Congressional District. Williams will serve through Jan. 31, 2028. The terms for Richardson and Hackett expire Jan. 31, 2029.
Sweet Trails Alabama — SB 298 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, passed the Senate Thursday. It would provide parameters for the Alabama Council on Outdoor Recreation to adopt a master plan for greenway trails throughout the state and to coordinate with the Department of Revenue to implement a strictly voluntary system whereby donors could receive tax credits for qualified donations of property. The bill also would create the Sweet Trails Alabama Fund to support the master trails plan. The legislation includes language to protect private property owners from liability resulting from injuries on land designated for public use. Sen. Jones reached out to the Alabama Farmers Federation when drafting the bill to address any private property concerns.
State Cookie Bill — HB 421 by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, unanimously passed the House of Representatives Tuesday and received a favorable report from the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee Wednesday. It would designate The Yellowhammer Cookie as the official state cookie. The legislation stemmed from a class project at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery. The Yellowhammer Cookie contains both peanuts and pecans. Alabama Farmers Federation assisted the sponsor with language highlighting the significance of both agricultural commodities.
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Federation State House Visits
Grassroots engagement is a key to the Alabama Farmers Federation's effectiveness in the public policy arena. Throughout the legislative session, Federation members and staff have met with lawmakers at the State House and gatherings in their districts. This week, Federation Area Organization Director Mac Higginbotham, right, was in Montgomery and met with Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, center, among others.
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Rural Economic Impact Spotlight:
HudsonAlpha Adds Five Companies to Agtech Accelerator
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HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, in partnership with global venture firm and startup accelerator, gener8tor, announced the five startup companies selected for the Spring 2023 cohort of the HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator. The 12-week accelerator began in April and invests $100,000 in five startups at the forefront of the agriculture technology industry.
The concierge business accelerator connects the startups with an engaged program team, a global community, and regional resources from both HudsonAlpha and gener8tor. Participating founders also receive comprehensive and individualized coaching along with access to gener8tor’s national network of mentors, customers, corporate partners and investors, to help them secure customers, accelerate their revenue growth and attract additional funding.
The companies selected for the second cohort in the Huntsville-based program are Terra Bioforge, Khepra, OmniVis, SAVRpak and Bloom Labs. This cohort was selected from among hundreds of applications from around the world. Each went through a rigorous application and interview process before being selected because of their strong performance in four key elements: team, traction, product/service and market opportunity. Read more.
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