Alabama Farm Center Legislation In Conference After House Passage

The Alabama Senate voted to send legislation that would establish the governance structure for the Alabama Farm Center to conference committee Thursday after the bill unanimously passed the House of Representatives Tuesday.

SB 219 by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, would give the state Farm Center the same power and abilities already granted to county ag authorities under current law. The bill also creates the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation to operate the Farm Center.

Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Director Brian Hardin said there's still work to be done to pass the legislation, but he hopes the committee conferees will see the benefits of the center.

"The Alabama Farm Center will highlight the importance of agriculture and provide opportunities for kids and families to gather," Hardin said. "The Farm Center will also support workforce and economic development goals in the state by creating jobs and increasing tourism."

SB 219 passed the House 102-0 and was carried by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, (pictured) who sponsored a companion bill. The legislation was sent back to the Senate for concurrence due to amendments addressing the appointment process for Farm Center board members and other concerns.

Hardin commended Rep. Crawford for championing the bill in the House and its successful passage. Hardin also thanked Sen. Shelnutt for working to see the bill get through the Senate despite challenges.

The Senate voted 28-0 Thursday to send the bill to a conference committee following debate from Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, and Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, regarding the board appointment process.

Committee conferees are Sen. Shelnutt, Sen. Smitherman, Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, who is also a farmer, Rep. Crawford, Rep. Sam Jones, D-Mobile, and Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest.

A conference report is expected next week and will be sent to both chambers for a vote.

Gambling Report Passes House, Stalls Amid Confusion In Senate

Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, spoke on the Alabama Senate floor Tuesday in opposition to HB 151 which would expand gambling in state.

Legislation to expand gambling in the state was again on Alabama House and Senate calendars this week following the release of a conference committee report Tuesday.

HB 151 and 152 by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Phenix City, were sent to a conference committee after House- and Senate-passed versions of the legislation couldn't be agreed upon by either chamber. The committee met publicly Tuesday afternoon to discuss changes made to the bills.

The conference report version of HB 151, a constitutional amendment, would:

• create the Alabama Education Lottery
• authorize casino-style electronic games of chance at seven, pre-existing racetrack and bingo locations
• require Gov. Kay Ivey to enter into a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI)
• set a special election for August 20.

The conference report version of HB 152, the enabling legislation, would:

• establish the Alabama Gaming Commission, with a law enforcement arm separate from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
• create the Alabama Lottery Corporation
• allow for "dealer-less" electronic table games at locations across the state

Absent from the conference report is sports betting. However, some experts believe gambling on sports could be permissible onsite at PCI properties.

Alabama Farmers Federation policy opposes all forms of gambling.

Both bills were brought to the House floor Tuesday evening. HB 151 passed with a vote of 72-29 with two not voting. HB 152 passed with a vote of 70-29 with four not voting.

Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Birmingham, spoke in opposition to the bills.

"I feel like these bills basically allow full-scale, Las Vegas-style casino gaming statewide," Mooney said. "It's my personal belief that 40 million Americans are experiencing harm caused by the greed of gaming in our nation. Gambling is recognized as an addiction on the same level as cocaine, heroin and opioids. I believe we need to protect the health and wellbeing of children and their families by restricting gambling."

Several representatives changed their votes on HB 151 from the original count in February. Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Pelham, Rep. Mike Shaw, R-Birmingham, and Rep. Jerry Starnes, R-Prattville, voted 'yes' Tuesday night after voting 'no' in February. Rep. Steve Hurst, R-Munford, and Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, changed to 'no' votes.

Following passage by the House, the Senate took a vote on the report for HB 151. After a vote of 20-15 the measure appeared to fall short of the 21 votes needed to pass a constitutional amendment (CA). After Secretary of the Senate Pat Harris conferred with presiding officer Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth about Senate rules, Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, quickly moved to carry over the bill.

Harris explained the rules following the vote. A CA requires a three-fifths majority to pass, while a conference report requires a simple majority to be adopted. A simple majority was reached during the vote, allowing the report to be adopted, but the 21-vote threshold to pass the CA was not reached, allowing the bill to be carried over for a future vote.

Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, discussed concerns with the bill saying the lottery specifically would take advantage of those less fortunate by "selling hope $3 at a time."

Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, said illegal gambling in Alabama should be solved by enforcing existing laws.

"This is illegal activity, and we should enforce our current laws," Shelnutt said. "We have an enforcement arm that could do that, but they choose not to."

Posting on social media following the vote, Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, discussed his reasons for voting against the legislation.

"The resulting compromise vastly expanded electronic casinos throughout our state and contained significant permissive language that further grew government," Elliott said. "I could not support the conference committee's expansive legislation."

Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, has carried the gambling package in the Senate but voted against the conference report. PCI, based in Albritton’s district, opposes the latest versions of the bills.

The legislation could be addressed in the Senate again before the end of the session. With only one additional “yes” vote needed to pass HB 151, senators are facing heavy pressure from pro-gambling groups and fellow elected leaders.

Federation members are urged to ask their senators to vote 'no' on any upcoming gambling legislation and thank senators who voted against the legislation Tuesday night.

“The conference report still contains major concerns,” said Federation External Affairs Director Brian Hardin. “It would authorize 10 full-scale casinos in Alabama with machines using artificial intelligence rather than dealers, cards and dice. The fate of this package will come down to one or two senators. It’s imperative lawmakers hear from their constituents about the dangers of state-sanctioned gambling.”

Ross Successful In House Runoff Election

Alabama FarmPAC-endorsed candidate Jeana Ross (pictured) emerged victorious after a special election for House District 27 Tuesday.

Ross, a former Alabama secretary of early childhood education, received 53% of the vote against Arab City Councilman Alan Miller. She becomes the new representative for District 27 since there are no Democratic challengers.

The seat became open after Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, won an election in January to the State Senate District 9 seat vacated by former Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield. 

Ross expressed her eagerness to get to work for the people of District 27.

“I am excited to go to work for the people of District 27 with a great commitment to their interests, concerns and values,” Ross said. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to doing so with integrity, passion and determination."

Alabama Budgets Await Final Decisions

Photo by Alexander Willis, Alabama Daily News

Alabama's General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets advanced in the Legislature this week with three days left in the regular session.

The General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2025, SB 67 by Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Chair Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, unanimously passed the House of Representatives Thursday with amendments and will go back to the Senate for concurrence. The House-passed version totals $3.3 billion with all Alabama Farmers Federation priorities level-funded.

The FY25 Education Trust Fund budget, HB 145 by House Ways and Means Education Committee Chair Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, unanimously passed the Senate as substituted Thursday but was shortly sent to a conference committee by the House to address funding questions. The current version of the bill would total $9.3 billion, a 6.8% increase from FY24. Currently, all Federation priorities remain level funded.

Federation State Legislative Programs Director Russ Durrance said he's pleased with the current levels of funding for agriculture and forestry programs.

"A lot of hard work has gone into crafting both budgets, and we appreciate Chairman Albritton and Chairman Garrett for their commitment to agriculture and forestry funding," Durrance said. "We also thank Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Chair Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Chair Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, for guiding the bills out of committee."

Alabama Workforce Pathways Act Sent To Governor

Legislation to create additional high school degree paths to encourage workforce participation was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey this week.

Act 2024-126 by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, (pictured) creates alternative diploma pathways for students focused on career education. Amendments were added to the bill to remove language around students not attending postsecondary institutions and address assessment requirements by higher education institutions and for students grades in school. 

Chesteen told the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee the new pathways would help students wanting to get involved with a trade and help tailor their classes to their desired career path.

“A bit of context as to why this is important to us; in 2021, we had 29,000 students graduate from high school in Alabama, (and) 45% of those students had no post-secondary higher education,” Chesteen said. “Think about it… so basically we’re giving these kids a high school diploma, a pat on the back and say good luck with your minimum-wage job.”

Alabama Farmers Federation Agricultural Legislation Director Preston Roberts thanked Chesteen for developing diploma pathways that promote career and technical education.

"This act aligns with Federation policy to build opportunities for career and technical education in Alabama schools," Roberts said. "It's important students have options to pursue careers in the workforce and be supported through adequate curriculum and educators."

SB 253 is part of a bill package coined "Working for Alabama" with several other bills working their way through the Legislature.

Bills in Brief

Agricultural Fencing Tax Exemption: Act 2024-169 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, was signed by Gov. Kay Ivey this week and will provide tax exemptions on livestock fencing products. The act exempts the sale of fencing materials used in agricultural livestock operations from state sales tax. The legislation exempts up to $25,000 in materials per year and would end in 2029, if not reauthorized. The legislation was championed by the Alabama Cattlemen's Association and supported by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

Alabama Fire College Commission: SB 88 by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, would increase the members of the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission from seven to nine. The bill would add one paid and one volunteer firefighter to the commission. The appointments would be made by the presiding officer of the Senate and would be approved by the full Senate. SB 88 unanimously passed the House and has been sent to Gov. Ivey to be signed.

Lab-Grown Meat Prohibition: SB 23 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, would prohibit the manufacture and sale of cultivated or cultured meat products. SB 23 was sent to Gov. Ivey to be signed into law. The bill defines a cultivated meat product as one that is produced from cultured animal cells. “Lab-grown meat” or “cultured meat” is a developing product which is still being heavily researched. The process involves taking live cells from animals and then culturing those cells in a controlled environment to produce a food product. Federation policy opposes the labeling of any of these products as meat.

Bovine Liability Act: SB 164 by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, would provide limitations of liability for certain actions taken by bovines and their owners. The bill passed the House Tuesday with amendments and received concurrence by the Senate. The bill awaits Gov. Ivey's signature.

Carbon Sequestration: HB 327 by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, officially recognizes an ownership interest in "pore space," defined as small pockets of space located deep in the ground. The bill attaches that ownership interest to the surface owner of the property. This legislation creates the right for the surface owner to sell that pore space and creates a new economic use of land (pore space) that was otherwise being unused. The bill also allows for carbon dioxide storage in underground pore space. The legislation provides for forced pooling of storage sites so long as at least 66% of the owners agree to have CO2 stored under their property. After 10 years and a set of inspections, title to the CO2 under the land would transfer to the State of Alabama. HB 327 passed the Senate Thursday and was sent to Gov. Ivey to be signed. A companion, SB 230, was sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, in the Senate.

The Legislature will reconvene on Tuesday, May 7, for day 28 of a possible 30 days. 

The House will convene at 1 p.m. and Senate will convene at 2 p.m.

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 Brian Hardin - Director, External Affairs Department

 Preston Roberts - Director, Agricultural Legislation

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