Legislative Update

The public school and college bond issue passed the house and is now on the governor’s desk. We anticipate she will sign the legislation. This 1.25-billion-dollar bond issue will finance school improvement across Alabama. It is the largest state investment in school facilities since 2007. Over 80% of the money will be spent on K-12 schools, with the rest composing significant investment in state universities and community colleges. AGC worked hard for the passage of this measure, it is great news for your industry and the members of your association.   

On another front SB330 will not move this session. The leadership agreed to abide by their earlier agreement to consider nothing but budgets and local bills during the remainder of the 2020 regular session. This legislation would have provided civil immunity for covered entities operating in Alabama from certain claims and damages claimed by individuals who alleged that they contracted or were exposed to COVID-19. AGC is working with the Governor’s office to seek an Emergency Executive Order that would provide protection similar to what SB330 would have provided. This could be a stopgap measure until the bill is passed.

The plan now is for the legislature to finish their business in a rare Saturday session and go home. However, they are leaving the door open to meet on May 18th, the last day of the 2020 regular session, so they could override any line item vetos by the governor. 

Special Session(s)? There is no dispute that some special sessions will be needed later in the year to deal with unfinished business. One thought is to have one big special session where lawmakers deal with prison reform, gambling, coronavirus relief money, medical marijuana, coronavirus lawsuit immunity and other issues that got lost in the abbreviated regular session. Such a session would make financial and logistical sense for lawmakers. Another thought is that such a big session would make it very difficult to actually pass legislation. Some of the issues, like prison reform and gambling are so sensitive that many legislators would make sure that they did not come up in such a big session. Those pushing for several special sessions feel that lawmakers can deal with one or two issues at a time more efficiently.

Regardless of whether there is one big session or several smaller sessions, there is one issue that is ready to go if the governor is so inclined. That is prisons and criminal justice reform. The abbreviated session killed a package of criminal justice bills that had been on track for passage. Senator Cam Ward, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and sponsor of several of the bills feels that prisons and criminal justice should be its own special session. “If you mix prisons with other stuff, it falls by the wayside. People will look for a reason not to vote for prisons, cause its tough stuff.” Ward said.

So, the good news is the bond money is on its way. And we are hoping the governor will issue an executive order that will provide civil immunity from damages arising from COVID-19.

Again, please stay safe.

Until next time. . . . . . .         

Chris Williams                                   “Legislative Update” is

Director, Governmental Relations                 another example of your

                                                                       Association dollars at work