Retail Report: 2017 Regular Session Summary

Delivery license reform, a change in the back-to-school sales tax holiday date and alcohol sales for Sunday brunch topped the retail news that came out of the Alabama Legislature’s 2017 regular session.

The Alabama Retail Association thanks Gov. Kay Ivey, Sen. Paul Sanford and Rep. Paul Lee for hearing Alabama retailers’ plea for delivery license reform. Our members raised the issue, and they acted. As of Aug. 1, retailers can deliver up to $10,000 in merchandise annually to a city before a $100 delivery license will be required.

Of the 1,030 bills introduced in the session that began Feb. 7 and ended May 19, 110 carried the most concern for retailers. An account of how select bills among those fared during the 2017 regular session follows. For the outcomes of all 110 bills, read our tracked bills list.

Next year’s regular session begins Jan. 9, 2018.

For more legislative news of relevance to retailers,
read Retail News for 2017 Regular Session.


RETAIL NEWS FOR 2017 REGULAR SESSION

 

STATE LAW

Delivery license reform victory for small retailers (alabamaretail.org)

Back-to-school tax holiday moves to July (alabamaretail.org)

Alcohol sales now possible during Sunday brunch (alabamaretail.org)

More than a dozen Sunday alcohol bills become law (alabamaretail.org)

Effective Aug. 1: Revisions to pharmacy practices, adjustable focus eyewear ban (alabamaretail.org)

Medicaid fraud is a Class C felony starting July 1 (alabamaretail.org)

NOT LAW

Attempts to raise gas tax for roads fail to gain traction (alabamaretail.org)

ABC stores remain; Shipping wine to consumers still not allowed (alabamaretail.org)

Unitary combined reporting never even made it out of committee (alabamaretail.org)

Bills that died in 2017 could return in 2018 (alabamaretail.org)

FEDERAL

Debit swipe fee limits safe for now (alabamaretail.org)

LEGAL

Alabama’s workers’ comp law intact until Legislature acts (alabamaretail.org)

REGULATORY

 (alabamaretail.org)

ABC board meets June 14 on 5% liquor tax hike (alabamaretail.org)