In the first year of their term, Alabama lawmakers elected in 2018 tackled hot-button issues in long work weeks and late-night debates. The Alabama Legislature packed much into its three-month 2019 regular session.
The Legislature approved changes in unemployment compensation that will save employers $42.3 million, while never really considering legislation that would have increased the state’s felony shoplifting threshold by up to 400%.
Regulation of the vape industry, a state pay equity law, a clarification for Alabama’s delivery law and lowering the age for commercial truck drivers on Alabama roads were among other issues Alabama retailers followed closely this session.
Of the 1,070 bills introduced in the session that began March 5 and ended May 31, 130 carried the most concern for retailers. It didn’t just seem like more legislation was considered this session, almost 150 more bills were introduced than last year and your association tracked about 30 more bills. An account of how select bills among those fared during the 2019 regular session follows.
Lawmakers are expected to meet in special session on prison and sentencing reform sometime in the fall. Next year’s regular session begins Feb. 4, 2020.
For legislative and other news of relevance to retailers,
read Retail News for the 2019 Regular Session.
RETAIL NEWS FOR THE 2019 REGULAR SESSION
UC changes with $42.3 million annual savings for employers effective in 2020 (alabamaretail.org)
Vaping oversight requires tobacco permit and no sales to minors (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama to become 49th state with pay equity law (alabamaretail.org)
Collaborative practice, PBM oversight, biosimilar substitutions and modern prescription practices now law (alabamaretail.org)
Starting Aug. 1, wet local governments can skip Legislature to authorize Sunday sales; 4 cities gain draft beer in 2019; infused liquor is legal (alabamaretail.org)
Delivery license is per business, not per vehicle (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama to lower age for commercial truck drivers (alabamaretail.org)
Law creates penalties for misrepresenting pets as service animals (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama to study medical marijuana (al.com)
Shoplifting and felony threshold could be addressed in special session (alabamaretail.org)
Raising Simplified Sellers Use Tax by up to 1 percent dies; amnesty update passes (alabamaretail.org)
House never addresses franchisee protection; LLC partnership changes retroactive; business entity changes effective next year (alabamaretail.org)
Legislature opts to study, rather than allow, direct wine shipment (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama Supreme Court rules all computer software is taxable (alabamaretail.org)
Phase-in of electronic WIC benefits continues through early August; Jefferson County in July 1 rollout (alabamaretail.org)
Previous Alabama Retail Reports
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