As it has almost everything for nearly a year, the coronavirus shaped the first week of the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session, from testing lawmakers for the disease to adopting legislation to shield businesses and others from lawsuits related to the pandemic….
Almost a month of 2021 is behind us and so much has already happened. The 46th president has been sworn in, and the 117th Congress is two weeks into its new term. Alabama has a new U.S. senator, Tommy Tuberville,…
The Alabama Small Business Development Center Network conducted webinars last week that covered: the updated process for applying for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan; the $10,000 forgivable advance; and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the CARES Act, forgivable…
At 10 this morning, the state and the city of Montgomery announced that a city resident has tested positive for the coronavirus. The cities of Montgomery and Pike Road have canceled all city-sponsored events. The state is asking all state…
Alabama law prevents private, for-profit auditors from recovering costs associated with completing a tax audit directly from a taxpayer. Act No. 2020-31 by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, and Sen. Clay Scofield, R-Guntersville, took effect March 11, 2020. The state, cities…
The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday approved a substantially different version of legislation that requires verification of Alabama employers’ use of the federal E-Verify system. Legislation by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, initially would have required businesses…
A House panel approved legislation March 11 that would have allowed wine to be shipped directly to consumers in Alabama, while a Senate committee conducted a public hearing on the companion legislation. The House Economic Development and Tourism approved HB365 by…
Companion bills to protect Alabamians from pyramid schemes while clearly defining legitimate direct sellers are ready for either chamber to consider when the Alabama Legislature returns from its spring break. Each chambers’ judiciary committees approved the bills Wednesday, March 11,…
A Birmingham lawmaker has proposed that food trucks in his city be allowed to sell alcoholic beverages in open containers in the vicinity of the food truck. Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, introduced HB416 on Tuesday. The bill allows the Alabama…
The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee conducted a public hearing but did not vote Wednesday on one of two bills that have been introduced so far in the 2020 regular session that would remove the sales tax on food….