In a busy legislative week after its spring break, the Alabama Legislature gave final approval to several bills, including one that would allow all businesses to remain open in declared emergencies under the same guidelines. That like many bills considered this week relate…
Before taking a week break and after passing the halfway mark of the 2021 regular session, the Alabama Senate approved the state’s largest ever education budget. The House approved the General Fund budget last week. The Legislature reconvenes Tuesday, March…
At 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, all 67 Alabama counties were placed under a state of emergency related to potential severe weather. According to the National Weather Service, the storm produced 25 tornadoes across Alabama on March 17. Governor’s Proclamation…
At this time last year, Alabama confirmed its first novel coronavirus case. The Legislature immediately went home and didn’t come back for six weeks and then only to pass the state’s budgets. Tragically, the number of COVID-19 cases have grown…
Among introductions in the Alabama Legislature this week were: SB315 by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and HB506 by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, which gives consumers the right to recover the purchase price plus a 10 penalty of a collectible item…
The final version of the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill excludes raising the federal minimum wage. Standalone minimum wage legislation could be forthcoming. The House gave final approval to the American Rescue Plan Act on Wednesday, March 10. The president…
The Alabama House of Representatives is expected to debate the state’s general operating budget (HB309) Tuesday. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said the Legislature’s goal is to pass the General Fund and education budgets by mid-April. For the fourth week, the Alabama…
The first quarterly tax payment for unemployment insurance taxes is due April 30 and delinquent after May 1. Employers should have been able to download their 2021 unemployment insurance rate via the Alabama Department of Labor website in either the…
Both Congress and the Alabama Legislature were in session this week. Congress tackled the next coronavirus relief package, while the Alabama Legislature concentrated mostly on agency, veteran and board reauthorization bills. The Alabama Senate didn’t resume debate on lottery/gaming legislation,…
For the first time ever, holiday sales in Alabama grew by double digits over the previous year. Amid a pandemic, Alabamians spent 11.6% more during November and December 2020 than they did during the same period in 2019. That represents…