At midnight Monday, the Alabama Legislature gaveled out its 2021 regular session. On the final day, about 50 bills traveled through the hoppers in each of the two legislative chambers, including a record $2.4 billion General Fund budget. Meanwhile, one week…
Small breweries and brewpubs can triple the amount of beer and distilleries can double the alcohol they can sell daily to a customer for off-premise consumption, starting Aug. 1, under Act No. 2021-454. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation May…
Starting Aug. 1, a retailer’s tobacco permit can be suspended or revoked if the retailer fails to pay the manufacturer or distributor for an invoiced purchase of tobacco products, under Act No. 2021-385. The governor signed SB325 by Sen. Dan Roberts,…
Year-round sales of consumer fireworks and novelties, such as wire sparklers and party poppers, will be possible in Alabama, starting July 12, under Act No. 2021-399. On May 13, Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence,…
The week began with the governor announcing the state’s health order would expire at the end of the month, barring a surge in new COVID-19 cases. The state of emergency related to the pandemic continues until July 6. That means…
Further regulation of pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs, becomes effective July 1 and will apply to pharmacy benefits manager contracts on and after Oct. 1, 2021, under Act No. 2021-341. On May 6, the governor signed the compromise legislation by…
Most of the provisions of a new law providing further oversight for the vape industry take effect Aug. 1. Monday, May 17, the governor signed into law Act No. 2021-453 by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman,…
The Alabama Legislature sent a record education budget to the governor this week and the state’s general operating budget to a conference committee amid two legislative days and a committee day packed with action. Hundreds of bills also died this…
The House Judiciary Committee this week listened to the sponsor present legislation that would make it unlawful for an employer, employment agency or labor organization to discriminate against an applicant or employee based upon the applicant or employee’s race, religion,…
Companion bills that would have created a separate crime of shoplifting in Alabama and regulate recordkeeping for dealers of third-party stored value cards were introduced the final week of April, despite the lack of time needed for the bills to…