Legislation requiring restaurants with food inspection scores below an 85 to post their rating on their drive-through menus is back on a House calendar.

HB225 by Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, and 12 others, is on the House agenda for Thursday, March 26. It had been scheduled for consideration Thursday, March 5, but the House adjourned before debating the bill.

“Restaurants with drive-through windows don’t have to post their scores on the exterior of their establishments,” said Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, explaining the reasoning for the legislation. “Drive-through customers have no knowledge of the health posting.”

The legislation also requires prompt updating when low health scores are issued.

PET DOGS IN OUTDOOR DINING AREAS
The Alabama House approved legislation March 3 to allow pet dogs in outdoor dining areas. The bill awaits consideration by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.

HB209 by Rep. Steve McMillan, R-Bay Minette, sets several conditions under which dogs would be allowed in an outdoor dining space, including if the restaurant owner allows it, there is an entrance to the outdoor area that doesn’t require going through the restaurant to get to it and the dog is on a leash or in a pet carrier.

The House amended the legislation to also require a “prominent sign” that the outdoor dining area is open to use by patrons with pet dogs. McMillan and other proponents said carrying pet dogs to eating establishments has become a lifestyle choice that many are already making without a state law to regulate it. The bill sponsor said he incorporated provisions from other states’ laws into his legislation.

On Thursday, March 12, Sen. Rodger M. Smitherman, D-Birmingham, introduced a companion bill, SB299. It awaits consideration by the Senate Healthcare Committee.

This article is part of the Alabama Retail Report, a communication for Alabama Retail Association members. Not a member? Join us!

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