In the 2024 regular session, your Alabama Retail Association successfully supported the repeal of the annual report requirement for thousands of small corporation and stopped legislation that would have required retailers to accept cash.
Your association also convinced lawmakers to pare down country-of-origin labeling for restaurant and delis and to let grocery stores remain under federal COOL law.
In future sessions, Alabama Retail will continue to advocate for equal sales tax rates for remote internet and brick-and-mortar retailers.
Of the 844 bills introduced in the regular session that began Feb. 6 and ended May 9, more than 50 carried the most concern for retailers. An account of how select bills among those fared during the 2024 regular session follows.
The Alabama Legislature next meets in regular session at noon Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
For legislative news of relevance to retailers,
read Retail News for the 2024 Regular Session
RETAIL NEWS FOR THE 2024 REGULAR SESSION
RED TAPE REDUCTION: Small corporations no longer have to file annual report starting in 2025, avoid paying $150 to accountants to file a $10 report
TAX CREDIT TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION: In 2025, employers who build, operate or subsidize childcare for workers can claim tax credits
GROCERS SPARED FROM TWO LABELING STANDARDS: Restaurants and delis must label fish and shrimp as imported or by country of origin by Oct. 1
CHILD LABOR CHANGES
- COSTLY TO EMPLOY CHILDREN IN UNSAFE WAYS: Civil and criminal child labor law penalties increase as of Oct. 1
- SCHOOL PERMISSION UNNEEDED: Eligibility-to-work form for 14- and 15-year-olds eliminated after June 1
PRODUCT LAWS
- “Battery-powered” devices carrying nicotine e-liquids or certain other substances added to the 21-or-over requirement
- Energy choice law forbids governments from restricting kinds of appliances that can be purchased
- Ban on food products made from cultured animal cells begins Oct. 1
EMPLOYMENT
- Future economic incentive recipients prohibited from voluntarily recognizing unions
- Starting June 1, pharmacy board can set the ratio of technicians to compounding pharmacists
PAYMENT METHOD REMAINS BUSINESS CHOICE; Retailers can continue to accept cash, credit or both
TAX EXEMPTIONS AND REVENUE RAISERS
- LEVEL PLAYING FIELD: Lawmakers choose not to equalize remote online seller and brick-and-mortar tax rates
- OUTDOOR SALES TAX HOLIDAY: ‘Adventure’ sales tax holiday passes House but dies without revenue replacement bill
- MATERNITY TAX EXEMPTION: $11 million-plus tax exemption for baby, maternity & menstrual products dies in final week
- NO LOTTERY/GAMING: Lottery and gambling package to generate education funding falls short of votes
VAPE REGULATION: Lawmakers adjourn without further regulation and enforcement of vaping in Alabama, including ban on vape vending
PHARMACY REIMBURSEMENT: No requirement for PBMs to reimburse pharmacies at cost plus dispensing fees
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: No vote taken on allowing tourism improvement districts statewide that could assess businesses
ALCOHOL: Public hearing held but no vote taken on expanding ready-to-drink cocktail distribution
EMPLOYMENT
- No protected class for workers assaulted while performing their official duties, including food and retail workers
- Bills related to unemployment claim requirements plus hairstyle and body size discrimination among issues that died in 2024 session
DATA: Minimum standards for data brokers and revision of data breach notification do not advance
Previous Alabama Retail Reports
CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS