The Alabama Legislature completed another three-day legislative week Thursday, leaving only four legislative days remaining in the 2022 regular session.
There is some talk that lawmakers may work four straight days next week and not take the traditional week off before sine die (the final day of a session). The intent from Day 1 was to end the session as quickly as possible. All legislative and constitutional offices are on the ballot this year with the primary set for May 24. A regular session is 30 legislative days within 105 calendar days, which makes the last possible day for the regular session April 25. Stretching the session that long would give lawmakers less than a month to be out in their districts campaigning. An early end is coming. How early is yet to be determined.
One record budget, the General Fund, is on its way to the governor, while the other, the education budget, awaits concurrence in the House. If the House goes along with changes the Senate made this week, the governor could have most of next week to make any changes she wants to either.
Another major tax cut also rests with the governor – eliminating the minimum business privilege tax by 2024.
In line for final OK during the last four days is legislation lowering the alcohol server age in restaurants by a year and a bill modeled after the federal INFORM measure.
Keep reading for summaries of these and other issues of interest to retailers, plus this week’s top retail stories.
For legislative and other news of relevance to retailers,
read This Week in Retail News.
THIS WEEK IN RETAIL NEWS
Eliminating $100 annual minimum business privilege tax being paid by 230,000 entities gets final approval (alabamaretail.org)
Allowing 18-year-olds to serve alcohol in responsible-vendor-certified restaurants in line for final OK in final 4 days of session (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama INFORM legislation that seeks to stem tide of stolen goods on online marketplace poised for final consideration (alabamaretail.org)
Senate OKs delivery license for rental/leasing companies, rather than business licenses, in cities where they deliver (alabamaretail.org)
Defining marketplace platform workers as independent contractors back on the governor’s desk after Legislature agrees to executive amendment (alabamaretail.org)
Amazon staff appear to reject union in Alabama, lean toward it in NYC (apnews.com)
ALCOHOL: Alcohol sales for Birmingham food trucks in line for final OK: Lineville & Jackson draft beer now possible; and Senate amends university alcohol production (alabamaretail.org)
Gambling bills unlikely to get vote this session (apnews.com)
Immediate confiscation of unstamped tobacco products gets final OK (alabamaretail.org)
Requiring three, rather than one, weekly work searches for unemployment claimants ready for final OK; minimum wage, other employment bills dead for session (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama sued over delays for unemployment checks, group demands state speed up (al.com)
House final stop for bill requiring gubernatorial approval for future state health emergency orders (alabamaretail.org)
VACCINATION UPDATE: CDC/ADPH recommend second booster for immunocompromised and those 50 up (alabamaretail.org)
Amendment to direct wine shipper law clears Senate panel; time could run out for bill (alabamaretail.org)
Senate next to consider exempting first $6,000 of taxable retirement income from state income tax (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama’s largest General Fund budget funds state employee raises, pays debt (al.com)
Alabama Senate approves $8.2 billion education budget with major raises for experienced teachers (montgomeryadvertiser.com)
Senate Judiciary blocks bills calling for district elections for appellate courts (alabamaretail.org)
U.S. House passes marijuana legalization bill (nbcnews.com)
U.S. House passes bill eliminating mandatory arbitration agreements (jdsupra.com)
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