The Alabama Legislature’s 2022 regular session ended late Thursday with two new tax cuts on the governor’s desk and one signed into law. Lowering the alcohol server age in restaurants by a year and allowing drive-thru beer and wine and curbside alcohol also made it to the governor’s desk this week.
An Alabama Retail Association supported bill modeled after the federal INFORM measure received final approval shortly before midnight.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed the General Fund budget into law and the education budget is on her desk. Both are the largest in history.
The governor also signed legislation to eliminate the minimum business privilege tax by 2024, while tax cuts for families and retirees await her signature.
The governor has 10 days after the Legislature adjourns to sign or pocket veto bills that reach her fewer than five days before the end of a session. We will summarize the 2022 session after the governor has completed her work.
The Legislature is expected to meet in special session in the fall to appropriate more federal pandemic relief funds.
The state Legislature and its chief executive face election this year with the primary set for May 24 and the general election in November. (See full Election Calendar). The newly elected Legislature will meet in January for an organizational session. The 2023 regular session begins March 7, 2023.
Keep reading for summaries of these and other final week legislative 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
Allowing 18-year-olds to serve alcohol in responsible-vendor-certified restaurants gets final OK (alabamaretail.org)
Curbside alcohol sales plus drive-thru/walk-up beer & wine would be allowed under bill on governor’s desk (alabamaretail.org)
$100 annual minimum business privilege tax to be halved in 2023, eliminated in 2024 (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama INFORM legislation that seeks to stem tide of stolen goods on online marketplace gets final OK (alabamaretail.org)
Increasing optional standard deduction and individual income tax threshold among tax bills that get final OK in 2022 session (alabamaretail.org)
Exempting first $6,000 of taxable retirement income from state income tax ready for governor’s signature (alabamaretail.org)
Ivey inks Alabama’s $2.7 billion General Fund budget (alexcityoutlook.com)
Education budget with historic teacher pay raise with the governor (apnews.org)
Requiring three, rather than one, weekly work searches for unemployment claimants gets final OK (alabamaretail.org)
President signs into law U.S. Postal Service bill saving 6-days-a-week mail delivery (marketwatch.com) | USPS seeks July stamp price increase (al.com)
Rental/leasing companies would be able to get delivery license, rather than business licenses, in cities where they deliver, under bill with governor (alabamaretail.org)
Defining marketplace platform workers in Alabama as independent contractors begins July 1 (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama regulation of telemedicine receives final approval; awaits governor’s OK (alreporter.com)
Universities and colleges could operate a distillery, winery, brewery, brewpub or combo under bill on governor’s desk (alabamaretail.org)
Birmingham food and beverage trucks could sell alcoholic beverages in entertainment districts if governor signs bill (alabamaretail.org)
MORE ALCOHOL: Washington County wet referendum on November ballot; Huntsville/Montgomery, Birmingham and more can expand/create entertainment districts; draft beer possible for Geneva, Lineville and Jackson (alabamaretail.org)
Immediate confiscation of unstamped tobacco products awaits governor’s signature (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama Legislature passes bill to try to limit enforcement of presidential orders on gun control (al.com)
Senate gives final OK to consumers recovering purchase price of bogus collectibles (alabamaretail.org)
Bills die that would have required gubernatorial approval for future state health emergency orders and state health officer approval for county orders (alabamaretail.org)
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