At the halfway point of the Alabama Legislature’s 2022 regular session, one chamber has approved a record general operating budget for the state and the education budget is scheduled to be in committee next week.
Rep. Kyle South talks with Jheovanny Gomez of Jalapeños Mexican Grill, right, about HB176.
Another whirlwind, three-day legislative week also included consideration of several hot-button topics. The Legislature has completed 15 of the 30 allowed legislative days for a regular session.
Alabama Retail Association board members were in the mix this week as well with Jheovanny Gomez testifying about how lowering the alcohol server age in restaurants by just one year would help him find and retain needed employees.
Mark and Susan Anderson with Katie Britt.
Meanwhile, Susan Anderson and her husband, Mark, were among the hosts for a fundraiser this week for Alabama-Retail-endorsed U.S. Senate candidate, Katie Britt. The event was at the Anderson’s Dothan store, Eagle Eye Outfitters.
The House returns at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and the Senate at 2:30 for the 16th legislative day of the 2022 regular session.
Next week, the governor is expected to sign legislation into law that would exempt 75% of Alabama businesses from business personal property tax beginning Oct. 1, 2023.
Keep reading for summaries of issues of interest to retailers and 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
Board member asks lawmakers to lower minimum age for restaurant alcohol servers in order to find, retain employees (alabamaretail.org)
Federal earned income/dependent care tax credits safe from state income tax (alabamaretail.org)
House votes to allow concealed handguns without permit (apnews.com)
Bill that would allow drive-thru or walk-up beer/wine/alcohol sales heads to Senate; entertainment district bills move (alabamaretail.org)
Pharmacists would have prescribing authority for vaccines/immunizations under proposed bill (alabamaretail.org)
Senate OKs largest General Fund budget in state history, includes 4% state employee pay raise (al.com)
Budget panel will consider eliminating minimum business privilege tax next week (alabamaretail.org)
For 12- to 64-year-olds, CDC extends recommended time between COVID 1st & 2nd shots to 8 weeks to lengthen immunity (alabamapublichealth.gov)
House OKs rental/leasing delivery, rather than business licenses, in cities where they deliver (alabamaretail.org)
Panel OKs requiring five, rather than one, weekly work searches for unemployment claimants (alabamaretail.org)
Labor Dept. would help smallest businesses legally complete hiring process under proposal (alabamaretail.org)
Allowing consumers to recover purchase price of bogus collectibles on Tuesday’s House special order calendar (alabamaretail.org)
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