Alabama’s new retail theft and organized retail theft law takes effect Sept. 1. Retailers will be able to sign out warrants for arrests without leaving their stores. The law also gives convicted thieves and their organizers real jail time plus monetary consequences.
In the final days of the Alabama Legislature’s 2023 regular session, lawmakers approved a one-time $393 million income tax rebate, an eventual $318 million annual reduction in sales taxes on food and a $34 million tax exemption for overtime pay in 2024. The governor signed all three into law.
The 2023 regular session, which ended June 6, also brought legislation to ease cash flow for small retailers. Earlier in the session, lawmakers created a new standard for liquor liability insurance, limited price freezes during emergencies to the areas affected and revised the volume of alcohol that can be sold curbside.
The Alabama Legislature is next expected to meet in special session to revise Alabama’s congressional district lines, which the U.S. Supreme Court rejected June 8.
The 2024 regular session of the Alabama Legislature begins at noon Feb. 6, 2024.
THIS WEEK IN RETAIL NEWS
Retail Crime Prevention Act takes effect Sept. 1 (alabamaretail.org)
As of Oct. 1, sales tax prepayment ends for 3,100 retailers (alabamaretail.org)
Incremental reduction of state sales tax on SNAP foods from 4% to 2% starts Sept. 1 (alabamaretail.org)
Related news story: Millbrook voted June 6 to raise sales tax to 9.5% ahead of reduction in state grocery tax (elmoreautauganews.com)
Alabama to exempt overtime pay from state income tax in 2024 (alabamaretail.org)
One-time income tax rebate coming starting Nov. 30 (alabamaretail.org)
Related news story: Alabama’s $150 tax rebate: When will you get your money? Who qualifies? (al.com)
As of Sept. 1, food & beverage trucks can sell alcohol in entertainment districts if cities allow (alabamaretail.org)
Governor issues statement on enactment of anti-EGA law – Act No. 2023-409 (governor.alabama.gov)
Distracted driving law effective immediately, makes holding a communications device a secondary offense SB301 (aldailynews.com)
CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING
U.S. Supreme Court orders Alabama to create a second majority Black congressional district (apnews.com)
Supreme Court ruling means special session on new map, potential race shake-ups in Districts 1 and 2 in 2024 (aldailynews.com)
Federal court sets July 21 deadline for Alabama Legislature to draw new congressional maps (alabamareflector.com)
Alabama House, Senate members appointed to map-making committee (aldailynews.com)
FEDERAL NEWS
Reintroduced bipartisan U.S. Credit Card Competition Act would save businesses and consumers billions (merchantspaymentscoalition.com) S1838 | HR3881
U.S. INFORM Consumers Act takes effect June 27th for online marketplaces (ftc.gov)
Advance U.S. retail and food services sales up 1.6 percent (±0.7 percent) above May 2022 (census.gov)
Special election primary for House District 55 set for Sept. 26 (governor.alabama.gov)
Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission puts hold on licensing, cites ‘potential inconsistencies (al.com)
Cases of check fraud escalate dramatically, Americans warned to avoid mailing checks (apnews.com)
National Merit Scholarships: 97 Alabama students from 43 high schools honored (al.com)
Previous Alabama Retail Reports
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