Much of this week’s legislative activity focused on in vitro fertilization services in Alabama, but amid the rallies and fast-tracked bills on that issue, the Alabama House passed country of origin labeling for fish and shrimp and the Senate OK’d a state sales tax exemption for a wide range of baby related products.
Legislation surfaced this week to create a new tax holiday in the state for products related to boating, camping, fishing and hunting activities. A bill linked to that legislation would make taxes being collected by remote sellers more closely align to what all other retailers collect.
Tuesday is the presidential primary. Also on the ballot will be races for the U.S. House of Representatives, state appellate court positions and the Public Service Commission president. You should have received the Alabama Retail Association’s Voter Guide via email. Please share that guide and encourage your employees and friends to vote! When speaking with employees be careful to explain that no adverse action will be taken against any employee based on his/her political views.
The Alabama House will convene at 2 p.m. and the Senate at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, for the 13th legislative day of the 2024 regular session.
For legislative and other news of relevance to retailers,
read This Week in Retail News.
THIS WEEK IN RETAIL NEWS
Bill seeks to create a new, twice-a-year sales tax holiday for outdoor activities (alabamaretail.org)
Proposal ties remote seller tax rate to tax holiday for outdoor activities (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt to deliver Republican State of the Union response next week (apnews.com)
House revises and OKs legislation to require restaurants and delis to add country-of-origin labeling for fish and shrimp (alabamaretail.org)
Senate OKs state tax exemption for baby bottles, formula, breast pumps, diapers, maternity clothes and menstrual hygiene products (alabamaretail.org)
Inflation and interest rates remain key retail economist says (nrf.com)
Senate votes to eliminate school permission for 14- and 15-year-olds to work (alabamaretail.org)
Panel OKs significantly altered vape oversight bill; next stop is the House (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama lawmakers rush to get IVF services restarted (apnews.com)
New guidelines from the CDC bring COVID precautions in line with flu, other respiratory viruses (wsj.com)
Senate approves energy choice legislation for appliances (alabamaretail.org)
Committee vote expected next week on prohibiting food products made from cultured animal cells (alabamaretail.org)
Bills allowing pharmacy board to set ratio of technicians to compounding pharmacist approved by both chambers: awaits committee action in opposite chambers; (alabamaretail.org)
Governor appoints Judge Bill Lewis to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals (governor.alabama.gov)
Starting next year, annual report requirement for corporations would be repealed, under House proposal (alabamaretail.org)
UAW says majority of Alabama Mercedes workers signal support for union (alabamareflector.com)
Employment expert weighs in on what to do to sustain union-free status while union membership increases (lehrmiddlebrooks.com)
Alabama House passes school voucher-like program, giving households up to $7,000 to use for non-public education, including private schools and tutoring (alabamareflector.com)
Fast-food wrappers that contain PFAS are no longer sold in the US, the FDA says (apnews.com)
Ivey announces $148.3M in ARPA funding for local broadband projects (aldailynews.com)
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