The Alabama Legislature began the first regular session of its new term Tuesday, March 7, then the governor called a special session to spend $1.06 billion in pandemic relief funds. By the end of the first legislative day, 174 bills had been introduced, including a bill to raise the threshold for monthly prepayment of sales taxes. The regular session resumes March 21.
LIQUOR LIABILITY REFORM TO BE INTRODUCED MARCH 21
The Alabama Retail Association as a part of a broad business coalition has reached an historic agreement to reform Alabama’s liquor liability insurance law, known as the Dram Shop Act. Rep. David Faulkner, R-Birmingham, and Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, are sponsors of the agreed-on legislation and will introduce it Tuesday, March 21, when the Alabama Legislature resumes its regular session. Our members who are alcohol sellers should have already received information about the reform needed to avert an insurance crisis in our state. Read more about the situation and the proposed solution.
GOVERNOR SETS AGENDA
In her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kay Ivey called for more than 3,000 businesses to stop having to prepay sales taxes, a 25% reduction in red tape, a $200 million Main Street Program to provide grants to locally owned businesses and $800 tax rebates for working families. The sales tax legislation was introduced Tuesday, she ordered the red-tape reduction Wednesday and the remainder will have to wait until the Legislature returns to its regular session in a couple of weeks.
The special session resumes Tuesday, March 14, at 1 p.m. in the House and 3:30 p.m. in the Senate
Your Alabama Retail Association will keep you informed throughout the session as issues of interest to retailers arise. Keep reading for this week’s top stories.
For legislative and other news of relevance to retailers,
read This Week in Retail News.
THIS WEEK IN RETAIL NEWS
Thousands more small businesses will no longer have to prepay sales taxes under bill pushed by governor (alabamaretail.org)
Governor pauses new or amended administrative rules for one year (alabamaretail.org)
Thursday, March 16, is deadline for businesses in 10 Alabama counties to file for physical damages related to Jan. 12 tornadoes (alabamaretail.org)
Most Alabama employers to see a 54% tax cut in their 2023 unemployment insurance taxes, which are due May 1
(alabamaretail.org)
Special Session: Plan for Alabama to spend $1 billion in federal funds clears 1st hurdle – HB1 (al.com)
Alabama Legislature’s plan for COVID money includes water and sewers, broadband, health care (alabamareflector.com)
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey calls for $800 tax rebate for families (al.com)
Cities eliminating grocery sales tax, price gouging and Columbiana entertainment districts among early bill introductions (alabamaretail.org)
Ivey proposes increased state budgets, but financial leaders warn legislators of cliff (alreporter.com)
Made in the USA? Proposed rule clarifies grocery meat labels (apnews.com)
Combating Organized Retail Crime Act reintroduced in Congress (alabamaretail.org)
Previous Alabama Retail Reports
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