With only nine legislative days remaining in 2022 regular session, the legislative majority is moving quickly on priority bills, including tax relief.
This week both chambers voted to do away with the state’s minimum business privilege tax, while the House voted for a tax break for retirement income.
On Jan. 1, Alabama will become the 22nd state to allow concealed weapons in public without a permit. All on Thursday, the legislation was assigned to a conference committee, both chambers concurred in a conference report, and it was signed by the governor. Act No. 2022-133 does allow property owners to forbid guns on their property by posting signage.
The state’s record spending plans continue to be front and center. Tuesday, the House will take up a $2.7 billion General Fund budget (SB106) and related appropriations. The House budget writers added millions to the Senate-passed version of the state’s general operating budget before sending it to the full chamber. This week, the House approved an $8.17 billion education budget (HB135) that was less than the governor recommended. It includes a 4% teacher pay raise and a lump-sum bonus for retirees.
Legislation modeled after the federal INFORM measure cleared a House committee and is expected to be considered by a Senate committee next week. The companion bills seek to limit resale opportunities for stolen products online.
Keep reading for summaries of these and other 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
Both chambers vote to eventually drop $100 annual tax being paid by 230,000 entities (alabamaretail.org)
Bill modeled after federal INFORM legislation ready for House consideration; seeks to stem tide of stolen goods on online marketplaces (alabamaretail.org)
LAW: As of Jan. 1, 2023, Alabama won’t require background checks or permit for concealed guns (apnews.com) | Private property owner’s right to ban concealed weapons in their buildings remain (montgomeryadvertiser.com)
House OKs exempting 1st $6,000 of taxable retirement income from state income taxes, heads to Senate committee (alabamaretail.org)
INFLATION: 7.9%, highest in 40 years (wsj.com) | No. 1 problem for Alabama small businesses (alreporter.com) | Concern, no matter how you measure it (nrf.com)
PANDEMIC: U.S. mask rule for travel extended to April 18 (apnews.com); Alabama Senate OKs requiring gubernatorial approval for future state health emergency orders (alabamaretail.org)
ALCOHOL: Proposal calls for 1st pick of wholesale alcohol to go to private businesses, not state; Birmingham & Albertville entertainment district bills now law; size breweries that could also own a brewpub and more (alabamaretail.org)
Supervised pharmacy interns will be able to compound/dispense drugs by June 1; pharmacy disciplinary notification revision is on the governor’s desk (alabamaretail.org)
Defining marketplace platform workers as independent contractors awaits final OK in the House (alabamaretail.org)
Plan for 5 new Alabama casinos, lottery, sports betting, clears 1st hurdle (al.com)
Rep. David Wheeler of Vestavia Hills died Wednesday (al.com)
Senate votes to allow for immediate confiscation of unstamped tobacco products, set penalties for unregistered sellers (alabamaretail.org)
Alabama Constitution of 2022 will be on ballot for voters in November (al.com)
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