Before taking a week break and after passing the halfway mark of the 2021 regular session, the Alabama Senate approved the state’s largest ever education budget. The House approved the General Fund budget last week. The Legislature reconvenes Tuesday, March 30.
Next week, restaurant workers join the critical workers eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and the National Guard begins three weeks of mobile vaccination clinics in 24 rural Alabama counties.
Keep reading for this week’s top stories of interest to retailers. The next Retail Report will be April 2.
For legislative and other news of relevance to retailers,
read This Week in Retail News.
THIS WEEK IN RETAIL NEWS
Restaurant workers among those eligible for COVID-19 vaccines beginning March 23; National-Guard-run mobile clinics begin Tuesday: Walgreens now vaccinating in Alabama (alabamaretail.org)
Visa, Mastercard delay merchant fee increases until April 2022 (bloomberg.com)
- Retailers call for permanent delay of swipe fee increases (nrf.com)
- Public pressure secures delay in interchange fee hike (rila.org)
Clarification of who is an employee for tax purposes ready for final OK (alabamaretail.org)
Panel approves suspending or revoking a retailer’s tobacco permit for nonpayment; nicotine regulations on March 30 House calendar (alabamaretail.org)
Tips for applying for restaurant grants and shuttered venue operator grants plus info on targeted economic injury disaster loan advances (alabamaretail.org)
Doctors and dentists: Medicaid reimbursements increase for COVID-19 vaccine administration (medicaid.alabama.gov)
- Pharmacies and physicians: Medicare reimbursement for vaccine increases from about $28 to about $40 (cms.gov)
McClendon’s Alabama lottery bill advances; Del Marsh says adding casinos still an option (al.com)
Regularly check our COVID-19 Resources page at www.alabamaretail.org
Previous Alabama Retail Reports
CONTACT YOUR LAWMAKERS