The Alabama Republican Party is wasting no time in taking advantage of its super-majority in both houses of the Alabama Legislature. Staying informed and up to date with elections and national politics is hard enough to grapple with.
Many of us may forget about the state government in Montgomery and all of the work it does. Compiled below are five important bills you should watch during the regular session on Goat Hill this spring.
Uniform Minimum Wage and Right to Work Act — House Bill 174
This bill, sponsored by Mountain Brook Republican Rep. David Faulkner, would prevent cities and counties, among other localities, from raising the minimum wage above the federal wage of $7.25 per hour within their jurisdiction. Faulkner introduced the bill in response to an ordinance passed by the city of Birmingham raising its minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2017.
The bill also prohibits localities from requiring any other benefit or collective bargaining rights not already mandated by the state or federal governments. HB174 has passed the House of Representatives and is headed to the Senate.
Small Business Act — House Bill 36
Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, has been supportive of this bill, which is perhaps why it passed the House quickly. Rep. Kyle South, R-Fayette, introduced this bill early in the session.
It will provide a $1,500 one-time income tax or excise tax credit to small businesses for each new job they create.
Each job must pay more than $40,000 per year and exist for more than one year. This bill is headed to the Senate.
Unborn Infants Dignity of Life Act — House Bill 45
In light of recent allegations against Planned Parenthood claiming the women’s health organization took part in the sale of fetal remains, Rep. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, proposed this bill to the Alabama House of Representatives.
It is already impossible to sell fetal remains for research because of the requirements for disposal mandated by the Alabama Department of Health. However, if passed, this bill will ensure it is illegal for anyone to sell fetal body parts. This bill is also headed to the Senate.
WIRED Act — House Bill 227
This bill, proposed by Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, would use more than $12 million in funding from the Education Trust Fund from fiscal year 2016 to provide Wi-Fi infrastructure in all of Alabama’s public schools.
Alabama would be the first state in the nation to accomplish such a feat. This bill has had its second reading in the House and is expected to go to a vote within the next several weeks.
Campus Carry — House Bill 12
Though the bill hasn’t made its way through committee, it would amend the Alabama Constitution to allow for concealed carry on college campuses in Alabama.
Individuals who hold a concealed-carry permit issued by the state would be legally allowed to carry those concealed firearms on campus. The bill was introduced by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City.
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