Sam Mattison

Bill to exempt economic developers from registering as lobbyists passes Senate

Economic developers may soon be exempted from registering as lobbyist after a tense day in the Legislature characterized with delay tactics and a narrow Senate vote. House bill 314, which would exempt economic developers from registering as lobbyist, cleared the Senate on Wednesday, but it took many hours of delay tactics by opposing senators. Sens. … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 29, 2018

Senate does not pass ETF after tensions with House

The Alabama Senate did not pass the Education Trust Fund and adjourn for the year on Wednesday after tensions between the House and Senate reached a boiling point. After surviving filibusters and delay tactics over the economic developer bill and the deer baiting bill, the Senate began to take up House bills that needed to … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 29, 2018

Hunting over bait bill flops on Senate floor

Feral hog and deer hunting over bait was nixed for this year after a long morning in the Senate that threatened to derail the chamber during what was supposed to be its pivotal last day this session. The bill’s trajectory has let it clear the House earlier this year, and a Senate committee gave its … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 29, 2018

Sponsors say key gun bills are dead this session, optimistic about return next year

Gun control and school safety will have to wait after a turbulent day in the Legislature that saw key gun bills falter. On Wednesday, bills in the Legislature dealing with gun control or school safety met their own demise in one way or another. It started in the morning with a committee meeting that would … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 22, 2018

Senate sends General Fund budget to governor’s desk

The Alabama Senate unanimously passed the General Fund budget on Wednesday after a long debate over the funding of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs, affording the bill final passage and sending it to the governor for her signature. Smitherman said that funding to the office has declined in recent years with the loss of … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 22, 2018

House committee takes no actions on guns after representatives fail to show up

A House committee ended today with no votes, but the meeting could have great consequences for the full chamber that is expected to meet at 1 p.m. Three gun bills, all proposed by Democrats in the House, did not get a vote on Wednesday after the Public Safety and Homeland Security committee meeting could not … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 21, 2018

Differences in punishment arise in two bills to restrict firearm possession at schools

As lawmakers debate whether educators should be armed, two bills in the Legislature are tackling whether people should face legal ramifications for bringing a gun on school property. The House bill is sponsored by Rep. Allen Farley, R-McCalla, and would prohibit possessing a firearm on school property. In 2018 alone, multiple students from around Alabama … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 20, 2018

Day Care bill passes out of Legislature, heads to governor’s desk

The day care bill that would license certain day cares in Alabama has left the Legislature to the governor’s desk after a long tussle in the State House. Alabama’s Senate approved the bill 23-4 Thursday after state Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, relented on Wednesday saying that he would no longer “stand in the way” of … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 16, 2018

Senate passes education budget after battle over ASU’s funding on floor

The Alabama Senate managed to pass the Education Trust Fund budget on Thursday after a nearly 4-hour debate that threatened to derail its passage. Thursday’s debate of the budget started off relatively calm with state Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, stating his problems with the bill but making no action to change the appropriations amount. Bussman, … Continued

Sam Mattison

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March 16, 2018