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Alabama House sends tight General Fund budget to Bentley; ETF plan wins Senate approval, awaits House vote

The Alabama House voted 76-25 Tuesday night to agree to the Senate version of the General Fund (GF) budget and send it to Gov. Robert Bentley for his consideration. GF support for the Department of Corrections would fall by about $2 million, or 0.5 percent, next year under the budget, even though Alabama’s prison system is operating [...]
Issue
Budgets
Date
April 1, 2014
Author
Chris Sanders
Blog

Alabama Senate committee amends execution drug secrecy bill, approves HIV drug redistribution bill

An Alabama Senate committee Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would keep the identities of people involved in carrying out state-sanctioned executions secret in most instances. But the Senate Health Committee amended the bill to divulge the names of companies that manufacture or supply lethal injection drugs if a judge orders their release. HB 379, [...]
Issues
Criminal Justice, Health
Date
March 19, 2014
Author
M.J. Ellington
Blog

Final shape of General Fund, education budgets unclear as plans advance in Alabama Legislature

Alabama’s prison system would get slightly less money next year under a General Fund (GF) budget that cleared the Senate’s GF budget committee 9-1 Wednesday. Even though the committee’s budget includes more prison funding than the House-passed version, total GF support for the Department of Corrections next year still would fall by about $2 million, [...]
Issue
Budgets
Date
March 19, 2014
Author
Carol Gundlach
Blog

Payday loan database wins Alabama Senate committee’s approval

A statewide payday loan database moved one step closer to becoming a reality Tuesday when an Alabama Senate committee voted 6-0 for it. HB 145, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, now moves to the full Senate, which could vote on the plan later this week. The House voted 93-1 for the bill last week. Committee chairman [...]
Issue
Payday & Title Lending Reform
Date
March 18, 2014
Author
Stephen Stetson
Blog

Alabama House passes payday loan database bill

The Alabama House voted 93-1 Thursday for a bill to create a statewide common database of payday loans. HB 145, sponsored by Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, now goes to the Senate. Todd’s bill would make it easier to enforce a current state law that prohibits borrowers from taking out more than $500 in payday loans [...]
Issue
Payday & Title Lending Reform
Date
March 13, 2014
Author
Chris Sanders
Blog

Alabama House committee votes to lift individuals’ scholarship credit cap under Accountability Act

An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill to erase a size limit on the state income tax credit that an individual can claim for contributions to groups that grant scholarships under the Alabama Accountability Act. HB 558, sponsored by Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, moves to the House. The Accountability Act, enacted last year, provides [...]
Issues
Budgets, Tax Reform
Date
March 12, 2014
Author
M.J. Ellington
Blog

Alabama House could vote next week on bill to end lifetime SNAP, TANF bans for people with felony drug conviction

The Alabama House could vote as soon as Tuesday on a bill that would allow people convicted of a drug-related felony to regain eligibility for food assistance or cash welfare benefits. A House committee Wednesday approved the bill, which the Senate passed last month. SB 303, sponsored by Sen. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham, awaits consideration by [...]
Issues
Criminal Justice, Safety Net
Date
March 12, 2014
Author
Carol Gundlach
Blog

Bill to increase homestead exemption for debtors clears Alabama Senate committee

Alabamians could shield more of their home’s value from creditors under a bill that the Senate’s General Fund budget committee approved 7-0 Wednesday. SB 427, sponsored by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, awaits consideration by the full Senate. Ward's bill would allow individuals to protect up to $30,000 of their home's value from creditors. The exemption [...]
Issue
Other Issues
Date
March 12, 2014
Author
Stephen Stetson
Blog

Changes to state landlord-tenant law approved in Alabama Senate

The Alabama Senate voted 28-0 Thursday for a bill that would adjust some deadlines in the state’s landlord-tenant law in favor of property owners. SB 291, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, goes to the House. Current state law requires landlords to provide tenants with a 14-day written notice if they plan [...]
Issue
Housing
Date
March 7, 2014
Author
Chris Sanders
Blog

Arise members gather in Montgomery to support payday, title lending reforms

Nearly 100 Arise supporters gathered Thursday in Montgomery to urge reforms of payday and auto title lending in Alabama. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, and Rep. Rod Scott, D-Fairfield, spoke at an Arise news conference to encourage advocates to push for their respective reform bills. “There is no one in this state who does not have [...]
Issue
Payday & Title Lending Reform
Date
March 7, 2014
Author
Chris Sanders