BCA Blog

The 2013 legislative session that began Feb. 5 literally lasted until the last minute Monday night with final passage of an important legal transparency bill and included early passage of a red tape reduction bill that were priorities of the Business Council of Alabama. read more

The House Rules Committee this morning defeated Senate Joint Resolution 109 and closed the book on any attempt to repeal Common Core education standards, at least for this legislative session. SJR 109 by Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road, would have urged the state Board of Education to refrain from accepting federal funds tied to Common State Standards. read more

The Business Council of Alabama has signed a U.S. Chamber of Commerce letter to Congress in support of comprehensive immigration reform that is currently being considered. In fact, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today began another round of considering markups, or amendments. read more

Last week, the Senate began working through S. 601, the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA). A final vote is expected later this week. read more

The Capital Briefing is a weekly digest of action taken on legislation of interest to business and is published weekly during regular and special sessions of the Alabama Legislature. It includes a summary of remarks made by speakers at BCA’s Governmental Affairs Committee meetings and often features video interviews with top legislators and state officials. read more

The U.S. Senate on Monday voted 69-27 to pass S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act. The bill, which would allow states to collect taxes from online sales, sailed through the Senate with bipartisan support but faces a more complicated path in the House.  read more

On Monday, the Business Council of Alabama filed comments on the permit fee increase rule proposed by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. read more

The Capital Briefingis a weekly digest of action taken on legislation of interest to business and is published weekly during regular and special sessions of the Alabama Legislature. It includes a summary of remarks made by speakers at BCA’s Governmental Affairs Committee meetings and often features video interviews with top legislators and state officials. read more

Former U.S. Representative and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum visited Montgomery on Wednesday to testify at a public hearing before a joint House and Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on SB 134 and HB 227, which would limit the amount of contingency fees private attorneys could be paid when working on behalf of the state. read more

The House Health Committee on a voice vote on Tuesday favorably reported the Medicaid overhaul bill, SB 340, by Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper. The bill goes to the full House and is in place for possible final consideration on Thursday. read more