Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed (R-Jasper) joined The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Tuesday, April 4, for BCA’s Government Affairs Briefing.
Pro Tem Reed discussed the legislature’s accomplishments prior to Spring Break, legislation currently in the Senate and House, and future legislation that will be brought before both chambers. He gave a brief recap of legislation enacted by Governor Kay Ivey to allocate the final round of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Pro Tem Reed continued by focusing on The Game Plan details and the significant impact this will have on Alabama’s current and future economic success. He also recognized the business community for its role in supporting Alabama’s budget surplus and the state’s strong fiscal position.
Every Tuesday during the 2023 legislative session, BCA will hold a briefing at our office at 9 a.m. that will be broadcast live on BCA’s Facebook page.
Representative Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) will join as our guest speaker at the next briefing on Tuesday, April 11. Rep. Garrett is sponsoring two bills that are a part of the The Game Plan package of economic incentive legislation, HB241 and HB247. Expect Rep. Garrett to explain these bills from his perspective and where they are in the legislative process.
The Alabama Legislature returned to regular session on Tuesday after a week-long spring break. The Business Council of Alabama’s (BCA) top priority this session is Gov. Kay Ivey’s The Game Plan, an economic incentives package introduced this week in the House and Senate.
Alabama is engaged in a highly competitive contest with our neighboring states for the high-paying jobs and game-changing investment projects that can lift our communities. Governor Kay Ivey’s economic incentives package, or The Game Plan, is a four-pronged approach to strengthen what has been working for our state and provide new and innovative solutions for what has not. The Game Plan includes four bills, all of which are top priorities for BCA this legislative session and critical components in BCA’s four-year plan to “Renew Alabama.”
BCA connected with Alabama State Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) this week to discuss The Game Plan and how economic incentives continue to move Alabama forward. Watch that social media interview below.
SB164/HB241 Enhancing Alabama’s Economic Progress Act
Sponsor: Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper)/Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate; Pending committee action in house of origin
Additional Information: Play 1 of The Game Plan renews and enhances the Alabama Jobs Act and Growing Alabama program, while extending their sunset dates to 2028. This legislation increases the Job’s Acts incentives cap by $25 million annually for five years, ensuring Alabama remains competitive for mega projects and increases funding for site development to $35 million to encourage development of new shovel-ready sites amid a shortage here in the state.
SB165/HB257 Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act
Sponsor: Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur)/Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate; Pending committee action in house of origin
Additional Information: Play 2 of The Game Plan allows SIDA to facilitate the development of industry-ready sites and expands SIDA’s role in the preparation of industrial sites to accelerate their creation. This legislation also allows SIDA to issue grants to stimulate the creation of sites.
SB152/HB247 Innovation and Small Business Act
Sponsor: Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro)/Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate; Pending committee action in house of origin
Additional Information: Play 3 of The Game Plan accelerates growth in Alabama’s innovation economy and supports underrepresented businesses and enterprises in rural areas. This bill establishes the Alabama Small Business Credit with the transfer of tax credits for accelerators and support for underrepresented businesses that operate in innovative industries to Innovate Alabama. It also makes $25 million per year available for the Innovating Alabama Tax Credit to meet increasing demands as new tech accelerators begin operations and programs for small businesses in innovative industries that are developed across the state.
SB151/HB240 Transparency in Incentives Act
Sponsor: Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman)/ Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Introduced in the House and Senate; Pending committee action in house of origin
Additional Information: Play 4 of The Game Plan amends the Jobs Act to require the Alabama Department of Commerce to publish certain incentivized project information on its website. Information for each incentivized project includes the name of the company, the estimated capital investment, the number of jobs being created, an estimated hourly wage, the estimated value of the incentives, and the project’s location.
SB104/HB158
Sponsor: Chris Elliott (R-Josephine)/Rep. David Faulkner (R-Birmingham)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Passed the Senate; Received a favorable report from the House Insurance Committee
Additional Information: Existing law provides that any seller or furnisher of alcoholic beverages, such as a bar, restaurant, or retail store, can be held liable for civil damages suffered by an individual who is injured by an intoxicated customer or patron of the seller or furnisher. This bill creates a wider standard, with a server having to knowingly serve a visibly intoxicated person, and for that service to be the proximate cause of injury or death. This is in line with what other states require, brings fairness to restaurant and bar owners, and should help drive down the cost of liquor liability insurance
HB1 Supplemental Appropriations from the American Rescue Plan Act – Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023.
Sponsor: Rex Reynolds (R-21)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Signed into law
Additional Information: Introduced by Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-21), HB1 allocates $1.1 billion in federal funding made available to the state through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) passed by Congress in 2021. HB1 includes funding for broadband expansion, water and sewer infrastructure improvements, and support for our healthcare system for communities across the state.
The monetary breakdown for each category in HB1 is as follows:
SB1 Supplemental Appropriation from the State General Fund to the Alabama Trust Fund (ATF)
Sponsors: Greg Albritton (R-Atmore)
BCA Position: Support
Status: Signed into law
Additional Information: Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), chairman of the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, introduced SB1 to approve a $60 million final payment to the Alabama Trust Fund (ATF) – a state fund established by voters. Totaling $59,997,772, this legislation pays off all remaining debts ahead of time to the ATF, which is required by the People’s Trust Act to be repaid in full by 2033. These funds will be made available through state dollars, not federal ARPA funding.
Capitol Briefing Legislative Update The legislature returned for its fifth week of session with a productive three-day work week. Several of Governor Kay Ivey’s key legislative priorities moved forward, including
Capitol Briefing Legislative Update The Alabama Senate is still considering two bills that would directly affect businesses by imposing a $10.64 fee on every prescription filled statewide. The proposed bills
Capitol Briefing An Update from the House The House voted to approve the establishment of the Alabama Veterans Resource Center, providing support for over 400,000 veterans in Alabama. The bill
