WEEK 7 (Apr 1-3)
PRAISE THE LORD!
GAMBLING IS DEAD for 2025 SESSION
BILL TO REGULATE PSYCHOACTIVE CANNABINOIDS
BILL: HB445 SPONSOR: Rep. Whitt
DESCRIPTION: Under existing law, products that contain psychoactive cannabinoids found in or derived from hemp may not be sold to minors but are otherwise not regulated. This bill would authorize the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to regulate all consumable hemp products through the licensure of manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and retailers of consumable hemp products. This bill would prohibit the sale of any consumable hemp products to individuals under 21 years of age. This bill would restrict retail establishments that sell consumable hemp products to existing liquor stores or other locations that minors may not access and provide specific penalties for selling products to minors. This bill would establish labeling and testing requirements on consumable hemp products. This bill would limit the amount of tetrahydrocannabinols (THCs) that may be present in consumable hemp products.
STATUS: There was a public hearing on HB445 in House Health Committee. No vote was taken.
OUR POSITION: Protecting citizens from the harms of psychoactive cannabinoids is one of the most important issues we will tackle this session. We support the goals of HB445, however, we testified that we would prefer a ban on the psychoactive products rather than just regulation. To gain our support we would like to see an amendment added to HB445 that would change the 0.3% THC at dry weight (at harvest) be changed 0.3% wet weight or at end product.
CLICK TO VIEW THC BILL COMPARISONS
GOLD AS LEGAL TENDER HEADED TO GOV'S DESK!
OFFERING HEALTH BENEFITS TO ALFA MEMBERS
BILL: HB447 SPONSOR: Rep. Faulkner
DESCRIPTION: This bill would authorize a nonprofit agricultural organization (ALFA) to offer health benefits to its members and their families. The bill would also specify that the nonprofit agricultural organization would not be engaged in the business of health insurance, and would specify health care benefits that must by offered.
STATUS: There was a public hearing on HB447 in House Health Committee on Wednesday. No vote was taken but we expect a committee vote this Wednesday.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
BAN "DE-BANKING"
BILL: SB228 SPONSOR: Sen. Jones
DESCRIPTION: This bill would prohibit certain financial institutions and insurers from using a social credit score and other nonquantitative or biased factors to discriminate in the provision of services. This bill would provide penalties for violations.
STATUS: On Wednesday, there was a public hearing in Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. No vote was taken but we expect a vote this week.
OUR POSITION: We testified in support of SB228. No one should be “de-banked for their ideological views.
REGULATING PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS (PBMs)
BILL: SB252 SPONSOR: Sen. Beasley
DESCRIPTION: This bill would authorize a nonprofit agricultural organization to offer health benefits to its members and their families. The bill would also specify that the nonprofit agricultural organization would not be engaged in the business of health insurance, and would specify health care benefits that must by offered. This bill, known as “The Community Pharmacy Relief Act,” would further regulate pharmacy benefits managers. This bill would prohibit pharmacy benefits managers from reimbursing independent pharmacies less than the amount paid by the Alabama Medicaid Agency to pharmacies for prescription drugs for a period of two years. This bill would prohibit pharmacy benefits managers from charging pharmacies or pharmacists miscellaneous fees related to network participation and claims processing, and from charging other fees that reduce reimbursement or increase out-of-pocket charges to health plan beneficiaries. Pharmacy benefits managers would be prohibited under this bill from barring disclosure of information by pharmacists to consumers about drug costs and alternative drugs for treatment. Pharmacy benefits managers would be further required to pass on 100 percent of rebates received from drug manufacturers to the health benefit plans for which they provide services.
STATUS: It has passed the full Senate and House Health Committee and is now waiting to be debated on the House floor.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill. See flyer here.
ELECTION AUDIT BILL READY FOR SENATE DEBATE
BILL: HB30 SPONSOR: Rep. Wood
DESCRIPTION: Relating to elections; to require the judge of probate of each county to conduct a post-election audit after every county and statewide general election to determine the accuracy of the originally reported results of the election.
STATUS: HB30 passed the full House and the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund and is now awaiting Senate floor debate.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
BILLS IN HOUSE ED POLICY COMMITTEE
RELEASE-TIME CREDIT FOR RELIGIOUS INTSTRUCTION
BILL: HB342 SPONSOR: Rep. DuBose
DESCRIPTION: Under existing law, the State Board of Education has a policy providing elective credit to students who attend religious instruction during the school day, and each local board of education may choose whether to implement the policy. This bill would require each local board of education to adopt a policy allowing elective credit to students who are released from the classroom to attend religious instruction during the school day.
STATUS: HB342 failed to receive a “favorable report” in the House Education Policy Committee but there is a companion bill in the Senate. It is on the Senate Education Policy calendar for Wednesday.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill. We were flabbergasted that it failed in committee. This is an excellent, constitutionally sound initiative. There are 12 school districts in AL that have policies that allow for this elective. This bill would make it easier for students to know about it and participate.
CHAPLAINS FOR TEACHERS
BILL HB179: SPONSOR: Rep. Gidley
DESCRIPTION: This bill would authorize each local board of education to vote on whether to allow schools in their jurisdiction to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer to minister to teachers.
STATUS: This bill was carried over in House Education Policy to work out a few more details.
OUR POSITION: We support HB179. This bill helps to establish a chaplains’ program similar to what police, firefighters have.
DISPLAYING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
BILL: HB178 SPONSOR: Rep. Gidley
DESCRIPTION: This bill would require each local board of education and the governing body of each public institution of higher education to display the Ten Commandments and a context statement in a common area of each school under its jurisdiction.
STATUS: This bill was carried over in House Education Policy to work out a few more details.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
ENSURING AGE-APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTION FOR SEXUAL IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION
BILL: HB244 SPONSOR: Rep. Bulter
DESCRIPTION: Under existing law, classroom instruction or discussions regarding gender identity or sexual orientation may not be provided to public school students in kindergarten through fifth grade in a manner that is not age or developmentally appropriate or is not in accordance with state standards. This bill would change that to prekindergarten through twelfth grade. This bill would prohibit public preK-12 teachers and education employees from displaying a flag or insignia relating to sexual orientation or gender identity on school property. It would also prohibit public preK-12 teachers and education employees from referring to a student by pronouns inconsistent with the student’s biological sex at birth.
STATUS: There was a public hearing in House Education policy on Wednesday, but no vote was taken.
OUR POSITION: We testified in support of HB244 at the public hearing.
PROHIBIT REQUIRMENT TO USE PRONOUNS THAT ARE INCONSTANT WITH BIOLOGICAL BIRTH
BILL: HB246 SPONSOR: Rep. Stadthagen
DESCRIPTION: This bill would prohibit employees of public schools and public institutions of higher education from using names or pronouns inconsistent with a student’s legal name or biological sex without written permission from the student’s parent or guardian.
STATUS: There was a public hearing in House Education policy on Wednesday but no vote was taken.
OUR POSITION: We testified in support of HB246 at the public hearing.
BAN HUMAN CLONING
BILL: HB380 SPONSOR: Rep. Rigsby
DESCRIPTION: This bill would create the crime of human cloning and provide that a violation is a Class C felony. This bill would also provide that the prohibitions created by this act do not restrict certain scientific research and assisted reproductive treatment, provided that those practices do not involve human cloning.
STATUS: HB380 passed out of House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting House floor debate.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
PROTECTIONS AGAINST UNLAWFUL USE OF DNA
BILL: HB449 SPONSOR: Rep. Robbins
DESCRIPTION: This bill would prohibit certain intentional collection, use, retention, or disclosure of a person’s DNA sample or genetic information without that person’s express consent.
STATUS: HB449 passed out of House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting debate on the House floor.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
IMMIGRATION
BILL: HB7 SPONSOR: Rep. Yarbrough
DESCRIPTION: This bill would provide that state and local law enforcement agencies may enter into memorandums of understanding and agreements with the United States Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and any other federal agency for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration and customs laws and the detention, removal, and investigation of illegal aliens and the immigration status of any person in this state. This bill would require state and local government employees to send, receive, and maintain information relating to the immigration status of any individual as required for public safety purposes.
STATUS: HB7 Passed out of House Judiciary Committee and is awaiting debate on the House floor.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
VIEW STATUS OF BILLS WE'RE TRACKING
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