WEEK 4 (FEB 25-27)
BILL TO LIMIT VETERANS' VOICES REMAINS FRONT AND CENTER
Eagle Forum supports Alabama veterans and we will continue to fight for their voice!
A bill that would remove the State Board of Veterans Affairs rule-making authority, and direct oversight of the Commissioner is being rushed through the legislature. We have been warning about this and opposing SB67/HB154 since Week 2. See additional resources: PowerPoint slides (original SB67/HB154), Week 3.
The way this bill has been handled has been disrespectful to Alabama veterans. For example:
- The bill to completely restructure the State Board of Veterans Affairs, remove current veterans from the board and replace them with political appointees, remove their rule-making authority and their direct oversite of the Commissioner was written with little input from veterans.
- A brand new 21-page substitute bill was offered on the Senate floor. The sponsor would not allow any motions to be made, nor would he allow the Senate to wait until the next legislative day to vote so they and the veterans could read the bill.
- The vote was taken in less than 10 minutes from the time the Senators received the 21-page substitute. Unfortunately, it passed 21-9.
- SB67 then moved to the House Military & Veterans Affairs Committee where Rep. Oliver, the Chairman denied a public hearing on the new 21-page bill.
- Some proponents of the bill are telling veterans and fellow legislators that, “The SBVA will retain authority over the State Veterans’ Assistance Fund, approving all expenditures made from the fund for veterans’ programs, including emergency expenses and needs in the state’s veterans’ homes.“ However, this is false! There is no such language in ANY version of SB67 nor is it in the current law (Section 38-4-12). See white chart below.
ACT NOW! CLICK TO SEND MESSAGE BEFORE THEY VOTE!
POT & PORN WERE ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK
NEW BILLS PROTECTING KIDS FROM ONLINE PORN
FILTERS ON CELL PHONES/TABLETS FOR MINORS-DEFAULT TO “ON”
BILL: SB186/ HB318 SPONSOR: Sen. Chambliss/Rep. Sells
DESCRIPTION: These identical bills would require certain manufacturers of smartphones and tablets, to automatically turn their explicit material filters to “on” when a minor’s device is activated in Alabama. Parents could a password to deactivate or reactivate the filter.
STATUS: There was a public hearing on Thursday in the Senate Children and Youth Healthcare Committee and the bill received a favorable report and is awaiting Senate floor debate. Watch hearing here.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
PROTECTING MINORS AT THE “APP STORE” LEVEL
BILL: SB187/HB317 SPONSOR: Sen. Chambliss/Rep. Sells
DESCRIPTION: These identical bills add a layer of protection for minors at the “app store” level. Among other things, this bill would prevent app store providers and developers from enforcing contracts against minors, misrepresenting information in disclosures and sharing personal age verification data.
STATUS: There was a public hearing on Thursday in the Senate Children and Youth Healthcare Committee and the bill received a favorable report and is awaiting Senate floor debate. Watch hearing here.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
MARIJUANA ON THE MOVE
BILL: SB132 SPONSOR: Sen. Melson
DESCRIPTION: This bill would provide that non-psychoactive cannabinoids derived from or found in hemp are exempt from the Schedule I controlled substances list. It would also repeal the provision that prohibits the sale of psychoactive cannabinoids to minor.
STATUS: On Wednesday in the Senate Health Committee SB132 was replaced with a substitute bill which has not been posted online yet. We will update this information once the substitute is posted.
OUR POSITION: We oppose this bill as it removes protections for minors and appears to move Alabama closer to recreational marijuana.
INCREASING THE NUMBER OF MARIJUANA LICENSES
BILL: SB72 SPONSOR: Sen. Melson
DESCRIPTION: An “integrated facility is one that allows for cultivation, processing, and dispensing of medical cannabis. Among other things, this bill would increase the number of integrated facility licenses that may be granted from five to seven. This bill would also delete a provision requiring the commission to hold an investigatory hearing after the denial of a license.
STATUS: A public hearing was held on Wednesday and all speakers, including those who have already been awarded licenses, spoke in opposition to the bill.
OUR POSITION: We are oppose this bill. Reasons we oppose SB72:
- Increased number of integrated facility licenses from 5 to 7:
This may not seem like a large number; however, each integrated facility can operate up to five dispensaries. That means an increase in dispensaries from 25 to 35 for integrated alone, not including the solo dispensary licensees that can operate several as well. The AMCC commissioners must be given a full year to prove competency in testing, policing, and regulating the current licensees before any expansion can be considered.
- Reduced authority and accountability of the AL Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC):
By delegating all licensing decisions to a consultant, this removes an important factor for representation and accountability. If the AMCC wants to hire a consultant for professional advice, we support that. But no consultant, with their potentially exorbitant fees, should be given sole decision authority. The people of Alabama have a voice when their elected officials are held accountable for the actions of the commissioners they appoint.
- Nonsense to rehash the 2022/2023 licensure process:
By imposing another “redo” on the AMCC, we risk further undermining their professionalism, independence, and oversight. This action also rewards the applicants who refuse to accept rejection. Across various states, the cannabis industry has often reacted with lawsuits when they don’t get their way. For instance, Florida ended up with over $62 million in legal fees and eventually capitulated to the industry, leading to disastrous outcomes. In contrast, Alabama has managed better, and we are nearing the resolution of our lawsuits. We must not reward such behavior.
Changes we’d like to see in the current law:
- Strike Depression, PTSD, and Panic Disorder from the conditions list. The science grows stronger everyday: THC is bad for the brain, bad for mental health, and bad for suicidal rates.
- Require a set ratio of independent testing facilities for every dispensary, best practices advise 1:8. Currently, there is only ONE licensed facility for the entire state. We should have a minimum of 5 testing facilities licensed and prepared for the current number of licensees.
DEATH PENALTY FOR PEDOPHILES
BILL: HB49 SPONSOR: Rep. Simpson
DESCRIPTION: This bill would require that a person 18 years of age or older convicted of rape in the first degree or sodomy in the first degree when the victim is less than six years of age shall be punished to either death or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and if the offending person is less than 18 years of age sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or life.
STATUS: HB49 passed the House and is headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill.
GOLD AS LEGAL TENDER
BILL: SB130 SPONSOR: Sen. Melson
DESCRIPTION: This bill would provide that refined gold and silver bullion, specie, or certain coins may be recognized as legal tender.
STATUS: SB130 passed the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and is awaiting Senate floor debate.
OUR POSITION: We support this bill. See flyer here and more resources here.
BILLS THAT DID NOT MOVE THIS WEEK
Bills we’ve been tracking from previous weeks that did NOT make progress this week.
- BILL SB63 SPONSOR: Sen. Bell – Require DNA and fingerprints of illegals when in police custody. (View details in Week 2.) Passed full Senate and is waiting to be debated on the House floor.
- BILL SB78 SPONSOR: Sen. Weaver- Prohibit minors from “Galaxy gas” (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Passed full Senate and House committee, waiting to be debated on the House floor.
- BILL SB35 SPONSOR: Sen. Allen – Prohibit Sextortion (View details in Week 2.) Waiting to be added to Senate Calendar.
- BILL HB79 SPONSOR: Rep. Brown – No retribution for recommending/prescribing off label RX (View details in Week 2.) Passed the House and is waiting to be heard in Senate Healthcare Committee.
- BILL SB101 SPONSOR: Sen. Stutts – Raising medical age of consent from 14 to 18. (View details in Week 2.) Waiting to be added to Senate Calendar.
- BILL HB2 SPONSOR: Rep. Brown – Parental consent for vaccines (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Passed the House and is waiting to be heard in Senate Judiciary Committee.
- BILL HB231 SPONSOR: Rep. Ingram – Prayer and pledge in school. (View details in Week 2.). Waiting to be added to House Calendar.
- BILL SB69 SPONSOR: Sen. Bell – Divesting in China. (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Waiting to be added to Senate Calendar.
- BILL SB53 SPONSOR: Sen. Kitchens – Prohibit human smuggling. (View details in Week 1 and Week 2.) Passed the Seante and waiting to be heard in House Judiciary Committee.
- BILL SB55 SPONSOR: Sen. Elliott – Illegals prohibited from driving in Alabama without a license indicating they are here legally. (View details in Week 2.) Passed the Senate and is waiting to be heard in the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
- BILL SB6 SPONSOR: Sen. Elliott – Library Board Appointments. (View details in Week 1.) Passed Senate waiting to be heard in the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
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