Firearm surrender initiative passes in Alabama House
Dubbed the Houston Hunter Act, a bill that would establish the legal framework for gun and ammo stores to temporarily hold lawfully possessed firearms passed out of the House Tuesday with a near-unanimous vote.
Sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, Senate Bill 40 aims to mirror a Louisiana initiative known as the Safer Together Program, which is designed to create a degree of separation between Alabamians – particularly veterans – and their firearms during periods of mental health crises. The idea was first floated by the Veteran Mental Health Steering Committee last August, and later recommended by the body to be advocated for passing into law.
The bill would facilitate the temporary surrender of firearms at gun and ammo stores by establishing a legal framework to shield stores from liability were an individual who surrendered their firearm to, after retrieving it, use it unlawfully.
The bill passed with a vote of 93-1, with Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, being the lone dissenting vote. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for final approval.
Alabama House passes bill authorizing sale of additional $500M in bonds for prison construction
The Alabama House voted in favor of a bill Tuesday to allow the state to borrow an additional $500 million to help fund the construction of a 4,000-bed prison in Escambia County.
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, whose district includes Escambia County. He’s said the bill is a security measure to ensure additional funding for the planned prison is available.
Albritton has frequently cited concerns over funding two 4,000-bed prisons that state lawmakers approved funding for back in 2021 to the tune of $1.2 billion. The first of the two prisons in Elmore County was originally projected to cost around $623 million, though saw its cost skyrocket to more than $1 billion, leaving lawmakers worried about funding for the second prison in Escambia County.
As of late January, the prison in Elmore County was fully funded, and 60% of the funding for the prison in Escambia County had been identified.
Speaking on behalf of the bill on the House floor, Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Hazel Green, said ideally, the state would be able to generate enough revenue and not need to sell the additional $500 million in bonds, an increase from the already-authorized $785 million. But Albritton’s bill would act as a security measure in case enough funding doesn’t materialize.
A number of House Democrats spoke out against the bill, including Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, who voiced concerns about how selling an additional $500 in bonds could impact the state’s bond rating, which today remains high.
“There are so many variables right now in the economy that you will, in all likelihood, need this money for supply chain issues, increased costs of construction and so many other things,” Drummond said.
The House ultimately voted in favor of the bill with a vote of 74-16, with eight abstentions, mostly along party lines. The bill now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk for final approval.
Effort to establish portable benefits for gig workers passes Alabama House
A bill that would establish a form of portable benefits for gig workers such as Uber and Door Dash drivers passed unanimously Tuesday in the Alabama House.
Sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, Senate Bill 86 would allow for independent contractors to maintain portable benefit accounts that follow them to other contract work, and allow for hiring companies to contribute to these accounts.
The bill materialized from discussions last year over portable benefits for gig workers, with around 79,000 Alabamians employed as contract employees with app-based delivery and ride-sharing services. As contract jobs, those roughly 79,000 Alabamians do not receive benefits such as health insurance through their employment.
The bill ultimately passed and now makes its way to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk for final approval.