MONTGOMERY, Ala. – An Alabama senator slowed the passage of bills in his chamber Tuesday and threatened to halt others in the remaining two days of the legislative session after his farm center legislation was delayed and lawmakers’ infighting over the proposed gambling bill came to a head.
“I hope you don’t have any House bills that are important to you, because they’re probably done for the session,” Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, told his colleagues on the Senate floor Tuesday evening after filibustering for several hours.
Earlier Tuesday, Shelnutt’s bill to offer various tax breaks and create a board of directors for a proposed Alabama Farm Center stalled Tuesday. The Alabama Farmers Federation announced last fall the proposed project on 530 acres off of I-65 in north Jefferson County. Alfa says it would host various ag-related events, including livestock shows and rodeos, and other events such as concerts.
Senate Bill 219 creates the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation, an economic development authority to operate the center. It could apply for state tax credits to undertake the construction, management, and leasing of the Alabama Farm Center. The center would be exempt from some state and local taxes.
Shelnutt’s bill failed to advance in a conference committee earlier Tuesday. Another committee meeting has been set for this morning.
Alfa was among the opposition to a proposed gambling bill that has taken up a significant amount of focus this legislative session but stalled last week when 15 senators, including Shelnutt, voted against it. It had previously been approved, for a second time, in the House. The House this session has largely driven the push to get a lottery constitutional amendment and other expanded gaming options to voters.
Advocates for the gambling bill, including Gov. Kay Ivey’ office, have been working to get more support for it. While it’s possible it could get another vote in the Senate, it didn’t seem likely Tuesday.
“I don’t know how many shovels are on it, but it’s been lowered into the ground,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, told Alabama Daily News about the gambling bill’s near death.
Meanwhile last week, the farm center bill had been sent to a conference committee, a group of three senators and three representatives, to work out differences between House- and Senate-passed versions of the bills. Two members from each chamber have to support a bill for it to advance from a conference committee. This conference committee included two House members who were advocates of the gambling bill, Reps. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, and Sam Jones, D-Mobile. Whitt didn’t show up for the meeting Tuesday and Jones wouldn’t immediately support the farm center bill. Conference committee members are appointed by each chamber’s leadership.
“It’s all because of gambling and gambling interests aren’t getting their way,” Shelnutt told reporters Tuesday night about his bill’s delay.
“… My plan right now is that no House bills are going to pass the rest of the session unless something changes.”
Another conference committee meeting was scheduled late Tuesday for this morning.
A comment was not available Tuesday from Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, or Whitt.
Jones told Alabama Daily News he didn’t support the Farm Center bill in the conference committee because he was only given about five minutes advanced warning about the meeting and hadn’t had time to review the newest version of the bill.
“I said ‘Look, I haven’t had the time to review this, I need to review this and make sure that what I’m reading in my office is not different from what I’ve got here,’” Jones said. “So it’s just not enough time for me to feel comfortable to just sign it and be through with it.”
Shelnutt said that if his Farm Center bill doesn’t pass, it will delay the development.
In a statement to ADN, the Alabama Farmers Federation said it remains committed to the project at what’s known as Hallmark Farms.
“Our partners in Jefferson County are eager to move forward with planning, infrastructure and construction. We will continue working with the county, legislative delegation, and other stakeholders to make the Alabama Farm Center a reality.”
Among the House bills pending in the Senate in the final two days is Rep. Phillip Pettus’ proposal to cap annual increases in property taxes at no more than 7%. It overwhelmingly passed the House and has significant support in the Senate.
Shelnutt was joined in his filibuster efforts by some of his colleagues who also voted no on the gambling bill.
But at least one senator scolded him on the Senate floor.
“I think you’re being very short-sighted and selfish,” Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, said and proceeded to talk about House legislation that still needed Senate attention.
She said he needed to take his bill’s defeat “like a big boy, just like I took mine like a big girl.”
Her proposal to offer Alabama educators maternity leave failed last week.