Gov. Kay Ivey (R) will host a ceremonial bill signing for legislation passed during the 2022 Regular Session on Wednesday.
The governor will be accompanied by most of the bill sponsors and assorted guests as she ceremonially signs a number of pieces of legislation.
First among these will be House Bill 143 sponsored by State Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killeen). It prohibits "good time" for anyone who is convicted of a crime that caused the death of another person by means of a deadly weapon. The bill is named for Sheffield police sergeant Nick Risner, who was killed in a shootout with a man who had been convicted of manslaughter but then was released from prison due to good behavior. He murdered his roommate and dumped the body in the street resulting in a police chase that ended with a gun battle with Risner that took both of their lives and other officers. Risner was honored by the state legislature with the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor for his sacrifice that day.
The governor will also ceremonially sign House Bill 171 (HB 171) sponsored by State Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette) and Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville). The legislation extends the time frame to create first-time and second chance home buyer savings accounts to allow deposits for 10 years. The money grows in a tax-free fund similar to a college 529 savings plan if the money is used as a down payment on a home. The current program was to sunset without legislative action.
The governor will ceremonially sign House Bill (HB 385) by South and Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery). The bill exempts homeless youth from having to pay certain driver’s license fees.
Another key piece of legislation in Tuesday’s bill signing ceremony is House Bill 3 (HB 3) by State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) and Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville). This bill clarifies that emergency management personnel provide essential public safety services in Alabama. This clarification in Alabama law will allow emergency management agencies to request more federal dollars.
House Bill 50 (HB 50) sponsored by Rep. Rolanda Hollis (D-Birmingham) and Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) will be included in the ceremony. This legislation creates a grant program for Title I schools to provide no-cost feminine hygiene products to students in grades 5 to 12 in poor neighborhoods. It is hoped that this will decrease absenteeism and improve the graduation rate for poor girls.
Ivey will also sign House Bill 230 (HB230) by Hollis and Coleman-Madison prohibiting the Alabama Department of Corrections from shackling pregnant inmates.
There will be a ceremonial bill signing for House Bill 232 (HB 232) sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster) and Sen. April Weaver (R-Briarfield). The bill will allow medical examiners, coroners and deputy coroners to access the controlled substance database in certain circumstances.
Ivey will sign House Bill 253 (HB 253) by Bedsole and Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), which will provide an income tax credit to firefighters and rescue squad members if they complete certain training. Much of the state’s volunteer fire departments are facing a difficult time recruiting sufficient volunteer firefighters given the booming economy and the demands on volunteers' time at work and with their families.
Additionally, Ivey will sign House Bill 15 (HB15), sponsored by Rep. A. J. McCampbell (D-Livingston) and Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Livingston), to provide tax exemptions to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Free Masons and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Free Masons.
Ivey told reporters on Monday that this was one of the “most productive legislative sessions in years.”
The 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session will begin next March following an organizational session in Jan.
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