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Farmers Federation Women Lead in Public Policy Arena
Monica Carroll of Dale County and Michelle Thompson of Lauderdale County talk about the importance of women being involved in public policy during the Alabama Farmers Federation's 2023 Women's Leadership Conference in Birmingham. Watch video.
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House Committee Approves Senate-Passed Checkoff Bill | |
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The House Agriculture and Conservation Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would free up more farmer dollars in the peanut and sheep and goat checkoff programs for research, education and promotion.
SB 91 by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, is on the House of Representatives special order calendar for Tuesday, where it could win final passage. The companion bill, HB 180, is sponsored by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope. The bills would amend existing checkoff provisions as follows:
Peanuts
- Remove the newspaper referendum notice requirement, bringing it into conformity with the other checkoff programs;
- Increase the time between referendums from three to five years; and
- Reduce the amount the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries is authorized to deduct for administrative costs from 5% to 3%, which is in line with other checkoffs
Sheep and Goats
- Decrease the frequency of required audits from two years to five years
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Livestock Ordinances Bill Awaits Final Passage | |
A bill to protect livestock owners from overly restrictive municipal ordinances could receive a final vote in the House of Representatives Tuesday.
SB 147 by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, received a favorable report from the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee Wednesday and is on the special order calendar next week. The companion bill, HB 242, is sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens.
The legislation would prohibit municipalities from establishing ordinances more restrictive than state law regarding livestock which get out of fences or other enclosures. Under state law, a person is guilty of permitting livestock or animals to run at large on another's property only if they do so knowingly, voluntarily, negligently or willfully. The proposed legislation would require any municipal ordinances to include the same standard of intent.
| 'The Game Plan' Advances in House, Senate | |
A package of four bills designed to extend economic development incentives, increase transparency, accelerate technology innovation and develop industry-ready sites unanimously passed the House of Representatives Thursday. The Senate also unanimously approved companion legislation for two of the measures and is expected to take up the other components of the package next week.
Dubbed 'The Game Plan,' the quartet of bills would enhance and extend to 2028 the Alabama Jobs Act and Growing Alabama Act, which are set to expire in July. The package also would reestablish the technology accelerator tax credit and underrepresented company tax credit programs.
House-Passed Bills:
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HB 240 by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, would require the Department of Commerce to publish certain information regarding economic development incentives awarded under the Alabama Jobs Act.
- HB 241 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would extend to 2028 the Alabama Jobs Act and gradually increase the annual cap on tax credits under the Growing Alabama Act to $35 million by 2028.
- HB 247 by Rep. Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, would create the Innovating Alabama tax credit program for technology accelerators and underrepresented companies.
- HB 257 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would authorize the State Industrial Development Authority to make site assessment and development grants and create the Alabama Site Development Fund. The bill is known as the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act.
Senate-Passed Bills
- SB 151 by Sen Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, is the Senate companion of the transparency bill, HB 240, approved by the House.
- SB 165 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur is the Senate companion to the SEEDS Act, HB 257, approved by the House.
| Bill Introduced to Exempt Fencing from Sales Tax | |
Legislation championed by the Alabama Cattlemen's Association was introduced this week to exempt livestock fencing materials from Alabama's sales and use tax.
SB 200 by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, has been referred to the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.
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Federal Judge Freezes WOTUS Rule in Alabama | |
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Alabama farmers applaud a U.S. District Court decision to halt the 2023 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule in 24 states. The April 12 ruling out of North Dakota follows a March 20 court decision to stop implementation in Texas and Idaho.
Alabama Farmers Federation’s Mitt Walker thanked Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall for bringing the suit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Marshall and fellow attorneys general filed the suit Feb. 21.
“We appreciate Attorney General Marshall for taking action against the federal government’s blatant regulatory overreach,” said Walker, the Federation’s Governmental & Agricultural Programs Department director. “This ruling is a win in our fight for clear, concise rules based on the knowledge that farmers and landowners are wise stewards of the land.” Read more.
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