House Rejects Senate-Amended Gambling Bills

The Alabama House of Representatives voted to non-concur with Senate-amended gambling legislation Thursday.

Senate versions of HB 151 and 152 by Chris Blackshear, R-Phenix City, would expand gambling in Alabama by providing for a state-run lottery, the establishment of a gaming enforcement division and amnesty for existing gambling establishments operating under local constitutional amendments. The bills passed the Senate March 7. House versions, which passed Feb. 15, included sports betting and up to 10 Las Vegas-style casinos.

Alabama Farmers Federation policy opposes legalizing gambling in any form.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, appointed Reps. Blackshear; Sam Jones, D-Mobile; and Andy Whitt, R-Ardmore; to a conference committee. Conference committees consist of three members from each chamber and are called when there are differences between Senate and House versions of bills. The committee is charged with drafting a compromise or conference report which is then voted on by both chambers without the possibility for amendments. 

The Senate adjourned Thursday without appointing conferees.



Federation External Affairs Director Brian Hardin said the fight to stop gambling expansion is far from over. 

“This is bad public policy,” Hardin said. “This legislation comes with only negative side effects and will hurt every Alabama citizen. Just because it has stopped moving doesn’t mean it’s dead.”

Federation members are urged to contact their state senators and ask them to not convene a conference committee and vote “no” on any potential gambling legislation. 

Ag Authority Legislation Delayed in Senate 

Legislation needed to establish the Alabama Farm Center was delayed in the Senate Tuesday while a companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives Thursday.

SB 219 by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, would give the state Farm Center the same powers and abilities that county ag authorities already have under current law. It simply designates this entity as the statewide Farm Center to serve the entire state. The bill also creates the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation to operate the Farm Center.

SB 219 was carried over in the Senate Tuesday after passage of a procedural motion (BIR) allowing the legislation to be considered ahead of the budgets. The BIR vote count is listed below.

A companion bill, HB 417 by House Agriculture and Forestry Chairman Danny Crawford, R-Athens, was introduced in the House Thursday. 

Questions raised by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, and Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Spanish Fort, prevented a vote on SB 219. Passing the bill out of the Senate next week is a Federation priority, and members are encouraged to contact their senators and ask the to vote "yes" on SB 219.

Similar legislation passed by Georgia has spurred positive economic development for the state. Estimated economic impact for the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter (GNFA), which operates under similar legislation to SB 219 and HB 417, showed over 1 million visitors to GNFA in 2022, with over 200,000 from out-of-state. GNFA also produced over $133 million of goods and services in Georgia.

Federation State Legislative Programs Director Russ Durrance thanked Sen. Shelnutt for his commitment to seeing the Senate version passed and Rep. Crawford for sponsoring legislation to make the Alabama Farm Center a reality.

“Their commitment to promoting agriculture in Alabama is evident in their willingness to lead the charge in the Senate and House,” Durrance said. “We’re thankful to them and all the co-sponsors for helping bring the Farm Center into existence.”

Durrance also thanked Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, and Senate Rule Committee Chair Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, for placing SB 219 on Tuesday's agenda.

HB 417 is co-sponsored by Reps. Ron Bolton, R-Northport; Napoleon Bracy, D-Prichard; Susan DuBose, R-Hoover;  Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale; David Faulkner, R-Homewood; Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope; Bob Fincher, R-Woodland; Travis Hendrix, D-Birmingham; Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham; Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena; Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road; Arnold Mooney, R-Birmingham; Mary Moore, D-Birmingham; Neil Rafferty, R-Birmingham; Mike Shaw, R-Hoover; Van Smith, R-Clanton; David Standridge, R-Oneonta; Ontario Tillman, D-Bessemer; Curtis Travis, D-Tuscaloosa; and Allen Treadaway, R-Morris.

SB 219 is co-sponsored by Sens. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham; Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook; and Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills.

HB 417 has been referred to the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee. 

Not voting were Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville; Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham; and Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer.

Alfa Health Plan Legislation Awaiting Vote

Alfa Health Plan legislation is awaiting a vote in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, which did not meet this week. 

SB 232 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would allow the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer quality healthcare at a reasonable price as a member benefit option. 

Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said Alfa Health Plans could give relief to members who don’t qualify for employer-sponsored plans or adequate federal subsidies.

“We believe these plans could help young farmers, small business owners and anyone paying crippling high prices for health insurance,” Hardin said. “While not insurance, these plans would provide coverage comparable to major health insurers. We want to give our members an option that could save money and time dedicated solely to health coverage.”

Hardin thanked Sen. Orr for his dedication to helping farmers across Alabama and encouraged committee members to address the issue soon.

“Costly healthcare has prevented many young farmers from starting or growing their operations,” Hardin said. “Many go without insurance or spouses take off-farm jobs to the detriment of operations. This is an issue our members want addressed immediately.”

Members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee are Chair Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville; Vice Chair Jack Williams, R-Wilmer; Ranking Minority Member Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham; Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road; Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Ino; Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove; Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine; Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery; Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn; Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre; Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab; Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro; Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika; Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook; Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro; and Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills.

More information about Alfa Health Plans can be found at the “Closing the Gap” Fact Sheet below. Watch the video below to hear from Marshall County Young Farmers Hunter and Erin Tolleson about the need for Alfa Health Plans.

Members are encouraged to contact their senators and ask them vote “yes” on SB 232. 

House District 27 Election Goes to Runoff

A special election for state House District 27 featuring FarmPAC-endorsed candidate Jeana Ross (pictured) will be decided by a runoff later this month. 

Ross, a former Alabama secretary of early childhood education, received 39% of the vote Tuesday. Ross will face Arab City Councilman Alan Miller in the runoff April 30. 

The winner will become the next representative from District 27 since no Democratic candidates entered the race. 

The seat became open after Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, won an election in January the State Senate District 9 seat vacated by former Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield. 

Ross said her first commitment is to improve education in the state and feels her role as an education secretary in Gov. Kay Ivey’s cabinet will serve her well. 

“We are very grateful to the voters and extremely happy about our turnout," Ross said. "I look forward to getting our conservative message out to Marshall County over the next four weeks."

Bills in Brief

• Budgets: SB 67 by Sen. Greg Albritton, R- Atmore, would set the state General Fund Budget for the 2025 fiscal year. The bill was substituted and passed out of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Thursday. Federation priorities would be level funded if the legislation passed in its current state. The Education Trust Fund Budget bill, HB 145 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, was presented in the House Ways and Means Education committee this week with a vote expected next week. 

• Property Tax Cap: HB 73 by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, would cap annual ad valorem tax increases at 5% for Class II commercial and business property and Class III residential, agricultural, forestry and historic property. HB 73 is on the proposed House agenda for Tuesday. A companion, SB 110 by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, was carried over in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Wednesday. Federation policy supports property tax caps. 

• Carbon Sequestration - HB 327 by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, and a companion, SB 230 by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, officially recognizes an ownership interest in "pore space," defined as small pockets of space located deep in the ground. These bills attach that ownership interest to the surface owner of the property. This legislation creates the right for the surface owner to sell that pore space and creates a new economic use of land (pore space) that was otherwise being unused. These bills also allow for carbon dioxide storage in underground pore space. The legislation provides for forced pooling of storage sites so long as at least 60% of the owners agree to have CO2 stored under their property. After 10 years and a set of inspections, title to the CO2 under the land would transfer to the State of Alabama. SB 230 was amended and reported out of the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Wednesday. HB 327 was reported out of the House State Government Committee Wednesday and is on the proposed House agenda for Tuesday. The Federation is monitoring both bills and determining their impact on private property rights.

• Working for Alabama: Bills introduced in the “Working for Alabama” legislative package were reported out of committee this week.  The package of bills is designed to strengthen workforce, community and economic development across Alabama. Explanations for each bill can be found at the link below. 

• Alabama Workforce Transformation Act – SB 247 by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, was reported out of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee. HB 344 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, was reported out of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee

• Workforce Pathways Act - SB 253 by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, was reported out of the Senate Education Policy Committee. 

• Alabama Growth Alliance Act - SB 252 by Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper, was amended and reported out of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee. HB 372 by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Baileyton, was reported out of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee. 



• Innovation District Act - SB 242 by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro and SB 243 by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, were reported out of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee. HB 349 by Rep. James Lomax, R-Huntsville, and HB 368 by Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, were reported out of the House Economic Development and Tourism Committee. 

• Animal Disposal:  SB 202 by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Ino, would allow for the disposal of dead animals in accordance with rules adopted by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. Under existing law, animals that are killed or otherwise die must be burned or buried within 24 hours of death. The bill passed the Senate Thursday and has been assigned to the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee. A companion bill, HB 297 by Rep. Matthew Hammett, R-Dozier, awaits action by the full house.

The Legislature will reconvene on Tuesday, April 9, for day 20 of a possible 30 days. 

The House and Senate will convene at 2 p.m.

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 Brian Hardin - Director, External Affairs Department

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