April 21, 2022
The legislative session has come and gone and leaders in both parties and chambers have different reactions to how it wrapped up. Lots of legislation was passed to benefit Alabamians, and both parties oversaw the passage of priority bills.
Below you will find a summary of some key issues during the 2022 session followed by the End of Session Reports.
KEY ISSUES SUMMARY
What passed?
HB 272: PERMITLESS CONCEALED CARRY
The new law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2023, will end the requirement for a person to get a concealed carry permit to carry a loaded handgun concealed under their clothes, in a car or in a purse or bag.
HB 1: PANDEMIC MONEY
Alabama will spend $772 million in pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan on a mix of broadband, water and sewer projects and health care reimbursements.
SB 0184: TRANSGENDER MEDICATION BAN FOR PEOPLE UNDER 19
The bill would make it a felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to transgender people under age 19 to help in their gender transition.
HB 220: DELAY OF READING PROMOTION
Alabama lawmakers voted to delay a high-stakes requirement to hold back third graders who don’t meet reading benchmarks. The requirement was set to begin this spring. Lawmakers voted to delay it until the 2023-2024 school year.
HB 322: “DONT SAY GAY”/ BATHROOM BILL
The bill would mandate that in public K-12 schools, students can only use multi-person bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with the gender on their original birth certificate. It also includes what critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” provision that would prohibit classroom instruction or discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through the fifth grade.
HB 82 | HB 162 | HB 231: TAX CUTS
Lawmakers approved a series of tax cuts for people and businesses. One bill will increase the optional standard deduction by $1,000 for married taxpayers and by $500 for single, married filing separately and head of household taxpayers . It would also increase the adjusted gross income range allowable for the maximum optional standard deduction and for the dependent exemption.
Another approved bill will exempt up to $6,000 in retirement income from state income taxes for people who are 65 years of age or older.
HB 135: TEACHER PAY
Alabama lawmakers approved the largest teacher pay raise in a generation to try to combat a teacher shortage. Teachers with nine or more years of experience would get raises ranging from 5% to up to nearly 21%. A teacher with a bachelor’s degree and 20 years of experience would see their minimum salary rise from $51,810 to $57,214. Teachers with less than nine years of experience would see a 4% raise.
HJR 88: REMOVING RACIST LANGUAGE
Alabama voters in November will vote on a plan to strip racist language, such as provisions about poll taxes and segregated schools, from the Alabama Constitution. The sections were invalidated by court rulings but remain in the document. The plan also reorganizes the massive, sprawling document that has nearly 1,000 constitutional amendments to try to make it more user friendly.
What failed to pass?
Lottery and casino legislation failed again amid longstanding disputes over who should get casino licenses.
A sweeping school choice bill that would have let parents tap $5,500 per year to pay for private school or other school options also failed.
A bill to ban a list of “divisive concepts” from being taught in K-12 classrooms and state worker training was approved in the House of Representatives but did not get a Senate vote.
END OF SESSION REPORTS
Below is a complete list of bills that passed and failed this session, as well as other end-of-session reports.
Your input matters
Your opinions shape the roadmap for next year’s legislative session!
Engagifii’s product team has been reviewing the features requested by users earlier this session and are incorporating it into Engagifii’s Product Roadmap for the 2023 Legislative Session.
To contribute your ideas to Engagifii’s 2023 Product Roadmap, or provide product feedback please click here. Our team is dedicated to providing our customers in Alabama with the best legislative engagement solution available.
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