Daily Report – Wednesday, March 24
The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee held a public hearing today on SB540 by Sen. Zeb Little, the bill that would remove the mortgage and deed tax until January 2012. As we have reported earlier, counties receive 1/3 of this tax that is estimated to be about $11 million dollars statewide. ACCA Executive Director Sonny Brasfield and ACCA President Larry White spoke in opposition to the legislation at the hearing, requesting that, at a minimum, the committee restore the county portion of the tax.
Several county commissioners and administrators were in attendance at the meeting to show their legislators how important the defeat of this legislation is to county government. And many, many county officials and administrators contacted their legislators by phone, e-mail, or in person to express OPPOSITION to the bill. Thanks to all the efforts that have been made – and keep making those calls and sending those e-mails!
The committee took no action today, but it is anticipated that they will vote on this legislation next week. The committee normally meets on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. We will keep you posted on developments related to this very dangerous legislation and will let you know the exact time and place when the meeting is scheduled.
However, for those of you planning to travel to Montgomery next Wednesday for County Day at the Legislature, it would be great if you could make your travel plans in order to be in Montgomery in time for the 10:30 meeting. A strong presence of county officials and administrators in and around the committee room during the meeting could make a significant impact on the committee members.
Thanks again to all who have made contact with their legislators on this dangerous legislation. It is having an impact so please keep up the good work.
FINANCE AND TAXATION GENERAL FUND: Chair Sen. Roger Bedford; Butler, Singleton, Barron, Benefield, Dunn, French, Glover, Keahey, Mitchem, Orr, Penn, Pittman, Preuitt, Sanders and Beason
Daily Report – Wednesday, Feb. 13
The 2010 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature kicked off on Tuesday, Jan. 12 with the introduction of about 500 bills. ACCA staff is now reviewing the bills introduced and will send out a detailed report of the first week's activities this Friday.
We have already had some success in this first week. Two ACCA priority bills were voted out of committee today and will be ready for consideration next week:
HB62 by Rep. Randy Wood, which provides that governmental entities not pay more for vehicle tags and registration than the fees charged for standard passenger vehicles. Passage of this bill will over time decrease the cost paid by state and local governments. This bill was given a favorable report by the House Public Safety Committee.
SB174 by Sen. Kim Benefield, which provides that the Board of Adjustment cannot deny claims filed by a county governmental entity for reimbursement of costs or expenses that have been rejected by a state agency as untimely filed unless the state agency has properly adopted and followed procedures under the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. This bill was given a favorable report by the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Many thanks to Rep. Wood and Sen. Benefield for making these bills a priority and getting early committee action. ACCA staff hopes to have several more bills considered in committee next week.
Questions? Please call the ACCA office at (334) 263-7594.
