SB299 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Legislature; expenditure of funds further provided for; certain employee reimbursement authorized; access to buildings and roads further provided for

Summary

SB299 lets the Legislature spend public funds for staff recognition and meals, clarifies Capitol space access, and empowers street control near the Capitol when needed.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes certain legislative offices to spend funds to purchase promotional items, recognition items, and meals for staff during training and while the Legislature is in session, with limits aligned to de minimis fringe benefits. It also allows other state agencies to spend public funds for similar promotional items, recognition, and meals for staff under the same fringe benefit limits. The bill clarifies which spaces in the Capitol building are used by the House and Senate, allocates custody and care of those spaces, and grants authority to operate spaces outside the Capitol when the Legislature convenes. It grants the Legislature control over certain streets and related parking around the Capitol in Montgomery, with a requirement to provide access to adjacent property owners if those streets are closed.

Who It Affects

• Legislative officers and staff (Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House, Director of the Legislative Services Agency, Chief Examiner of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, and subordinate staff) who may spend funds or be reimbursed for staff-related expenses, including meals and recognition items.
• Adjacent property owners and the general public in the Capitol area of Montgomery who may be affected by the Legislature's new authority to control certain streets and parking and must be granted access when streets are closed.

Key Provisions

• Allows the Secretary of the Senate, Clerk of the House, Director of the Legislative Services Agency, and Chief Examiner of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to expend funds to purchase promotional items, recognition items, and meals for staff during training and sessions, with IRS de minimis fringe benefit limits.
• Authorizes other state agencies and offices to expend public funds for promotional items of nominal value, recognition items, and meals for staff, under the same fringe benefit guidelines.
• Clarifies and assigns specific Capitol spaces to the House, Senate, and joint legislative staff for custody and care; specifies spaces used during sessions and outside Capitol meetings; outlines custody responsibilities.
• Gives the Legislature control over certain streets near the Capitol in Montgomery and related parking areas, and requires access be granted to adjacent property owners if those streets are closed, via the Joint Parking Committee. Effective October 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Legislature