Garlan Gudger

Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, regulation of retail sale of certain tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems, further provided

Community development districts; alcoholic beverage tax in certain districts, distribution of proceeds provided for

Massage Therapy Licensing Board temporarily under Board of Nursing; authorize Executive Director of the Board of Nursing, or designee to perform certain functions; define and provide for emergency order; clarify status of practice with a temporary permit; provide for annual meeting; require a majority vote to discipline licensee; provide further for the qualifications for licensing and the contents of an application; outcall massage therapy services and inspections of massage therapy establishments; to authorize the board, by rule, to establish and collect reasonable fees; to provide further for investigations, discipline, and fingerprinting of licensees and applicants for licensing; and to provide further for massage therapy schools.

Office of Water Resources; division chief as exempt service employee, established; duties further provided

Development of recommendations for the enhancement of rural Alabama through the Alabama Growth Alliance and the Alabama Rural Roadmap initiative, encouraged

79th Southern Legislative Conference, commemorated

Absentee voting; prohibit assistance in preparation of; exceptions provided

Statewide 911 Board, continued until October 1, 2026, without modification, pursuant to the Sunset Law

Alabama Board of Massage Therapy, terminated pursuant to the Sunset law and replaced by the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board

Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, continued until October 1, 2028, without modification, pursuant to the Sunset Law

Sunset law, Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering is continued until October 1, 2028

Alabama Professional Bail Bonding Board, continued until October 1, 2025, without modification, pursuant to the Sunset Law

Taxation; creates Tourism Tax Protection Act

Gas districts formed by two or more municipalities, board of directors, fee for board meetings increased

State of Alabama Plumbers and Gas Fitters Examining Board, compensation of members increased, transfer of certain funds to the Alabama Home Builders Foundation. qualified licensees permitted to perform limited electrical work related to installation, service, or repair of equipment

To exempt food pantries in Cullman County from sales and use tax

State symbols; designate Little Bluestem as the official State Grass of Alabama.

Relating to child care and workforce development; to establish the employer tax credit, childcare facility tax credit, and nonprofit childcare provider grant program; to make legislative findings

Entertainment Industry Incentive Act of 2009 amended, music albums included as qualified production, minimum qualifications established

Alabama Film Office, director appointment process revised

Relating to health care facilities; to add Section 22-21-437 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to require health care facilities to adopt certain visitation policies; to provide that patients have a right to certain visitation; to allow patients to designate an essential caregiver and to guarantee that caregiver certain visitation rights; to prohibit a health care facility from adopting a visitation policy that is more stringent than certain employee policies; to prohibit a health care facility from requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination or from prohibiting consensual physical contact between visitors and patients; to provide for the circumstances in which patients may not be denied visitors who are not essential caregivers; to require health care facilities to provide visitation policies to the Department of Public Health; to require the Department of Public Health to develop a mechanism for complaints; to provide certain immunity from liability in certain circumstances; to exempt certain psychiatric care facilities from the provisions of this bill; and to repeal Sections 22-21-430 through 22-21-436, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to hospital visitation during a public health emergency.

Relating to economic development; to add Section 40-18-379.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to require the Department of Commerce to publish certain information regarding economic development incentives awarded under the Alabama Jobs Act.

Relating to alcoholic beverages; to amend Section 2 of Act 2022-431 of the 2022 Regular Session, now appearing as Section 28-3A-13.3, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the amounts of alcoholic beverages that may be sold curbside.

Relating to labor and employement; to exclude consideration of a motor carrier's use of safety improvements, technologies, practices, and driver coaching in determining a motor carrier driver's classification as an independent contractor or an employee under state law.

Relating to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; to amend Sections 28-11-2, 28-11-3, 28-11-5, 28-11-6.1, 28-11-7, 28-11-9, 28-11-10, 28-11-12, 28-11-13, 28-11-14, 28-11-16, 28-11-17.1, and 28-11-18, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the definition of "electronic nicotine delivery system" to include delivery of substances other than tobacco; to further provide for the sale of tobacco and other related products to minors; to further provide for the distribution of tobacco products through a vending machine; to provide fees for the retail sale of certain tobacco products; to increase penalties for certain violations; to establish the Tobacco Licensing and Compliance Fund in the State Treasury and provide for its administration; to further provide for the membership of the advisory board to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; to further provide for the requirement of tobacco retailers to post signage warning of the dangers of tobacco product use; to require the board to adopt rules; to repeal Sections 28-11-15 and 28-11-19, Code of Alabama 1975, and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Relating to the waters of the state impounded by Lewis Smith Dam; to regulate and prohibit wakeboarding and wakesurfing under certain conditions; to provide penalties for violations; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Relating to child care and workforce development; to establish the employer tax credit and child care provider tax credit; to make legislative findings.

Relating to the Entertainment Industry Incentive Act of 2009; to amend Sections 41-7A-40, 41-7A-41, 41-7A-42, 41-7A-43, 41-7A-45, and 41-7A-48, Code of Alabama 1975, to expand the incentive by renaming it the Film and Music Incentive Act of 2023, to allow for the inclusion of music and virtual reality as qualified production companies; to define a "historic location," and to increase the current cap of the incentive.

Relating to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; to require the Department of Mental Health to develop, administer, and adopt rules relating to Alabama's Crisis System of Care; to create the Alabama 988 Crisis Care Fund; to provide for the collection and use of a statewide surcharge on certain communication service connections; to create the 988 Commission to provide oversight to the fund; and to protect certain communication service providers from certain liability.

Relating to Cullman County, to amend Section 45-22-225 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to change the composition of the Cullman County Tourism Bureau; and to amend Sections 45-22-242 and 45-22-242.11 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the rate of taxation and for the use of the proceeds of the tax.

Relating to state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes; to exempt food pantries in Cullman County from all state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes for certain purchases.

Relating to current use value of class III property current use value; to amend Section 40-7-25.3, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the look back period for assessing ad valorem taxes on current use property.

Relating to the practice of Massage Therapy; to add Chapter 43A to Title 34 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to create the State Board of Licensure for Massage Therapists in the office of the Secretary of State; to provide for the membership of the new board and duties of the Secretary of State and that board; to provide for the transfer of the powers, duties, rights, records, and property of the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy to the State Board of Licensure for Massage Therapists and the Chief Examiner of Public Accounts temporarily during the transition; to preserve existing regulatory law; to extend the expiration date of licenses issued by the former board until the membership of the new board is established; to repeal Chapter 43 of Title 34, Code of Alabama 1975, providing for the Alabama Board of Massage Therapy; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

URGING THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PRIORITIZE THE WIDENING OF INTERSTATE 65.

DECLARING CULLMAN COUNTY STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AS THE ALABAMA STATE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL.

Relating to health care facilities; to add Section 22-21-437 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to require health care facilities to adopt certain visitation policies; to provide that patients have a right to certain visitation; to allow patients to designate an essential caregiver and to guarantee that caregiver certain visitation rights; to prohibit a health care facility from adopting a visitation policy that is more stringent than certain employee policies; to prohibit a health care facility from requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination or from prohibiting consensual physical contact between visitors and patients; to provide for the circumstances in which patients may not be denied visitors; to require health care facilities to provide visitation policies to the Department of Public Health; to require the Department of Public Health to develop a mechanism for complaints; to prohibit any suspension or modification by emergency rule or order; and to repeal Sections 22-21-430 through 22-21-436, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to hospital visitation during a public health emergency.

Critical infrastructure, provides further for crime of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure, including unmanned aircraft systems, provides additional penalties, Sec. 13A-7-4.3 am'd.

Community Development Districts, certain districts meeting certain criteria in unincorp. area of county, rate of taxation on sale of alcoholic beverages specified, Sec. 35-8B-1 am'd.

Small Business Relief and Revitalization Act of 2022, cancellation of indebtedness income exempt from income tax, financial institution excise tax and corporate income tax due date extension, certain business tangible personal property ad valorem tax exemption, deposit of certified funds with Revenue in lieu of one-time surety bond for licensure, average monthly sales tax liability for estimated payments increased, Secs. 40-16-3.1, 40-18-39.1 added; Secs. 40-9-1, 40-23-6, 40-23-6.1, 40-23-7 am'd.

Navigation, operation of vessels, wake boarding and wake surfing restrictions and requirements, provided, criminal penalty for violation, provided

Municipal courts, traffic tickets, fines and penalties, municipalities limited in the amount of money a municipality may retain, transfer of excess to State Finance Department for further distribution

Firefighters and rescue squad members, income tax credit for training under certain conditions

Lawrence and Limestone Counties, Board of Registrars, maximum number of days increased, Sec. 17-3-8 am'd.

Cullman High School Boys Basketball Team, commended

Competitive bidding, awarding authority allowed to negotiate lowest bidder when all bids exceed available funding, Sec. 39-2-6 am'd.

Business entities, Sec. of State authorized to waive the Certificate of Existence fee for business entities under certain conditions, Sec. 10A-1-4.31 am'd.

Sweet potato, official state vegetable, designated

Health, require health care facilities to allow one caregiver or visitor to patients or residents, subject to reasonable restrictions

Debit and credit card swipe fee, exclude from fee calculation taxes and fees added on to purchase price

Lottery, authorized, distribution of proceeds for postsecondary scholarships and mental health services in public schools, implementation by general law, const. amend.

Community development districts, alcoholic beverages, taxation on the sale of alcoholic beverages, further provided, proceeds from sales tax would be deposited into a special fund in the county treasury, Sec. 35-8B-5 added; Sec. 35-8B-1 am'd.

Cullman Co., no cost, pistol permits, applicants may make donation to sheriff, sheriff not required to send any information relating to pistol permits or firearm prohibition

Cullman Co., lodgings tax decreased upon retirement of certain debt, Cullman County Tourism Bureau estab., Secs. 45-22-242, 45-22-242.11 am'd.

Employees' Retirement System Board of Control, membership revised, diversity language included, terms of service further provided for, Sec. 36-27-23 am'd.

Baldwin, Emee, commended

Volunteer Fire Departments and Community Medical Responders, Joint Legislative Study Committee on, created

Hargrove, Joey Ryan, death mourned

Flanigan, Alexandria, commended

Community Development District, adjust rate of taxation on sale of alcholic beverages, Sec. 35-8B-1 am'd.

Community Development District, adjust rate of taxation on sale of alcholic beverages, Sec. 35-8B-1 am'd.

Ethics, revolving door prohibition, allow former public official or employee to work for same or other public employer, Sec. 36-25-13.1 added

Competitve bidding, awarding authority allowed to negotiate lowest bidder when all bids exceed available funding, Sec. 39-2-6 am'd.

Crisis Diversion Centers, established, to provide behavioral health crisis services

Dental Scholarship Awards Board, Alabama Dental Service Program, name revised from Council on Dental Education to Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association, Sec. 16-47-78 am'd.

Lodging tax, rooms and spaces not used for overnight accommodations, exemption, consistent with rule of Revenue Dept., Sec. 40-26-1 am'd.

Manufactured homes, distribution of certificate of title transaction fees clarified; years for requirement for certificate of title updated. Section amnd 32-20-4, 32-20-20, and 32-20-21

Legislative Oversight Committee, distinctive tag program, private two-year colleges, Sec. 32-6-67 am'd.

Health, mentally ill persons, probate court, authorized to issue a renewal of an involuntary commitment order for treatment, after a hearing, Sec. 22-52-10.10 added; Secs. 22-52-10.2, 22-52-10.3 am'd.

Boards and commissions, Alabama Small Business Commission, appointing authority further provided, Sec. 41-29-240 am'd.

Taxation, inspection fees, penalties, transfer distribution responsibilities from State Treasurer to the Dept. of Revenue

Coal, excise and privilege tax, proceeds distribution further provided, termination of tax on October 1, 2033, Secs. 40-13-6, 40-13-8 am'd.

State Board of Auctioneers, qualifications for licensure, annual single use auction license, inactive licenses, reciprocal licensing of apprentice auctioneer prohibited, conduct of auctions without a license, disciplinary actions pursuant to APA, board membership and meetings, Secs. 34-4-21, 34-4-23, 34-4-25, 34-4-27, 34-4-28, 34-4-29, 34-4-30, 34-4-31, 34-4-33, 34-4-50, 34-4-52 am'd.

Entertainment, increase cap on film production tax credits, Sec. 41-7A-48 am'd.

Busy Bee Cafe, 100th anniversary, commended

First Baptist Church of Fairview, 100th anniversary, commended