Alabama REALTORS® State Legislative Update

Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman), the nominee of the upper chamber’s Republican Caucus, was unanimously elected as Senate President Pro Tem, a position that gives him great influence over the actions in the Senate and the bills and measures that will be considered by its members. Upon his election, Gudger used his appointment authority to select Sen. Lance Bell (R-Pell City) as chair of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development (FRED) Committee. Gudger previously chaired the committee and vacated the seat with his promotion.

From a legislation standpoint, Gov. Kay Ivey submitted her spending recommendations for Alabama’s two budgets – the Education Trust Fund budget that allocates funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and four-year universities and the General Fund that funds state agencies. Both budgets represented record high spending, but the common theme spoken by legislative budget leaders suggested tempering expectations for future revenue growth as interest earnings from federal COVID-19 relief funding – the main driver behind recent highs – tapers.

By law, the governor’s office must file the two budgets on or by the second day of the session, followed by extensive negotiations with lawmakers, who invariably amended the executive branch submission. We will continue tracking and providing updates on the budgets.

The House focused on sunset bills that determine whether various occupational licensing boards may continue operating, and nearly twenty such bills were passed on Thursday.

The Senate prioritized moving several major Republican agenda items including a bill that codifies definitions for terms like man and woman into law, and a few measures that are designed to address illegal immigration in the state.