The House and Senate worked at a fast pace this week, the second of the 2015 regular legislative session, by advancing bills that are important to the Alabama business community, such as charter school legislation, innovator liability reform, and economic development, in both the House and Senate.
The Senate passed SB 45, the Alabama School Choice and Opportunity Act, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston. A House committee substituted the Senate bill for its own charter school bill and gave it a favorable report on Thursday.
Both the House and Senate Judiciary committees passed important BCA-backed legal reform legislation known as innovator liability reform to protect Alabama manufacturers from being held liable for products they didn't make or sell.
The House passed a package of BCA-supported economic development bills and sent them to the Senate where they were assigned to the Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee.
A data breach bill affecting businesses was discussed in the Senate Judiciary Committee and more of Governor Robert Bentley's tax increase proposals were introduced.
Marsh was the guest speaker at this week's Tuesday Morning Briefing. He said the Legislature that was elected in 2014 has business's backs. Marsh said he believes that the 2014-18 Senate class will be even more productive and responsive to voters than the class of 2010. The 2010 class was the first Republican-majority Senate and House since Reconstruction.
The House and Senate are scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday for a three-day workweek before taking a spring break the week of March 23.
Courtesy of the Business Council of Alabama
