SPRING BREAK ENDS & FILIBUSTER BEGINS
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The return of the Alabama Legislature from spring break was marked by a filibuster after the failure of the House to pass the budget isolation resolution (BIR) to allow debate on the removal of sales tax on groceries. Despite the filibuster, Speaker of the House Seth Hammett is hopeful a return to productivity will occur next week.
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HOUSING INITIATIVE TO BE
VOTED ON TUESDAY
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The Rules Committee report yesterday had SB367 (Barron, Fyffe) as the first bill on its special order calendar. Several members filibustered all day, but late in the afternoon, the calendar was adopted and the housing initiative debate began. Ultimately, the budget isolation resolution on the bill was passed. After more filibustering, the House adjourned and will reconvene Tuesday with HBAA's bill as unfinished business. Our bill has to be considered before any other business can transpire.
Representative Mark Keahey (D-Grove Hill) is the floor leader on HBAA's behalf speaking for the legislation. Representative Mike Hill (R-Columbiana) continues to be a valuable resource for Keahey as well. The HBAA would be remiss if it did not thank Speaker of the House Seth Hammett (D-Andalusia) for his leadership on this issue and for making it a priority for the House and the building industry.
HBAA is comfortable with the vote count, however, if you see or have the opportunity to talk to any of your House members before Tuesday, please thank them for their support of SB367.
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STATEWIDE BUILDING CODE BILL
UNDER FIRE FROM FIRE CHIEFS
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The HBAA is taking a step back in an effort to develop a new strategy for dealing with passing a statewide building code. Fire chiefs from across Alabama have been very active in speaking to legislators in couching this issue as an affront to home rule and have prepared amendments to exempt several cities from the bill. The HBAA has no intention of allowing the bill to move forward under these conditions.
The effort to adopt a statewide building code has been a priority for the HBAA since Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast and numerous counties inland. No other state that borders the coast is without a statewide building code. This effort to create a standard for the construction of new homes has now been perverted by fire officials and their fire sprinkler cohorts in a one-issue assault. Their sole desire to mandate residential fire sprinklers in new homes has clouded the intent of a piece of legislation that was developed by industry, insurance, and regulators. There should be no doubt that the HBAA opposed such a mandate and we are not alone.
The fire chiefs are well organized. This week they had the fire chiefs from each of the Commerce committee members' districts at their weekly meeting. That kind of pressure works. Legislators can not ignore the fact that their fire officials are there advocating a position. That in itself raises a question. How many of those fire chiefs are authorized by their community to take a stand supporting mandating residential fire sprinklers? Mayors and City Councils have been taken out of the equation in this policy decision. Even if a city says that they are opposed to sprinklers, it falls on deaf ears when their fire chief shows up at the legislature in full dress uniform of that community advocating a position.
Obviously, the fight has grown more complex. The HBAA is working to develop a strategy to handle these issues, while attempting to preserve the initial intent of the legislation to provide safe, high quality, and affordable housing to all of Alabama. |
LANDLORD TENANT GETS FAVORABLE REPORT
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| HB 680 (McLaughlin, Guntersville) received a favorable report this week after the introduction of substitute language. The bill, as substituted, is agreed to by all parties and includes language from the HBAA's Investment Property Owners Council. The measure now moves to the House floor for action.
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LEGISLATURE 101 WHAT IS A BIR?
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| We often speak of legislative terms and procedures that may need a little extra explaining. One of those items we speak about is the Budget Isolation Resolution (BIR). Adopted in 1984, this Constitutional amendment mandates that the state's general fund and education budgets be given priority in the regular session. To get around the requirement that the legislature must deal with the budgets before any other legislation, the body utilizes the BIR, which, when adopted by a three-fifths vote of the chamber, allows the body to take up other legislation. A BIR must be adopted each time a piece of legislation is going to be considered prior to the budget.
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