HOME BUYERS INITIATIVE PASSES LEGISLATURE
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The Alabama House of Representatives passed the Home Buyers Initiative Act on Tuesday afternoon. On a vote of 101 to 0, the measure has cleared its last legislative hurdle and now heads to the Governor for signature.
The HBAA is appreciative of all the efforts of the membership on this issue. Members who called their legislators aided the HBAA in winning the day on this important legislation.
The HBAA would like to thank Senator Lowell Barron for his leadership in helping to craft this legislation and his tireless work to promote this bill. Senator Barrron included this legislation in his stimulus efforts and flew around the state promoting it at every stop.
Representative Marc Keahey was the man of the hour on Tuesday. He served as floor leader in the Alabama House of Representatives. The HBAA appreciates his hard work on the floor answering questions and encouraging his colleagues to support the measure.
The HBAA certainly cannot let this opportunity pass without extending its thanks to Speaker of the House Seth Hammett for his support of our industry by adding this legislation to his priority list. He remains a great friend to the home building industry and his efforts on our behalf prove that yet again.
This is a great victory for the HBAA and the home building industry. The HBAA will be working closely with the Alabama Housing Finance Authority to implement this legislation as soon as possible.
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PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON
BUILDING CODE BILL
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The Senate Government Affairs Committee held a public hearing on SB 448 (Z. Little, Cullman) at the request of the fire chiefs association. As expected, the fire chiefs attempted to convince the committee that the bill would infringe upon home rule. Despite their efforts, committee members expressed an understanding that their true goal was to mandate residential fire sprinklers. When asked directly by Senator Little if they wanted to see residential fire sprinklers in new homes, the chiefs' representative responded with a resounding yes. The committee appeared unimpressed by their arguments. The HBAA informed the committee that the legislation was developed in response to Hurricane Katrina and its intent is to provide a base line code for all construction.
The House Commerce Committee is likely to call for a public hearing on the House version of the bill as early as next week. The HBAA urges members to contact the members of this committee and ask that they support this bill and oppose efforts by the fire chiefs to mandate residential fire sprinklers.
House Commerce Committee:
Representative Frank McDaniel (D-26)
(334) 242-7697
Representative Alan Harper (D-61)
(334) 242-7732
Representative Gerald Allen (R-62)
(334) 242-7758
Representative Warren Beck (R-87)
(334) 242-7774
Representative Duwayne Bridges (R-38)
(334) 242-7708
Representative Bill Dukes (D-8)
(334) 242-7689
Representative James Fields (D-12)
(334) 242-7600
Representative David Grimes (R-73)
(334) 242-7707
Representative Earl Hilliard (D-60)
(334) 242-7684
Representative A J McCampbell (D-71)
(334) 242-7747
Representative Rod Scott (D-55)
(334) 242-7752
Representative Lesley Vance (D-80)
(334) 242-7687
Representative Pebblin Warren (D-82)
(334) 242-7734
Representative Jack Williams (R-47)
(334) 242-7779
Representative Greg Wren (R-75)
(334) 242-7764
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HBAA OPPOSES TAX ON
ALABAMA EMPLOYERS
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The HBAA has joined with other business industry groups in opposing SB 460 (Smitherman, Birmingham), which equates to a multi-million dollar tax increase on all Alabama employers. The Business Associations Tax Coalition, of which the HBAA is a member, opposes provisions in the bill that will cost Alabama employers at least $22 million per year beginning in 2014.
The bill proposes that the state accept $100 million in federal stimulus funds that would pay for increased unemployment benefits until 2013. After 2013, however, state employers would have to pay for the increase in benefits. Governor Riley has opposed accepting those federal stimulus funds that are tied to costly expansions of the state's unemployment compensation laws.
Under SB 460, all employers, beginning with their first quarter unemployment tax payments in 2010, will begin paying higher taxes based on their individual tax payment formula. This formula will include higher experience ratings and higher "shared costs" brought about by a troubled economy, higher unemployment, and the thousands of new benefit recipients added to the state unemployment rolls under the provisions of SB 460.
The HBAA will continue to monitor this legislation and take those steps necessary to represent the best interests of our members.
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