HBAA AGREES TO EXECUTIVE AMENDMENT
|
After determining that an executive amendment added to the Home Buyers Initiative by Governor Riley would not be detrimental to the program, the HBAA agreed to the amendment and the measure was passed by the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday. The bill now goes back to the Governor for signature, which he has scheduled for Tuesday, April 21.
By signing the bill, the Governor will in essence be giving the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) the permission to proceed with officially developing the program that has been envisioned. Before any mortgages can be issued, however, investors will have to be identified that will be willing to buy the mortgages. The HBAA is working with the AHFA to secure investors so that the program can be launched as soon as possible.
|
CALL TO ACTION:
BUILDING CODE BILL TO COME BEFORE
SENATE COMMITTEE NEXT WEEK
|
The HBAA has been working with several cities to develop some compromise language for dealing with the home rule concerns that have been voiced by fire officials over SB 448 (Z. Little, Cullman). The HBAA hopes to have the language finalized before Tuesday's meeting of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. The HBAA is also working with House Commerce Committee Chairman Frank McDaniel to get HB 633 on his committee's agenda for next Wednesday.
The reality is that even addressing the home rule concerns will not eliminate the opposition by the fire officials. Their concerns over home rule are little more than a smoke screen (pardon the pun) designed to hide their desire for residential fire sprinklers. Knowing this to be true, the HBAA expects the fire officials to raise some yet discussed concern with the bill to again slow the progress of the legislation. The fire chiefs have become emboldened by their ability as they say to "apply the hand break" to this bill. The time has come to call them out into the open about sprinkling every new home built in Alabama.
Attached is a list of the members of two committees. The first is the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee and the other being the House Commerce Committee. We ask that if your Senator or Representative is on either of these committees that you call them and ask that they support SB 448 and HB 633 as amended to address the home rule issues. Further, ask that they NOT support efforts to exempt their communities from the legislation. Explain to them that the fire officials' true motive is to mandate residential fire sprinklers at the expense of affordable housing.
|
LANDLORD TENANT SUBSTITUTE
ADOPTED IN COMMITTEE
|
| The Senate Judiciary Committee adopted a substitute for SB 397 (Barron, Fyffe) and received its second reading in the Senate. The substitute was negotiated by the HBAA Investment Property Owners Council, Realtors, Alabama Law Institute, Trial Lawyers and others. The HBAA is working with Senator Barron to get the bill on an upcoming calendar. |
NINE DAYS TO SINE DIE
|
The Alabama Legislature concluded its 21st legislative day on Thursday leaving only 9 legislative days until the Constitutionally required end of session. The length of the regular session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. There are usually two meeting or "legislative" days per week, with other days devoted to committee meetings.
|
