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LEGISLATURE CONVENES AMID BUDGET SHORTFALLS
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| The members of Alabama's House and Senate converged on Montgomery this week for the start of the 2011 Legislative Session. The new Republican-controlled legislature is faced with a number of challenges, none more serious than the looming budget shortfalls in the General Fund and Education budgets.
Governor Bentley, in his first State of the State address, described the dire situation facing Alabama's budgets. To combat the shortfalls in the current budgets, agency budgets will be cut across the board, with some boards and commissions possibly being "zeroed" out entirely. These cuts will get them part way there, but many legislators by week's end were openly talking about significant layoffs of state workers. Governor Bentley offered encouragement when he stated that future budgets would be based on realistic projections and committed to never deliver a budget that would require proration.
Although challenged by budgetary issues, the new legislature is moving quickly to address many of the campaign promises made during the general election.
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PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION
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| On Wednesday, the House committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security held a public hearing to receive feedback on HB56 (Hammons, R-Decatur). The bill is similar in concept to the Arizona legislation passed a few years ago that places specific requirements on local law enforcement agencies and employers. This bill will mandate the use of E-verify, a federal program designed to help employers determine the legal status of potential employees. This has been a point of significant concern to small businesses fearing the costs of E-verify will be onerous.
Rep. Hammons has committed to work with the HBAA and other business groups to address their concerns. The HBAA will be working closely to ensure that home builders and other small businesses do not bear a disproportionate cost of enforcing the new laws dealing with illegal immigration.
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LANDLORD TENANT TO BE INTRODUCED NEXT WEEK
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| The HBAA's Investment Property Owners Committee is in the process of reviewing and tweaking draft language meant to fix problems that have plagued Alabama's Landlord Tenant laws. The draft legislation is designed to clarify the eviction procedure and allow for the recovery of attorney fees.
The HBAA hopes to have all changes made and the bill introduced by next week. The Alabama Association of Realtors has drafted a bill concerning Landlord Tenant changes and is incorporating HBAA language into their draft as well.
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LEGISLATIVE ALERT AVAILABLE EACH FRIDAY DURING SESSION
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The HBAA prepares the Legislative ALERT each week during the legislative session in order to keep its members up to date on the latest news concerning bills of interest to the home building industry. If you have comments or questions concerning the Legislative ALERT or about the HBAA's legislative efforts, feel free to contact us at 800-745-4222 or by email at russelldavis@hbaa.org or jasonreid@hbaa.org.
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