With focus on immigration law revisions now squarely on the Senate, the HBAA is working with the legislative leadership to include industry backed changes including the elimination of the requirement for affidavits for subcontractors. HB 658, sponsored by Rep. Mickey Hammon (R-Decatur), received a favorable report from the Senate Judiciary committee after an often contentious public hearing.   With views ranging from the bill goes too far to the bill doesn't go far enough, the floor debate, which is scheduled for next Tuesday, is likely to be long and filled with attempts to alter the legislation.

Senate Pro-Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) has taken a leadership role in attempting to bring both sides of the debate together to arrive at a consensus bill capable of passing the Senate. At the request of Senator Marsh, the HBAA and a number of business groups are meeting throughout the weekend to contact Senators and work the bill. The HBAA would like to thank Senator Marsh for his efforts to find a way forward with the revision effort. If consensus is not reached, it is unlikely any revision legislation will pass in this session.

Commonly referred to as the "ONE STOP" bill, SB 459 sponsored by Senator Slade Blackwell (R-Birmingham) passed the legislature this week and now awaits the Governor's signature. Governor Bentley is expected to sign the legislation that he believes will make Alabama "even more open for business and future economic development."

ONE SPOT stands for "Optional Network Election for Single Point Online Transactions." Under this bill, businesses will have the option to file all of their sales, use, and rental tax returns and make the accompanying payments online. All local taxing jurisdictions will be required to use the ONE SPOT system. Once signed by the Governor, the system must be operational no later than September 30, 2013.

The HBAA and other business groups have worked tirelessly over the past few years to pass this streamlining process. The HBAA extends its thanks to Senator Blackwell for his hard word on this important legislation. Additionally, the HBAA would like to thank Rep. Jack Williams (R-Birmingham) who sponsored the House version of the bill and shepherded the legislation on the House floor.

Senator Ben Brooks (R-Mobile) was successful Thursday in passing the package of insurance bills that had stalled last week due to opposition by some Alabama insurance carriers. Brooks, who had threatened to filibuster bills brought by Senators opposing the measures, has long sought passage of the bills that are designed to help bring lower insurance rates and more insurers to the gulf coast counties.

The approved bills include:

• SB210 - Requiring insurers to disclose information to the state Department of Insurance, which would aggregate the data and create a public database, searchable by ZIP code, showing how many policies insurers write, how much they charge for premiums and how much they lose in claims.
• SB227 - Allowing homeowners to create "catastrophe savings accounts," which would have tax benefits similar to a retirement account and could be used to help pay for storm damage.
• SB230 - Providing tax breaks to insurance companies that write policies in parts of south Alabama
• SB164 - Allowing Alabama-based insurers to invest money out of state.

The package of bills now moves to the House for consideration.

Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) agreed to carry over the HBAA backed lodging tax bill in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund committee on Wednesday. The HBAA received significant push back from local governments around the state, as well as from Senators fearing the measure's effect on General Fund revenue.

The Revenue Department has indicated that there are existing "work-arounds" that would give investment property owners options when dealing with local/state lodging taxes. The HBAA has invited representatives from the Revenue Department to attend the 2012 Summer Meeting in Destin to discuss these alternatives with the Investment Property Owners Council.

The HBAA would like to thank Senator Allen for all his help in bringing light to the lodging tax issue that affects a number of our multifamily members.  

The finish line for the 2012 session is drawing near and the Senate and House have made plans for the remaining days. The Senate is expected to take up the Education Budget and Immigration next week. The General Fund Budget has yet to pass out of the Senate committee, but is likely to be very different from the House-passed version. Both Chambers plan to meet three days for the next two weeks. On May 14, the Legislature will be called into special session to deal with redistricting. Monday, May 21, will be the final day of the 2012 Legislative Session.