This week turned out to be a very successful week for the HBAA legislatively. In addition to making significant progress in moving its legislative agenda forward, the HBAA was also able to amend one bill that was poised to take control of all properties owned by any state agency. Here is the latest:

HVAC Bills Advance 

HB 231 by Representative Jack Williams (R-Birmingham) passed the House on Tuesday. SB 290 by Senator Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) passed the Senate a little later that afternoon. Each bill now moves to the opposite house for consideration. The HBAA has asked that HB 231 be placed on the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development committee agenda for this coming Wednesday.

 

Above, Representative Jack Williams is shown explaining the provisions of HB 231 to Rep. Laura Hall during floor debate in the House on Tuesday.

 

Home Owners Association Bill Receives Favorable Report

HB 241 by Representative Mac McCutcheon (R-Huntsville) received a favorable report from the House State Government Committee on Wednesday. The HBAA will continue working with Rep. McCutcheon to get the bill assigned to the House calendar at the earliest opportunity. The HOA legislation represents a collaborative effort between the HBAA, Alabama Association of Realtors, and the Alabama Bankers Association.

 

 

Facility Ownership Bill Gets Substituted

SB 76 was brought up on Thursday for consideration by the Senate. As was described in last week's Legislative Alert, the bill would have transferred ownership of all agency-owned property to the finance department, as well as all leases. The HBAA, working with Senator Phil Williams, Senator Paul Bussman, and Senator Gerald Allen, has fought to make certain that the self-funded licensing boards were exempted from the bill. Thanks to the efforts of these Senators and their colleagues, the Senate voted to adopt a substitute that includes the HBAA-backed language. At the request of the bill's sponsor, it has been carried over to the call of the chair.
 

Senator Phil Williams introduces his substitute to SB 76 on Thursday

The HBAA is working with Senator Gerald Allen to get SB 307 (plumbers legislation) placed on the Senate Governmental Affairs committee agenda for next week. The House companion to the bill was given a favorable report in the House Boards and Commissions committee this past week.