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Bills Improving Irrigation Tax Credit Introduced
The Joint Legislative Water Policy and Management Committee accepted recommendations Wednesday for changes to the irrigation tax credit law passed during the 2012 legislative session. Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, sponsored SB204, which is assigned to the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund. The House companion, HB289, is sponsored by Rep. Alan Boothe, R-Troy, and assigned to the House Ways and Means Education Committee.
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Alabama Farmers Federation's Assistant Director of Governmental and Agricultural Programs Brian Hardin addresses the Joint Legislative Water Policy and Management Committee at its meeting Wednesday.
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The key improvement would allow farmers to take the credit over a five-year period from the
date of equipment installation or reservoir construction.
Under this bill, farmers withdrawing water from streams or rivers with a flow rate of 8,000 cubic feet per second would qualify for the tax credit. Currently, the minimum flow rate is 10,000 cubic feet per second.
Addressing the committee at Wednesday's meeting, Dr. Dick McNider, chair of the Alabama Universities Irrigation Initiative and professor at University of Alabama at Huntsville, said this would open up portions of the upper Tombigbee River for direct withdrawal for irrigation.
"This really is a minor change," McNider said. "We actually put a limit in (because), if the rivers were big enough, there was no need to construct a reservoir because that reservoir doesn't have an environmental impact. This just lowers the level at which you don't have to have a reservoir."
The third change clarifies the process for sharing the credit between multiple owners of a farm.
A vote on SB204 is anticipated on Wednesday during the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee meeting at 9:30 in Room 727 of the statehouse.
The irrigation tax credit law went into effect in August 2012. It allows farmers to claim a one-time 20 percent tax credit, with a maximum set at $10,000, for the cost of installing irrigation equipment or constructing ponds, reservoirs or wells.
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Bill Could Help Rural Counties Repair Roads, Bridges
Alabama cities and counties that can't afford to meet federal matching fund requirements may be able to improve rural roads and bridges under a bill sponsored by Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Capshaw, and Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman.
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Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, is sponsor of the Senate RAMP legislation.
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HB213 and SB192 would increase the borrowing authority of the Alabama Highway Finance Corporation to $25 million for the purpose of financing the state's portion of road and bridge projects in the Rural Assistance Match Program (RAMP).
RAMP was created by the Alabama Department of Transportation to help cities and counties meet federal matching requirements of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP). That program is aimed at improving rural roads and bridges through bonds secured by future federal appropriations. Gov. Robert Bentley recently announced 302 road and bridge projects totaling $398 million. Since its inception, ATRIP has funded 439 projects totaling $613 million.
Bussman said the bill will help at least 22 counties take full advantage of the ATRIP program without requiring money from the state's general fund.
HB213, sponsored by McCutcheon, passed the House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee Wednesday. SB192, sponsored by Bussman, passed the Senate Commerce, Transportation, and Utilities Committee Thursday.
AFF supports and encourages members to contact their county commissioners and engineers to discuss projects to improve farm-to-market roads and bridges.
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Efficiency Bills Move To House
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SB108, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, would consolidate law enforcement and investigative services.
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Three bills consolidating state agencies passed the senate unanimously Tuesday.
Sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, SB108 would reorganize the Department of Public Safety by consolidating law enforcement services. Investigative services, including agriculture and forestry investigations, would be consolidated under a new State Bureau of Investigations.
Currently, responsibility for agriculture and forestry investigators falls under the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and the Alabama Forestry Commission, respectively. Due to recent budget cuts, there are no agriculture investigators on staff for ADAI.
"As we put this new law enforcement system together, I want to make sure we have investigators trained specifically to look into the crimes that affect farmers," Gov. Robert Bentley said in an address given Tuesday at the Alabama Farmers Federation's Commodity Organization Conference. "Whether it's cattle-rustling, stealing your equipment, embezzlement, whatever it is, we want someone specifically trained for your industry."
T he House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee will have a public hearing on SB108 Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Room 418 of the state house.
State information technology (IT) departments would be consolidated into the Alabama Technology Authority under SB116, sponsored by Sen. Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City. Williams is also sponsor of SB117, which would create the office of the Secretary of Information Technology. Both bills are assigned to the House Technology and Research Committee.
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CAFO, Career Tech Funding Preserved In Governor's Budget
Gov. Robert Bentley is asking the Alabama Legislature to increase funding to offset registration fees for Concentrated Animal Feed Operations (CAFOs) in his Fiscal Year 2014 General Fund budget. The budget recommendation calls for $380,000 for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to offset the fees, which is the amount needed to adequately fund the EPA-mandated program.
Meanwhile, the governor requested essentially level funding for the Farmers Market Authority, the Resource Conservation and Development Program, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, the Alabama Forestry Commission and the Soil and Water Conservation Committee. His proposal includes $90,000 of state-matching funds for the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), which generates a 9-to-1 match in federal funds.
Despite cuts in other areas, the governor requested a new appropriation of $1 million for the Groundwater Assessment Program through the State Geological Survey Office.
In the Education Trust Fund (ETF), Bentley proposes level funding for Career Tech with $5 million for operations and maintenance and nearly $2.3 million for the Career Tech Initiative. Funding for the University of Alabama's rural medical scholars program would remain level at $440,000.
The ETF proposal would increase funding for Auburn University's Ag Experiment Station to more than $30 million, up nearly 2 percent, with $250,000 earmarked for the Poultry Technology Center.
"The Alabama Farmers Federation appreciates Gov. Bentley's support of agricultural programs," said Federation Assistant Director of Governmental and Agricultural Programs Brian Hardin. "The governor understands how important each of these initiatives and agencies are to farming - our state's number one industry."
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Senate Passes Trust Fund Repayment Bill
The Alabama Senate passed a bill Thursday requiring the repayment of $437 million to the Alabama Trust Fund.
HB94, sponsored by Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, passed the Senate in a 25-7 vote. It will now go back to the House of Representatives for concurrence before heading to the governor for his signature.
Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, who sponsored the companion, SB13, added an amendment to the House version requiring automatic payments from the general fund to the trust fund, if the Legislature fails to make appropriations according to schedule.
Under the bill, repayment would begin with $5 million on Sept. 30, 2014, with full repayment required by Sept. 30, 2026.
Last September, voters approved transferring $145.8 million a year for three years, beginning Oct. 1, 2012, to help support the cash-strapped general fund, which includes Medicaid and the Department of Corrections.
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Auburn University Trustees Confirmed
Two new faces will serve on Auburn University's Board of Trustees. The Senate approved the appointments of Micheal DeMaioribus to represent District 8 and Wayne Smith as an at-large member.
DeMaioribus serves as senior vice president of Dynetics Inc., an intelligence, missiles, aviation and space company based in Huntsville. He has been involved with the Auburn Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering's Industrial Advisory Board and the Engineering Campaign Committee Leadership Team.
Smith is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Community Health Systems in Franklin, Tenn., which operates or leases 135 hospitals in 29 states.
The men replace John Blackwell and Samuel Ginn, who served their final terms due to age limits and term restrictions.
Auburn University is Alabama's largest land-grant institution and is charged with supporting the agriculture community through education, research and outreach.
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Bills In Brief
Career Tech Bonds, HB102, sponsored by Rep. Mac Buttram, R-Cullman, passed the House in a 93-1 vote and is assigned to the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. Known as the 21st Century Workforce Act, the bill would allow the Alabama Public School and College Authority to purchase career and technical education equipment by selling up to $50 million in bonds. AFF supports.
Drought Management, SB208, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, would permanently establish the Alabama Drought Assessment and Planning Team and charge the Alabama Office of Water Resources with developing a state drought plan. The bill is assigned to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. AFF monitoring.
Homestead Exemption, HB19, sponsored by Rep. Jack Williams, R-Birmingham, would make the homestead exemptions provisions the same as they were prior to 2012 with two exceptions regarding eligibility. A similar bill dealing with homestead exemption, SB27, sponsored by Sen. Marc Keahey, D-Grove Hill, is assigned to the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund with its companion, HB52, sponsored by Rep. Elaine Beech, D-Chatom, assigned to the House County and Municipal Government Committee. AFF monitoring.
School Flexibility Bill, HB84, sponsored by Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, passed the House Thursday with a 65-37 vote. The bill would allow the Alabama State Board of Education to waive certain program and budget requirements for schools that show how those changes would improve education. The Senate companion, SB54, sponsored by Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, passed the Senate Education Committee with amendments. AFF monitoring.
Emergency Communication Services, HB92, sponsored by Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Capshaw, passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee with an amendment adding the commissioner of Agriculture and Industries as a member of the commission. The bill would establish the Alabama First Responder Wireless Commission for effective emergency response to terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other emergencies. The Senate companion, SB219, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, is assigned to the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. AFF supports.
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The Senate will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday Feb. 19, for the sixth day of the Legislature's 30-day regular session.
The House will reconvene at 1 p.m. the same day.
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For questions or comments regarding newsletter content, e-mail:
Brian Hardin - Asst. Director of Governmental and Agricultural Programs
or
David Cole - Director of Agricultural Legislation
For questions or comments regarding newsletter distribution or media inquiries, e-mail:
Mary Johnson - Director of News Services
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