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House And Senate Committees Pass Irrigation Bill
House and senate committees approved bills this week that would change irrigation tax credit law to increase the time frame for claiming the credit and decrease the required flow-rate of rivers for direct withdrawal.
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Top: Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is chairman of the Joint Legislative Water Policy and Management Committee and sponsor of SB204. Second Photo: Rep. Alan Boothe, R-Troy, and Dr. Dick McNider speak about HB289 before the House Ways and Means Education Committee Wednesday.
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"(SB204) clarifies the tax credit allowing a fiv-year extension and clarifies the entities that can receive it," said sponsor Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur.
Lowering the average flow-rate required for direct withdrawal from rivers would allow more farmers to claim the tax credit without a reservoir.
During debate on the bill, University of Alabama at Huntsville professor Dr. Dick McNider said an increase in farmers claiming the credit would boost agricultural outputs in drought years and increase tax revenue.
"(Last year), we had about two-and-a-half weeks of no rain and high temperatures and it basically decimated the corn crop in (north Alabama)," McNider said. "If the farmers irrigated just 3 inches of water, they could have made 200 bushels per acre. They would have then paid income taxes on that crop. As it was, they ended up losing money."
On Wednesday, the House companion, HB289, sponsored by Rep. Alan Boothe, R-Troy, passed the House Ways and Means Education Committee with a voice vote.
The same day, the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee passed SB204. Sens. Orr, Roger Bedford, D-Russellville; Priscilla Dunn, D-Bessemer; Paul Sanford, R-Huntsville; Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro; Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills; and Phil Williams, R-Rainbow City, voted in favor of the bill with Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Daphne, abstaining. SB204 is on the Senate's proposed agenda for Tuesday, Feb. 26.
AFF supports and encourages members to contact their senators before Tuesday's scheduled vote.
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Trust Fund Repayment Signed Into Law
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Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, center, sponsored the House trust fund repayment legislation. Abov, Love speaks with Montgomery County Farmers Federation board members L.T. Hataway, left, and J.B. Norman at the Montgomery County Farmers Federation's legislative breakfast.
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Gov. Robert Bentley and the legislative leadership made good on promises to create a repayment plan for the Alabama Trust Fund (ATF). On Wednesday, Bentley signed the People's Trust Act, the first bill to become law in the 2013 session.
Under the act, sponsored by Rep. Jay Love, R-Montgomery, and Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, payments from the state's General Fund to the ATF will begin Sept. 30, 2014. The law determines minimum annual payments, with full repayment by Sept. 30, 2026.
The people of Alabama approved an amendment in September 2012 to transfer $437 million from the ATF to the General Fund over three years. In the General Fund, Medicaid and the Department of Corrections account for the largest percentages of the budget. |
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Bills In Brief
RAMP Road and Bridge Funding, HB213, sponsored by Rep. Mac McCutcheon, R-Capshaw, would help cities and counties meet federal matching requirements of the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) for road and bridge improvement projects. The bill is on the House agenda for Tuesday, Feb. 26. The Senate companion, SB192, sponsored by Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, is awaiting a vote in the Senate. AFF supports and encourages members to contact their representatives before the House vote.
Law Enforcement Efficiency, SB108, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, would consolidate state investigative services and state law enforcement services. A new State Bureau of Investigations would be responsible for agriculture and forestry investigators. The bill passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. AFF supports.
Rifle Law Prohibitions, SB177, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, would prohibit cities from enacting ordinances relating to rifles. The bill is assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. AFF supports.
Conservation and Natural Resources Department, SB235, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Glover, R-Semmes, provides for two additional members for the department's advisory board who must be commercial fishermen. The bill is assigned to the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. AFF neutral.
School Flexibility, HB84, sponsored by Rep. Chad Fincher, R-Semmes, passed the Senate Education Committee and is the first bill on the Senate agenda Tuesday, Feb. 26. Under the bill, schools may apply to the Alabama State Board of Education for a waiver for certain program and budget requirements. Schools must prove how the waiver would improve education. The Senate companion, SB54, sponsored by Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, is awaiting a vote in the Senate. AFF monitoring.
Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights, HB264, sponsored by Rep. Paul DeMarco, R-Homewood, would bring Alabama state law into conformity with the federal Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee. There will be a public hearing on the Senate companion, SB223, sponsored by Sen. Bryan Taylor, R-Prattville, during the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Committee meeting Wednesday, Feb. 27, in room 727 of the statehouse. AFF supports.
Constitutional Revision Commission Expansion, SJR39, sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, suggests adding two members to the commission to better reflect the state's diversity. The President Pro Tem of the Alabama Senate and the Alabama Speaker of the House would each appoint one new member. AFF supports the commission's work in revising the state constitution article-by-article.
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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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