Capitol Connection
IN THIS ISSUE
Public Hearing Called On Farm Tag Bill
Two FarmPAC Supported Candidates Sworn In
Bills At A Glance
February 7, 2014

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Public Hearing Called On Farm Tag Bill
 
The Senate Commerce, Transportation and Utilities (CTU) Committee will hold a public hearing next week on a bill to help farmers who use heavy trucks to haul their harvest and equipment. HB 44, sponsored by State Rep. Alan Boothe, R-Troy, passed the House of Representative unanimously last week.

Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa is chairman of the CTU Committee and Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper is the vice chairman. Other committee members are Sens. Bill Hightower, R-Mobile; Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison; Shadrack McGill, R-Scottsboro; Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery; Clay Scofield, R-Arab; Harri Anne Smith, I-Slocomb; and President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston.

 

Alabama Farmers Federation Director of State Legislative Programs for the House of Representatives David Cole praised Boothe and State Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, who is sponsoring the Senate companion bill, SB 26.

 

"Rep. Boothe and Sen. Dial understand the importance agriculture has to our state," Cole said. "Agriculture is our state's largest industry. We appreciate their support of farmers, and we encourage our members to contact their state senators about supporting HB 44."

 

Currently, farmers are allowed only one F4 farm tag, used to register trucks weighing more than 42,000 pounds. The cost is $250 per year. Farmers must register additional trucks with a more expensive X tag, which costs up to $800.

 

HB 44 would remove the one tag limitation. The F4 classification is the only farm tag category with a limitation. 
Two FarmPAC Supported Candidates Sworn In
   

State Reps. Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka, and Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, were sworn into the Alabama House of Representatives Feb. 6 after winning special elections Feb. 4. FarmPAC, the political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation, supported Holmes and Wilcox.

 

Holmes represents District 31, which includes portions of Coosa and Elmore counties. He is a retired real estate broker, agribusiness CEO and timberland owner.

 

Wilcox represents District 104 in Mobile County. She owns a group of transportation companies in Mobile.

 
If challenged, the two incumbents will run in the June primary and November general elections for the 2015-2018 term. Their district lines will change due to redistricting, which the state Constitution requires after every official U.S. Census. 
Bills At A Glance     


 The Senate reconvenes at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, for the 12th day of the 30-day regular session.
The House reconvenes at 1 p.m. 

 

For questions or comments regarding newsletter content, e-mail:

Matthew Durdin - State Legislative Programs Director for the Senate

or

David Cole - State Legislative Programs Director for the House 

 

For distribution questions or media inquiries, e-mail:

Mary Johnson - Director of News Services

 
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