What Passed?

-HB 432 Human Trafficking Legislation (Rep. Jack Williams): It is now unlawful for a person by coercion or deception, to cause another person (individual) to work or perform services having financial value or require that person to perform certain sexual activities and this law provides appropriate penalties for these actions.  Alabama's passage of this ban on human trafficking has added Alabama to the 43 states that have already passed a ban on human trafficking exploitation. 

-HB 613 Jefferson County Transparency Legislation (Rep. Paul DeMarco): requires the Jefferson County Commissioner to disclose anyone paid to assist in the purchase or swap of bonds and all interest rate swaps will be competitively bid. The Commission will also have to conduct a public hearing before borrowing any amount of $5 million or more

-SB 121 Highway Bill (Sen. Lowell Barron): authorizes the transfer of $100 million a year for the next 10 years from the Alabama Trust Fund to the Department of Transportation for infrastructure projects

-SB 162 “PACT Fix” Legislation (Sen. Ted Little): appropriates $547.6 million over 13 years to the PACT program. It also caps tuition at state universities excepting the University of Alabama and Auburn University

- SJR 27/HJR 18 State Sovereignty Resolution (Sen. Scott Beason/Rep. Greg Canfield): Reaffirming state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution

What Didn’t Pass?

-HB 99 Rolling Reserve Budget Act (Rep. Greg Canfield): Didn’t even get a vote in committee.

-SB 233 Alabama Health Freedom Act (Sen. Scott Beason): Conservative and tea party groups rallied around this legislation eventually getting it passed out of the Senate. Unfortunately, Democrat leadership in the House prevented it from getting a vote in committee.

-SB 202 Alabama Innovative Charter Schools Act (Sen. Steve French): Was voted down in committee in the House and didn’t receive a committee vote in the Senate

-HB 55 Subpoena Power For State Ethics Committee: legislation stalled in the House

-HB 278 Improvements to Alabama Ethics Law (Rep. Paul DeMarco): legislation stalled in the House

-HB 41 Health Care Rights of Conscience Act (Rep. Robert Bentley): didn’t get out of committee in the House

-HB 48 Firearms Protection Act (Rep. Mac Gipson): didn’t get out of committee in the House

-HB 195 Cap and Trade Nullification (Rep. Mac Gipson): didn’t get out of committee in the House

-SB 380 Gambling Legislation (Sen. Roger Bedford): passed out of the Senate, but didn’t get out of committee in the House

-HB 101 Medical Savings Account Act (Rep. Greg Canfield): didn’t get out of committee in the House

-SB 256 Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act (Sen. Scott Beason): legislation to address the problem of illegal immigration; didn’t get out of committee in the Senate

Tags: alabama politics, legislative session 2010