Thank you for calling your legislators when Calls to Action were issued. 

LWVAL Advocacy Priority Issues for 2008: NOTE:  INCLUSION OF A BILL IN THIS LEGISLATIVE REPORT DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THE LEAGUE'S SUPPORT FOR THAT LEGISLATION. PLEASE CLICK ON THE ISSUE LINK TO READ ABOUT THE BILLS, INCLUDING THE LEAGUE'S POSITION ON THEM. OTHER BILLS, FOR WHICH THE LEAGUE HAS NOT TAKEN A POSITION, ARE ALSO BEING MONITORED. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE MONITORED BILLS CAN BE FOUND ON THE ISSUE PAGES. Updated May 20, 2008 Green Text = Legislative activity within the week prior to the date of the last update as given above. Red Text = Active Action Alert.      Tier I  Ban on PAC to PAC Transfers and other Campaign Finance Issues HB73 passed the House on 2/7. Passed out of the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (GA) as Substitute 97719-3 on 2/19. Various amendments adopted on Senate floor 2/26; bill passed and HB73 2008RS sent to conference committee 2/28. LWVAL called for return to and passage of the original HB73 to ban PAC-to-PAC transfers. Read LWVAL's Opinion Editorial (Birmingham News, 4/2/08, p.7A) about this bill. LWVAL called for citizens to help this effort by calling the conferees. House Conferees: McLaughlin, McCutcheon and Scott. (334-242-7600) Senate Conferees: Mitchell, Marsh and Sanders. (334-242-7800) May 10 Update --  Reports of a compromise bill are appearing in the press and in statements made by some committee members.  These reports indicate: the compromise legislation is in excess of 30 pages; legislative caucuses and political parties continue to be excluded from the definition of PAC but would not be allowed to give monies they receive to PACs; financial reporting requirements are enhanced; and PAC monies would be assessed a fee of 0.5% of their funds to pay for the added expenses associated with the Office of Secretary of State monitoring the reports. SB167 - On the floor on 2/19, the Senate adopted new Substitute 97770-2 with amendment. More amendments debated 2/21. 2/26 carried over. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. Also, see Monitored Legislation to read about other bills on Campaign Finance. Ethics in Government  - includes Lobbyist Expenditure Reporting  Ethics Commission Authority HB20 was read for the first time on 2/5 and referred to the House Committee on Government Operations (GO). Reported favorable from GO as Substitute 93038-1 and read for 2nd time on 2/21. 3rd reading pending. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. SB210 was read for the first time on 2/5 and referred to the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs (GA). Reported favorable from GA as Substitute 98657-2 and read for 2nd time on 3/25. 4/30 Third read and carried over to call of the chair. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. HB33 Substitute passed the House on 2/7 (101-1), Referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections Senate C&E),  2/7. HB65 was sent to House Committee on Judiciary, 2/5. HB71 Substitute 96474-2 amended passed the House, 2/7. Read by the Senate and referred to Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections (Senate C&E), 2/12. HB452 was read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Judiciary (House Judiciary) on 2/14. SB206 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections (Senate C&E) on 2/5. Also, see Monitored Legislation to read about other Ethics bills. Constitutional Reform by Citizens' Convention  HB308 was read in the House and referred to the House Constitution & Elections (House C&E) Committee on 2/6. LWVAL Action Alert issued 2/26/08. Public Hearing 3/5. HB308 with one substitute (99004-2) had second reading 3/6. 3rd reading pending. 5/1 vote to bring the bill to the floor fails. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. SB243 passed out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary with a favorable report (8-0) and placed on the Senate calendar 2/14. 3rd reading pending.  5/06 Indefinitely postponed.     Tier II Judicial Selection Process SB144  (Smitherman) was read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on 2/5. HB169 (Black) was read for the first time in the House and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on 2/5. SB137  (Smitherman) was read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on 2/5.   HB170  (Black)  was read for the first time in the House and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on 2/5. HB444  (McLaughlin) was read for the first time in the House and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on 2/14. 2nd reading 3/13. Pending third read and favorable vote by C&E.  5/06 Indefinitely postponed. SB142  (Smitherman) was read for the first time in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on 2/5. 4/10 - reported favorably; Judiciary amendment offered (100904-1) and passed; pending third read. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. HB168  (Black) was read for the first time in the House and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on 2/5. 4/03 read for 2nd time and Judiciary 1st substitute (100371-1) offered; pending third read. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. SB606 (Bedford and Smitherman) 4/16 favorable and 3rd read with one amendment (101369-2). Action Alert was issued by LWVAL 5/4/08 asking citizens to please contact their senator to support this bill. 5/06 Passed Senate and sent to House; sent to House Judiciary; 5/8 Pending 3rd read and favorable from Judiciary. Voting Issues & Election Law Reform HB181 was read in the House and referred to the House Constitution & Elections (House C&E) Committee on 2/5. On House C&E agenda 3/5, 9:00 a.m. in House Chamber. Read second time and placed on calendar with one substitute (98975-1) ; pending third read. SB143 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Judiciary on 2/5 SB158 passed out of Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections (Senate C&E) and placed on Senate calendar, 2/14. Pending third read. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed. SB276 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections (Senate C&E) on 2/6. SB333 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections (Senate C&E) on 2/12. SB340 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections (Senate C&E) on 2/12. Also, see Monitored Legislation to read about other bills on Voting Issues and Election Law Reform. Natural Resources and Coastal Zone Management Legislation on this issue will be monitored.  Government Accountability and Transparency Legislation on this issue will be monitored.          Tier III Other legislation relevant to League positions and principles will be reviewed and considered for possible action. Fuel Revenues for Public Transit See Monitored Legislation. Budgeting and Taxation HB6 was read in the House for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Government Appropriations on 2/5. HB80 Substitute 95669-2 passed by the House on 2/7. The bill was read by the Senate on and assigned to the Senate Committee on Finance & Taxation General Fund on 2/12. HB140 was read in the House for the first time on 2/5 and referred to the House Committee on Government Appropriations. HB406 was read in the House for the first time on 2/12 and referred to the House Committee on Government Appropriations. HB188 was read in the House for the first time on 2/5 and referred to the House Committee on Government Appropriations. HB189 was read in the House for the first time on 2/5 and referred to the House Committee on Government Appropriations. SB103 was read in the Senate for the first time on 2/5 and referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution, Campaign Finance, Ethics, and Elections. The bill was re-refered to Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education on 2/7. SB259 was read in the Senate for the first time on 2/6 and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education. Also, see Monitored Legislation to read about other Budgeting and Taxation bills. NOTE:  HB274 (would remove the state's sales taxes (4 cents) on food); eliminate federal income tax as an Alabama tax deduction; increase minimum deduction rate). An amended substitute passed the House 4/15 and has been sent to Senate committee. On 4/22 reported favorable from the F&T Education. Pending 3rd read. Read more...       This legislation is consistent with League positions on fair and equitable taxation. It was suggested that members interested in this reform might want to contact their senator. To identify your senator, see the "Find Your Legislator" widget in the left column on the Alabama Legislature's website. Then click on your senator's name here to find phone number. Education See Monitored Legislation. Municipalities See Monitored Legislation. Juvenile Justice HB28 was read in the House and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary on 2/5. 1st Judiciary substitute 96595-2 offered 2/28; committee action pending. With 2 amendments (99094-2 & 99176-1) adopted by House 3/6 and sent to Senate. 4/01 sent to Judiciary committee. 4/10 favorable from Judiciary; pending 3rd read. 4/30 passed Senate; 5/1 delivered to the governor. SB34 was read in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary on 2/5. SB34 passed out of Senate Judiciary with unanimous approval and placed on the Senate calendar as Substitute 96702-2 on 2/21. 3rd reading pending. 4/30 carried over temporarily. 5/06 Indefinitely postponed.   HB29 was read in the House and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary on 2/5. SB33 was read in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary on 2/5.