Current Bills

The 2024 Legislative Session began on February 6.

Click here to read Charles Miller’s start of session blog post! Click here to read Charles’s middle of session blog post. Click here to read about the City of Montgomery recognizing Rivers of Alabama Day. 

 

ARA ACTIVELY SUPPORTS

  • HB14 / SB45, The SHOR Act, sponsored by Representative Craig Lipscomb and Senator David Sessions
  • HB 434, sponsored by Representative Mike Shaw, which would designate the Alabama Shad as the official state migratory fish of Alabama. This bill passed the State Government Committee unanimously on 4/16/24.

ARA SUPPORTS

  • SB 39 – sponsored by Clyde Chambliss (R)
    This bill expands on 2023’s dam safety legislation that created an opt-in dam safety program for privately owned dams. It opens the existing state dam safety program to include state-owned dams, primarily fishing lakes managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Alabama is the only state in the country without a comprehensive dam safety program, and this bill is a small step toward establishing one. 
  • HB 215 – sponsored by Jennifer Fidler (R)
    This bill makes permit fees for “living shorelines” the same as for traditional sea walls or bulkheads in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. Living shorelines are a method of using natural restoration techniques, incorporating native plants. These techniques allow natural coastal processes to continue to operate, while still protecting waterfront property from erosion and storms. 
  • HB 422 – sponsored by Parker Moore (R)
    This bill would prevent the construction of a quarry in the heart of the community of Belle Mina. The proposed quarry is directly across the street from the community’s post office, and within 500 yards of multiple homes and businesses. ARA has been working with community members to stop this quarry, and Rep. Moore’s bill is part of a broader effort to protect Belle Mina and Limestone Creek from this ill-considered proposal. UPDATE: This bill did not pass out of committee and will not become law this year.

ARA OPPOSES

  • SB 1 – sponsored by Garland Gudger (R)
    This bill imposes new restrictions on assistance for absentee voter applications. Its proponents claimed that it was part of an effort to stop “ballot harvesting,” a debunked conspiracy theory that claims thousands of unauthorized votes have been counted in recent elections. Unfortunately due to a lack of clarity, the primary effect of this bill will be to discourage voters from seeking needed assistance with their absentee ballot applications. This bill has become law. 
  • SB 187 / HB 214 – sponsored by Merika Coleman (D) and Mike Shaw (R)
    This bill would eliminate cities’ and towns’ ability to regulate Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency “mining.” The average Bitcoin transaction uses more than 5,000 gallons of water, enough to fill a swimming pool, or supply the average U.S. household’s water needs for a little more than two weeks. A Bitcoin “mining” center in Texas is using 1.4 million gallons of water and consuming a gigawatt of electricity per day. Increased consumption drives increased costs for water and power for families, and with communities in Alabama already experiencing water shortages, removing communities’ ability to regulate these incredibly resource-intensive operations is a recipe for increased energy and water costs, all to line the pockets of out-of-state investors with “funny money.” 
  • SB 129 – sponsored by Will Barfoot (R)
    This bill prohibits public entities, including public schools, or contractors from engaging in efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within or outside their organization. It might also ban college football. Like SB 1, this bill seems to be a solution in search of a problem, and creates a chilling effect relating to discussions of so-called divisive topics, like the history of race relations, and movements for social and economic change. This bill has become law.
  • HB 250 – sponsored by Ben Robbins (R)
    This bill would create a recycling credit that recyclers could sell. While increasing incentives for recycling is a fantastic way to keep waste out of our rivers and streams, outdated definitions of recycling in Alabama state law mean that these credits could be created by burning trash to create electricity and other practices that pollute rather than conserve.