2021 Alabama legislative session
The 2021 Alabama legislative session began on February 2, 2021 and adjourned on May 30.
The make-up of the legislature was unchanged from the 2020 Alabama legislative session, having been set by the 2018 general election. The Alabama House of Representatives consisted of 76 Republican members (all white) and 27 Democrats (26 of them Black), with two vacant seats, and was presided over by Speaker Mac McCutcheon (R-District 25, Madison County). The Alabama State Senate had a 27-7 Republican majority (all 26 Republicans being white and 6 of 7 Democrats being Black), with one vacant seat, and was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth.
Among the major issues taken up during the 2021 session were the legalization of medical cannabis, casino gambling, and at-home wine delivery. The legislature also modified the state's voting districts based on data from the 2020 U.S. Census.
Notable Acts
- Act of Alabama No. 2021-4, established certain civil immunities against claims of damages against businesses, institutions and healthcare providers and their officers related to the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
- Act of Alabama No. 2021-160, amended the Emergency Management Act of 1955 to exempt businesses, the Alabama State House, and churches and other religious institutions from closure by executive order during a state of emergency caused by a pandemic or bioterrorism. The bill was sponsored by Representative Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville)
- Alabama Uniform Concealed Carry Permit Act, created a new category for a lifetime firearm permit and also required the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to create a database of persons whose right to possess a firearm has been revoked due to a criminal convictions or court order. The bill was sponsored by Randy Price (R-Opelika) in the Senate, where it passed by a 25-6 vote, and by Proncey Robertson (R-Mount Hope) in the House of Representatives, where it passed by a 69-18 vote on April 8.
- SB171 was passed on April 14 to designate the sweet potato as the Alabama state vegetable.
- The legislature debated revisions to the 2017 Alabama Memorial Preservation Act. A failed bill sponsored by Representative Juandalynn Given (D-Birmingham) would have opened a path to turn over monuments to the Alabama Historical Commission. A different bill, sponsored by Representative Mike Holmes (R-Wetumpka) would increase fines, punish individual officials who voted to remove monuments, and outlaw the "reinterpretation" of existing monuments.
References
- Cason, Mike (February 1, 2021) "Alabama lawmaker wants to raise penalty for removing historical monuments." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mile (April 1, 2021) "Alabama lawmakers pass bill to allow churches, businesses to stay open during pandemic." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (April 6, 2021) "Birmingham pension system bill causes sharp disagreement in Alabama House." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (April 6, 2021) "Bill would allow Alabama parents to move students to other school districts." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (April 8, 2021) "Alabama lawmakers approve lifetime pistol permits, database of people prohibited from having guns." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (April 14, 2021) "Bill would increase penalties for removing historical monuments in Alabama." The Birmingham News