The Alabama Legislature adjourned April 9 from this year's session, the last in this quadrennium that marks the final round of lawmaking before senators and representatives are up for election. In …
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The Alabama Legislature adjourned April 9 from this year's session, the last in this quadrennium that marks the final round of lawmaking before senators and representatives are up for election.
In the 30 legislative days this winter and spring, lawmakers in the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation, a group of three senators and seven House representatives, filed and got approved 33 bills, ranging in topic from health care and criminal penalties to elections practices and local city boundaries.
Baldwin County’s Legislative Delegation includes Sens. Greg Albritton, R-22, Chris Elliott, R-32, and Vivian David Figures, D-33, and Reps. Donna Givens, R-64, Alan Baker, R-66, Jennifer Fidler, R-94, Frances Holk-Jones, R-95, Matt Simpson, R-96, Shane Stringer, R-102, and Brett Easterbrook, 65.
These are the bills that Baldwin's representatives took through the legislature this year.
HB 202 —This bill alters, rearranges and extends the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Magnolia Springs in Baldwin County.
Approved Feb. 12. Enacted Feb. 24.
House vote: 16-0, 77 abstained
Senate vote: 29-0
Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Figures marked as P.
HB 300 — Existing Alabama law requires health insurers to cover mammography to screen for breast cancer in women 40 years of age and over. Furthermore, health benefit plans that are subject to the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act must cover screening mammography for women 40 years of age and over without requiring them to share any of the cost through a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. This bill requires that health benefit plans offered in this state which pay or reimburse for breast examinations, including mammography, provide the coverage without imposing a deductible, copayment or coinsurance charge on the beneficiary.
Approved Feb. 26. Enacted March 5.
House vote: 99-0, 5 abstained
Senate vote: 30-1, 1 abstained
Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Simpson marked as P. Fidler and Givens sponsored this bill.
HB 41 — Under existing law, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree and sexual torture are Class A felonies. This bill provides that rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree and sexual torture are capital offenses when the victim is less than 12 years of age. This bill also provides that a person convicted of rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree or sexual torture and sentenced to life imprisonment must serve a minimum of 30 years in prison prior to being considered for parole.
Approved Feb. 5. Enacted Feb. 12.
House vote: 73-6, 17 abstained
Senate vote: 33-1
Baldwin delegation vote: 9-1; Figures voted against.
HB 82 — This bill alters, rearranges and extends the boundary lines and corporate limits of the City of Daphne in Baldwin County.
Approved Feb. 12. Enacted Feb. 24.
House vote: 15-0, 73 abstained
Senate vote: 29-0
Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Figures marked as P.
HB 274 — Under existing law, persons are prohibited from operating unmanned aircraft systems within a certain distance of a correctional facility, with certain specified exemptions. This bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to take reasonable and necessary measures against unmanned aircraft systems operating in violation of the prohibition against operating unmanned aircraft systems near a correctional facility.
Approved Feb. 26. Enacted March 5.
House vote: 104-0
Senate vote: 30-0
Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Elliott marked as P.
HB 254 — Under existing law, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency is responsible for enforcing the laws regarding the operation of vessels on waters under the jurisdiction of this state. This bill requires law enforcement officers to have probable cause to believe a violation of law has occurred before stopping and boarding a vessel.
Approved Feb. 26. Enacted March 5.
House vote: 102-1
Senate vote: 33-0
Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0
HB 271 — Under existing law, a state resident who is totally and permanently disabled and receives disability benefits from certain entities may be issued an annual special hunting or fishing license from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a reduced fee. This bill establishes lifetime special hunting and fishing licenses for state residents who are totally and permanently disabled.
Approved March 10. Enacted March 26.
House vote: 105-0
Senate vote: 35-0
Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0
Baker, whose District 66 is mostly in Escambia County, passed: HB 439, 440, 441, 442, 639
Easterbrook, who also represents parts of Choctaw and Washington counties in District 65, passed HB 635 (Choctaw), 636 (Washington).
Stringer, who also represents parts of Mobile County in District 102, passed 1 bill: HB 629.
