Home » News Stream » Local »

Unfinished Business

By The Associated Press

Take a look at some of the bills awaiting action when the Alabama Legislature returns today for the final day of the 2008 session. Unfinished Business

Published: Mon, May 19, 2008 - 9:03 am Last Updated: Mon, May 19, 2008 - 9:46 am

AP-AL--Last Day-Box,0236

List of major bills pending on final day of Ala. Legislature

UNDATED (AP) - Some of the bills awaiting action when the
Alabama Legislature returns on Monday for its final meeting day:
-remove the state sales tax on groceries, raise the threshold
where families start paying the state income tax, and end the state
income tax deduction for federal taxes paid.
-make sure Alabamians don't pay state income tax on their
federal economic stimulus checks.
-provide a tax break to small businesses and their workers if
the businesses provide health insurance to the employees.
-require 44 national corporations to pay more state income tax.
-appropriate $6.3 billion for public schools and universities.
-restrict smoking in many public places and the workplace.
-raise the level of alcohol in beer that can be sold in Alabama
to allow more specialty beers.
-allow more towns in dry counties to legalize the sale of
liquor.
-restrict the transfer of money between political action
committees.
-expand Alabama's hate crimes law to include crimes committed
because of a person's sexual orientation.
-require people applying for public assistance to show proof
that they are legal residents.
-prohibit state contracts from being issued to companies that
hire illegal immigrants.
-prohibit Alabama cities from establishing laws or procedures to
protect illegal immigrants.
-set experience requirements for attorneys seeking to become
judges.
-require the state Department of Public Safety to do criminal
background checks on junior college employees rather than a private
security company.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)