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After Thursday, only one day will remain in the regular session of the Alabama legislature. This session has been marked by heated, and time-consuming arguments. Most of the delays have been in the Senate, where, on different days, both Republicans and Democrats have held up action to show their displeasure with the other side.
Consequently, the list of bills that are likely to die this session continues to grow. They include two bills related to electronic bingo. One would have allowed voters to decide whether the games should be legalized at dog tracks in Birmingham and Mobile. Another would have regulated such games at tracks in Macon and Greene Counties.
A repeal of the state ban on sex toys has also died, as has one that would have required additional P.E. classes for elementary and high school students. Another bill that won't make it into law this session would have allowed voters to decide if they wanted a constitutional convention to re-write the state's 1901 Constitution.
Still, there are some bills that must be passed. The House of Representatives still needs to pass a state operating budget, and the Senate must approve an education budget. In addition, the Senate is expected to vote on a bill exempting the federal incentive checks from state income taxes. Also in the Senate, is a bill to remove the tax on groceries. That's been held up since it became tied to a bill requiring property tax reappraisals take place every four years, instead of annually.
In the House, representatives will take up a ban on smoking in most public places. That bill made it out of the Government Operations Committee Wednesday night. The House is also expected to pass a bill restricting convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of college campuses.
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