[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6602435,"mediaKeyId","3001325-bf8ee15c54547a5ca1bc5b4bc56da9bc","parentId",3001325,"title","Senate committee advances SB271 on franchise-fee language after rejecting and withdrawing amendments","audioSeconds",422,"startMs",390000,"endMs",812000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001325-bf8ee15c54547a5ca1bc5b4bc56da9bc&start=390&end=812","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001325-bf8ee15c54547a5ca1bc5b4bc56da9bc/thumbnail_390000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6602435/Alabama/Senate-committee-advances-SB271-on-franchise-fee-language-after-rejecting-and-withdrawing-amendments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602435-d179decad25bb02dcb8c47381a11a3c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770653707&Signature=oDuJUwGqL4GqeCmJ~nWdygEb2AP5JWPlOJoprppzIYehaAk4uxCHNkc4DXlW88LCl2iPWqwSBIZeVZWwCzeiLMTrQqX9bClEm4Uf1~m-7X5dA7iGNMi8sUyKrb6pRBv7o3G0ethotnVFLa-PLKEzfW7RvDIOmNUOFB1-keNoxfU2qAdzf8Y9BdVSGptHoHsZpURuQpLwA0mYJ4dgtdxsyn0KzOgzEwT5ZCctHLY4Qqk14jV8wb6AzX1tUpPG1FOb~GtLL5YbgWcdrgZD3pVzU-2A3Kz7HT05-Al2~okN-pSuWnyaR7w8S9YUi7X~ia16S4R7Dyqwj4bYnjBW2tFitQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Senate Sessions","date","2025-04-15T23:26:17.23Z","article","Senator Allen presented Senate Bill 271, which the committee described as addressing a misfiled franchise fee issue. Committee members discussed multiple amendments that would change how the bill applies to different municipal classes; proponents and opponents said the changes would affect local revenue authority for cities, including the city of Birmingham.

One amendment discussed would have excluded certain classes of municipalities from the bill’s division; a senator explained she had asked another member to carry an amendment on behalf of a class 1 municipality and framed the change as related to the city of Birmingham’s revenue concerns. That amendment was brought to a recorded vote and failed in committee; the transcript records a mix of \"no\" and \"aye\" responses during the roll call.

A separate amendment addressing class 5 municipalities was withdrawn by its sponsor before a vote. Committee debate included members who said they would raise related amendments on the floor if the bill reached the full Senate.

The committee conducted a final roll call on SB271. The transcript records a series of named votes: Senator Albritton (aye); Senator Barfoot (aye); Senator Beasley (no); Senator Butler (aye); Senator Coleman (no); Senator Hovey (aye); Senator Kitchens (aye); Senator Livingston (aye); Senator Price (aye); Senator Sessions (aye); Senator Stewart (aye); Senator Williams (aye); Senator Allen (aye). After the roll call the chair announced, \"Bill passes.\" The committee did not discuss implementation details or provide fiscal estimates in the recorded exchange.

Several senators expressed concern about municipal revenue limits and the potential for future floor amendments; one senator said she will likely offer a class-2 municipality amendment on the Senate floor if needed. The record shows community representatives from Birmingham had appeared before the committee to speak on the city's concerns, and some senators said they were sympathetic but could not support their requested amendment as presented.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Senate Transportation and Energy Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Allen’s SB271, addressing a misfiled franchise-fee provision, advanced from committee after debate over municipal class exemptions; one amendment failed, another was withdrawn, and the committee approved the bill by recorded vote.","taxTitle","Senate, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",62183,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6602441,"Senate committee adopts amendment to HB323 to exempt utilities — broadband added",290,71115,362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3001325-bf8ee15c54547a5ca1bc5b4bc56da9bc&start=71&end=362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3001325-bf8ee15c54547a5ca1bc5b4bc56da9bc/thumbnail_71115.jpg","/articles/6602441/Alabama/Senate-committee-adopts-amendment-to-HB323-to-exempt-utilities-broadband-added","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6602441-352fa97c4d5336055cb046aa9d915d46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770653707&Signature=JzJw13bqbC7qCvTOrgQJ~5Kz9-gwp0aEpzxQb4WEFc2IC3FfLzjTl-r30AQ-vqAQqXJ2a7RCmLotmuexgqB3gbTGY-1IrVk1o8HGwvGRMtA0yE0S5vNCi6VflBMmQ1H6~tyO5M3Mz43PCwd0V7htxm-2xoH7N9~DWiAIdxS4eRNq8t~MAh2OINdrR3fwBtH7gaIS5kR-vtm-Qs4j6Th~ljoGbBDtsh3WnrLXP33~p~KUSGxdjKQyowWmNoJxryGM1ELuyxwdxM~dgfF13DkeXB7HMD9o8EyVwXSfjKZDHlk9YcEV6czCH1PAE7jQ2cv6LZyWYi~GUHJeFcG7gh-Elg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Givens presented House Bill 323 to the Senate committee and said, \"What this bill does is exempt the electric utility commodities and equipment from the requirement of obtaining a permit for movement on the state's highway.\" The sponsor and committee members discussed expanding the exemption to cover broadband infrastructure and an amendment to that effect was adopted.

Committee discussion emphasized the bill's effect on rural utilities and larger utility trailers. Committee members noted the change would help utility companies — including rural providers and Alabama Power — move long trailers with poles, including during holidays and after-hours repairs.

Committee members also considered an amendment proposed to satisfy the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). That amendment preserves the requirement that any load exceeding allowable weight limits continue to obtain separate permits. A committee member described the ALDOT language as maintaining the permitting process for overweight loads.

Senator Beasley seconded the broadband amendment. The committee recorded aye votes and the amendment was adopted. Committee discussion then moved to formal adoption; the chair announced adoption without objection. The bill was approved with the adopted amendment.

No fiscal figures, effective dates, or implementation steps were specified in the committee discussion. Committee staff (identified in the record as Miss Harris) and ALDOT representative Sean Strickler were present during the explanation of the ALDOT amendment, and the record shows ALDOT requested the change described above.

The committee did not place additional restrictions on when the exemption would apply beyond the ALDOT-preserved permitting requirement for overweight loads, nor did the committee record final implementation details such as effective date or cross-agency rulemaking requirements during this session.","A Senate committee approved an amendment to House Bill 323 to exempt electric utility equipment from state highway movement-permit requirements and added broadband infrastructure to that exemption; ALDOT language preserves permits for overweight loads.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee advances SB271 on franchise-fee language after rejecting and withdrawing amendments

Senate committee adopts amendment to HB323 to exempt utilities — broadband added