[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6603929,"mediaKeyId","2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c","parentId",2996546,"title","Propane industry warns Senate committee that 3,000-foot setback proposal would cripple retail availability; bill carried over","audioSeconds",673,"startMs",1483000,"endMs",2156000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c&start=1483&end=2156","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c/thumbnail_1483000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603929/Alabama/Propane-industry-warns-Senate-committee-that-3000-foot-setback-proposal-would-cripple-retail-availability-bill-carried-over","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603929-17d2b490a8a154d4ed48a2012634c423/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127966&Signature=fZ266fbvMfHhFDaWNOysvGhxdDYVg~zisQPg2J3vObjIg0SVHo8ZBFAQ1fKhJwOn7CAtmynazOMeOjlKU30LjTV7dxN5FQUYU1909NokEEjlSgm6sJkii2ofC8iv0aMx~e~qA-1kDsgoBbs0Ry-W5Nq~RAGp2DkCozbiPpE9024Yd8ik0-Vv4r~a~1LQS9wYTFFawVNaIqSjkByIcldYHlQqww5iQ8OeheHh5lZuDQA-mE0TCZiw1hYLjyniu~zoDkNA9JLREN1ARl5ZNmu1R0QlNfHXbRsEb7EqcyNyHooU66QvxaYY9kAsUmNn6vvlwK2ZQ84RKKoXB5S8Y7kFLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Senate Sessions","date","2025-04-15T18:33:21.03Z","article","Senate Bill 320, introduced by Senator Linda Weaver (absent from the hearing due to a family emergency, according to the chair), seeks to restrict where LP (propane) cylinders may be filled, based on distance from hospitals, schools, churches, athletic fields and other places of public gathering. Committee members heard extensive opposition testimony from propane industry stakeholders during a public hearing.

Allison Kenny, representing the Alabama Propane Gas Association, told the committee the bill as drafted ‘‘prohibits an LP cylinder [from being filled] 3,000 feet from a hospital.’’ Kenny said many hospitals rely on LP-powered generators during power outages and that typical industry safety setbacks are 25 to 50 feet, not thousands of feet. \"This distance really will limit access that many Alabamians have for these tanks that they use for a variety of things for their families,\" she said.

Laurel Bunn, executive director of the Alabama Propane Gas Association, questioned the bill’s definitions and scope. \"Does this bill include cage cylinder exchanges that can be found on almost every corner across the state? These facilities are critical during hurricanes and emergencies and are critical components necessary for disaster relief efforts,\" Bunn said. She also warned the measure could run afoul of a state provision described in testimony as an \"energy choice\" protection: \"If you create restrictions that prohibit distribution and storage in certain areas, then you're restricting people's ability to use a covered energy source.\"

Industry witnesses further told the committee that the propane sector is regulated by standards in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 54 and 58 and by the Alabama LP Gas Board, and that those standards govern storage, filling, handling and transportation. One witness said the LP Gas Board adopted the 2020 editions of NFPA 54 and 58 and has authority to enforce and correct violations.

Bart Fletcher, representing the Petroleum and Convenience Marketers of Alabama, said the bill’s broad setback could make retail cylinder-exchange boxes—commonly sited at convenience stores and retail outlets—effectively illegal in many populated areas. \"You'd have to drive through all of Central Alabama 10 times to get 3,000 feet,\" he said, arguing the restriction would eliminate routine retail availability.

Committee members asked the industry how common incidents like the recent March 28 event are; witnesses said such events are rare. One industry representative described the recent event as a contained fire with a few cylinders that detonated and said it was one of perhaps three similar incidents in the past 10–20 years.

Committee leaders did not take a vote on the bill during the hearing. The chair said he was carrying the bill over so Weaver could continue negotiations with stakeholders and refine definitions and distances.

The hearing record shows multiple industry factions opposed to the current draft; the committee left the measure pending further negotiation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 320, introduced after a recent propane-related incident, would restrict where LP cylinders may be filled near hospitals, schools and other public gathering places; industry witnesses warned the proposed 3,000-foot setback in the draft language would disrupt retail availability and emergency preparedness.","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},6603933,"Senator Kitchens’ bill would require monthly public posting of discretionary-account spending; municipal league warns of burden",458,1023000,1481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c&start=1023&end=1481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c/thumbnail_1023000.jpg","/articles/6603933/Alabama/Senator-Kitchens-bill-would-require-monthly-public-posting-of-discretionary-account-spending-municipal-league-warns-of-burden","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603933-ed6bd71d59f840ab8d2199f9fd630b72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127966&Signature=BBo3JaVeRifElh7tvmpYMSNMib~II6KGVf7Oz9x0GJxEjejbTrWqKeHTCuNpPBjCG6kydFzg5qM5z~ehMBtkbswocOqiNsJ3MpXtJujXuoNZw5VLF~9ebkZnzzBqmgHejHELDdKeRCvjEOxMITL9RUzZw7stizvHtfmGqp1V1zGJCQM65KTgyFc4M3CyLvpXxylJfK3oeBf0HQ0pRtbqDKebwoRNtY-l2~t38fxVjLyi7P7I2T39FCfxy1gM1MPG1U36M71LyRv3I-B7YgXfoVM9lTyAASVPlry5rWnWGojCoM7V-WeJivhg~mp8pzpefl6izxxWbK-J8nCfjrcFNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Chris Kitchens introduced legislation (referred to in the hearing as Senate Bill 306) that would require agencies and elected officials to publish monthly expenditures from discretionary accounts so the public can see how those public funds are spent.

Kitchens, the bill sponsor, told the committee: \"What this does is it's really to have transparency in government.\" He described the measure as similar in public access to campaign finance disclosures and said it would cover public funds—including fees or court costs that are routed to special discretionary accounts. \"In some cases, it may be money that had been budgeted through the general fund. But in a lot of cases, it might be, for instance, a pistol permit fee when we're talking about sheriffs,\" Kitchens said.

The bill drew both support and concern at the Senate committee. A senator who said she posts her allocations online described a county-level discretionary fund she uses to allocate community-service grants and told colleagues she supports the bill. The committee then opened the public hearing.

Caleb Beck, legislative counsel for the Alabama League of Municipalities, testified in opposition. \"The league opposes costly and cumbersome procedures that can and should be addressed at the local level,\" Beck said, arguing that many smaller municipal clerks are part-time or volunteer and that a statewide posting mandate would place a new resource burden on cities and towns. Beck suggested interested residents can use public-records requests under existing law to inspect discretionary-account expenditures.

Kitchens said he had negotiated with the League on implementation details and noted possible accommodations for municipalities without websites. \"We would have different agencies that would then be responsible for that where they could post it online and anyone could see the expenditures from that discretionary account,\" Kitchens said. He also said he would be open to a centralized posting option at a state office similar to the Secretary of State’s campaign filings, but lawmakers on both sides said they did not want to shift staff burdens onto another state office without further discussion.

After discussion and a roll call, the committee recorded the bill as receiving a favorable report out of committee.

The committee did not adopt a uniform technical implementation during the hearing; Kitchens and League representatives said they expected to continue negotiating language about posting formats and alternatives for small municipalities. The bill’s text, as discussed in the hearing, would apply to public funds only.

Votes at the committee session were recorded by roll call; the clerk read attendance and the chair announced the bill received a favorable report.","A Senate bill by Senator Chris Kitchens would require agencies and elected officials to publish monthly expenditures from discretionary accounts. Supporters framed it as transparency for public funds; the Alabama League of Municipalities opposed a statewide mandate as burdensome for small towns.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6603922,"Committee actions: roll-call outcomes and next steps from the Senate committee session",1356,892000,2248000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c&start=892&end=2248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c/thumbnail_892000.jpg","/articles/6603922/Alabama/Committee-actions-roll-call-outcomes-and-next-steps-from-the-Senate-committee-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603922-4522423d2adfbf61997a1eee0bc087a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127966&Signature=g40z0ThBTx05oAOOOj46vG-kcG327YROPDXFWJpu5YVvTXFjvVKSbRh3Rr8rlieb9WVGUn9ot0hKlv~bQo2kaqzaqjHLuwB8vEjPYQEYQ3GEEXyI7vGWcvhhm98-tvWuGy4o7vyc59ellfFtUq~PZMiTzYs9KYK2jzS2AN4ayqo1jco9ti8UT1c9jzo7MSeTbO9FXy7PfnjqGoS~~ucrmwBqQ3vhsltIINYuNYZutfaEf10GA6rW2tmCONfOOpnl1h3UOeugp0au8kWsFirwJlzdqTUNHcGTPB71Anh1oZoMt17NgSmAU-XwxS52swQALVNzgzavqQCDKY~1vNGWOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the committee session recorded in the transcript, lawmakers moved several items and recorded outcomes.

- HB 407 (Rep. Reed Ingram, sponsor): Committee entered a motion (moved by Senator Hovey, seconded by Senator Chambliss) and, after a long roll call, the chair announced: \"your bill receives a fair report.\" The transcript does not include a detailed roll-call tally.

- Senate Bill 306 (Sen. Chris Kitchens, sponsor): Following sponsor presentation and public comment, the committee recorded that the bill received a favorable report and will be advanced for further consideration. The chair announced the outcome after a roll-call reading of senator attendance.

- Senate Bill 320 (Sen. Linda Weaver, sponsor): The committee held an extended public hearing with industry witnesses opposing the draft as written; the chair announced the bill will be carried over for further negotiation and no vote was taken at the session.

- SB 321: Committee recorded an action to carry SB 321 over (no committee vote taken during the session), per a senator’s instruction to \"let's just carry it over.\"

- Dry-cleaning trust-fund bill (presented in the hearing): A motion by Senator Hatcher, seconded by Senator Carnley, was recorded; the chair announced the bill received a favorable report.

Where the transcript did not record a detailed roll-call tally, the chair used the clerk’s reading of attendance and announced outcomes. The committee left several bills pending further drafting or negotiation and advanced other measures via favorable report.","During the session the committee reported several bills: HB 407 received a fair report; Senate Bill 306 received a favorable report; the propane-cylinder setback measure (SB 320) was carried over after a public hearing; a dry-cleaning trust-fund bill received a favorable report; SB 321 was carried over.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":93,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6603925,"Senate committee approves amendment to lower dry-cleaners’ trust-fund balance requirement",59,2189000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c&start=2189&end=2248","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996546-8aecb01c3d1cfa43acf102295348fe6c/thumbnail_2189000.jpg","/articles/6603925/Alabama/Senate-committee-approves-amendment-to-lower-dry-cleaners-trust-fund-balance-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603925-fff69129d5b99be10e29e15d5be9c3d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771127966&Signature=TDt3iVLAra2YOrim4rAZ6loUzgsYE-fHRSXCigshaGfRM7c4tny9ZdkOVNiqGT6-66FxPgpul5AwGcXFMNvhXtmIHF7RKqQlAIVd-NPHEobvuN4YsoLjVTeMi37humPbcRHfy6vBswh~X0yG3fEHRYEOfSjT1A~9r7BjxhNKWyu1y39YHU6LwTMEBCGgzZqZ0RPsQCPYFyfprMIR3CLpehPDxye5kCHq2D-H6trlwh3ELIx9VNABwNvFQxD6xsEpszp8P0lD-MUuRhEauR1mEvnozrFukp1QbcLUDqvSvVxY7sML9paOdTljh2gxPzy1r7eNjgSmd9sWeceN09uhLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A bill concerning the Alabama Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund moved forward from the committee after sponsors said it would relax the fund’s retained-balance requirement.

A presenting senator said current law requires the advisory board to keep $1 million in an account and that the bill would reduce that retained balance \"down to $2.50\" as written in the discussion. The presenter said stakeholders, including a dry-cleaning owner named Jim Massey who spoke with legislators, told lawmakers the $1 million limit prevents the trust from being used for its intended investigation and remediation work. The presenter said the state now has roughly 19 dry-cleaning businesses and that the high retained balance is no longer appropriate.

The committee recorded a favorable report after a motion by Senator Hatcher, seconded by Senator Carnley; the chair announced the bill received a favorable report and the matter will move forward for further consideration.

The presenter said he had consulted with the Alabama Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Advisory Board and with affected businesses and that stakeholders did not oppose the draft as presented. The hearing record does not include a detailed fiscal note or an exact implementation date for the proposed change.","Lawmakers voted to move a bill that would change the required retained balance for the Alabama Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund; sponsors said the existing $1 million threshold prevents use of the fund for its intended remediation purposes and that only about 19 dry cleaners remain statewide.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Propane industry warns Senate committee that 3,000-foot setback proposal would cripple retail availability; bill carried over

Senator Kitchens’ bill would require monthly public posting of discretionary-account spending; municipal league warns of burden

Committee actions: roll-call outcomes and next steps from the Senate committee session

Senate committee approves amendment to lower dry-cleaners’ trust-fund balance requirement