[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6580150,"mediaKeyId","3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f","parentId",3152052,"title","Committee holds public hearing on high‑school NIL bill, AHSAA urges study while sponsor says framework protects students","audioSeconds",478,"startMs",1526951,"endMs",2005485,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f&start=1526&end=2005","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f/thumbnail_1526951.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580150/Alabama/Committee-holds-public-hearing-on-highschool-NIL-bill-AHSAA-urges-study-while-sponsor-says-framework-protects-students","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580150-b3e12750c2f2edb9361b9cfeb1592a98/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508142&Signature=InQ59-XpgvBR3jiI8MCdT01pMOZv67PK4J~LMjIPruyV5QGnTcWWji9rZ1MXSoWc2yJfaMkc47WL17c4eJbrZXbGPkQ8SEDiWLPC9Ysiu7NWkNNs-ibHvV715FeQPJnKmUbRglprhxEP4wn2r0JfUWiNz9EHwE2ysrV5JWlD9NkQmiW3nDslDsgMS3HnvwCrIYhHNtO9O~XktkrKDvllWQ9j7ErtkbCBIJEsSAsjELYdJlx0RdMNApgBl6GtH5oyap2t1b7vHLKnvfgCi2b61G5AzjoznBy3A3JxC3v50F2LXCip0yW3iz1WWDPWGvo7qD9pEAT9BqqftLaElUMgXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House Sessions","date","2025-04-29T21:48:36.77Z","article","Committee members heard public testimony and held an extended question‑and‑answer session on HB 489, a bill to permit name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation for high school student athletes under specified restrictions.

Sponsor Representative Jeremy Gray (identified in the transcript as the bill presenter) said the bill would establish NIL rights for high‑school athletes while setting guardrails: compensation may not be contingent on athletic performance or used as an enrollment inducement, school trademarks or facilities cannot be used in endorsements, and certain product categories (tobacco, alcohol, petroleum) are excluded. The sponsor also described pre‑contract procedures including notifying a principal or athletic director seven days before consummating an agreement and advising students about financial‑aid and tax implications.

A parent, Jason Seaborne, submitted a statement urging careful navigation that protects both student opportunity and fair competition; Seaborne said parents and athletes should be able to benefit legitimately from name and image rights. Heath Harmon, executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), testified that the AHSAA’s constitution commits it to “promote pure amateur athletic competition” and recommended thorough study to avoid the unintended consequences seen at the collegiate level. Harmon said adoption of NIL would require significant changes to existing member rules.

Committee members asked how many states allow high‑school NIL (one answer in the hearing placed the number in the high 20s to 30s, including 38 cited by a witness), whether NIL deals could be used to recruit students, how contracts would be signed and enforced, and whether parents or minors enter agreements. The sponsor and witnesses said contracts would require parental involvement and recommended financial‑literacy and disclosure steps be part of any framework. Representative Gray emphasized the bill is a framework to enable further rulemaking by the association and avoid driving students to neighboring states where NIL is permitted.

No committee final vote on HB 489 was recorded in the transcript provided; the record shows an extended hearing, testimony from AHSAA and a parent, and follow‑up questions from committee members.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House Economic Development and Tourism Committee","oneSentenceSummary","A public hearing on HB 489, which would allow high‑school student athletes to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL) under specified guardrails, featured testimony from the bill sponsor, a parent, and the Alabama High School Athletic Association urging careful study of unintended consequences.","taxTitle","Economic Development and Tourism, House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",15873,"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},6580156,"Committee adopts substitute to create educational tourism distillery license and new mixed‑beverage category (7% ABV cap)",343,1130265,1474230,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f&start=1130&end=1474","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f/thumbnail_1130265.jpg","/articles/6580156/Alabama/Committee-adopts-substitute-to-create-educational-tourism-distillery-license-and-new-mixedbeverage-category-7-ABV-cap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580156-682a877995e97389ba9845d3226ff9fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508142&Signature=dxQErhKKI4rGGKdJ0CgAMSGOv8KuX2yG528PHYAgLG0jJCz8FirJMAhV3bp0erTyTAi4tBl6IQF~5SmYWHgZiTUHGlKynQ1-Kua~gnzjqY0mR2STbzMcvrgmmfbDY1ipXYAk4iIFHjTEHdZuyrgrboCpXit4UnnDz9le1jt6i8e4qjjEXNCRglt3HowhRjUgwA7DxLCaOR1cbZaeedzKhDRuOXkt43bQZHD9Mt8VMBFod4QYtxQ14p0ORWtoeGB4vFkv2DFNPztRgr40V-WVu9Jai0g7h0YeCfXto4lbqy8Kz1GPwelRRNXKbQUB9PBfpoCizwubXy7UhbSkIyM3Yw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A substitute to Senate Bill 316 that creates an educational tourism distillery license and adds a new licensure category for mixed shared beverages advanced from committee after extended discussion.

Senator Singleton explained the substitute amends SB 316 to include licensing for educational tourism distilleries and a new license category for mixed shared beverages with alcohol‑by‑volume capped at 7 percent. The substitute also creates distribution allowances for existing beer and wine wholesalers, authorizes on‑premises retail consumption and includes an excise and privilege tax on the new mixed beverages. The substitute contains franchise‑agreement requirements, the sponsor said.

Members discussed concerns raised during an earlier public hearing, including that the original draft appeared focused on a single distillery. The sponsor said smaller distillers and distributors had been consulted and were generally supportive of forming a distillery trail in future years. Committee members also discussed lowering volume thresholds to include more small producers in future sessions; the sponsor said he would work with smaller producers next year.

The committee adopted the substitute and gave SB 316 a favorable report. No roll‑call tally appears in the transcript; members voiced “aye” with no recorded opposition.","A substitute bill combining educational tourism distillery licensing with a new low‑alcohol mixed beverage category (7% alcohol‑by‑volume cap) and tax/franchise provisions was adopted and reported favorably by committee.",{"_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},6580161,"Panel advances bill to redirect surplus from Alabama First Century Fund to energy and economic programs",156,545355,702065,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f&start=545&end=702","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f/thumbnail_545355.jpg","/articles/6580161/Alabama/Panel-advances-bill-to-redirect-surplus-from-Alabama-First-Century-Fund-to-energy-and-economic-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580161-de38042023c3bac002f2831d5e8907f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508142&Signature=kIZJybnn0ZbnwBcVz9rp9xeRYdII1vfKHRBIxdKoaAhc0EjK2clD8UYFrBVILn1pIgYGfQ~-k~nmm953okwyyEILhoHs3SkkJve3-doSIPrVXY~3eNcLcQN6mSHYXBoOWYb3ScEWPYr8W5BJ0dQ08hYe~jFlo9KKAuZYd-2gAJGLoe1xgXJCrLdmQ6nGe0EtGNde911XlKCy4SXqMvkkhmhSe2eSc-nRhMT8o4JiV8vOEcmxmdD48xeN36YYBomAQlZMzJ0NNrFTTsRJMeFCAr0HOL5txlv1yWXi2jr9jw6RWrI7t5zWBt7uEerqcSPNquKafZdxTqsGCWdVjMYgzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawmakers reviewed a bill that would direct surplus revenue from the Alabama First Century Fund to energy infrastructure and related economic development programs.

A presenter described the measure as amending Alabama Code §401‑21‑629 to direct any First Century Fund revenues not used for debt service to the State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA) or the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank. The presenter said the effect of the provision would be to provide roughly $16,000,000 annually to the energy bank when the First Century Fund has no outstanding obligations.

The bill also outlines distributions of surplus: the presenter described transfers of $50,000,000 to a development fund within SIDA, $10,000,000 to the Alabama Incentives Financing Authority for project costs, and $5,000,000 to the Department of Commerce to establish an international office and rural development strategies and to cover operational costs. The presenter said the fund is primarily backed by settlement revenue and an annual $60,000,000 appropriation.

Committee members moved the bill forward; the transcript records a motion and a favorable report. Fiscal and statutory mechanics were discussed at a high level; the transcript did not include a detailed fiscal note or a roll‑call tally.","Committee considered legislation to reallocate surplus revenues from the Alabama First Century Fund toward energy infrastructure and economic development authorities, with formulas for transfers and preservation of debt service coverage.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580165,"Bill would create mechanism to speed electric infrastructure and a fund for long‑lead equipment procurement",152,347815,500315,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f&start=347&end=500","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f/thumbnail_347815.jpg","/articles/6580165/Alabama/Bill-would-create-mechanism-to-speed-electric-infrastructure-and-a-fund-for-longlead-equipment-procurement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580165-39ea955b438f2e8fd689f9525aa7085c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508142&Signature=gFwTLBcRi21Up8PLMKpaqMWOJCZug-nXkvTNMMG~dN04ObK~LQGhk4eiBUJyBTVe7KKvRURL0NyFf7Izk46HgLu5-6vFKBZcrE07Ci68hssh36HB-SNFP9V08y4E6NhMlaO484UPK2nX2drlG-2TOI53iJFQh1xHm2dxEmywfQr-olYN0qcLLlck4upR015qbXiC16zJR0d5oeIN2~qi63ybXxxijvmQDuetqp7-702KtubNjMEm0x2B6FmlBPqG5udv57G52P~b5Z08H7zwxyXxMTyk2NtC~vWidUWooXzlfPaXwjKs-Rau7o4P0G5unLjbyYcpKZgw8ngB7oLf4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A bill describing new authority to coordinate electric infrastructure for economic development and to establish a fund to procure long‑lead electrical equipment was presented to the committee and received a favorable motion.

A presenter described the measure as creating an infrastructure mechanism “to power producers, municipal, electric providers or operators and co‑ops,” and said the central problem is timing: projects can be lost because necessary switches, substations and other components can take years to procure. The presenter said the measure would also “establish a fund for procurement of long lead time equipment” so the state can reserve equipment while projects are in development.

The sponsor argued the measure aims to speed delivery of power to sites targeted for industrial recruitment, enabling jurisdictions to answer companies’ timing questions when they “want a site in Alabama.” Committee members asked questions but the transcript records no extended opposition; the committee voted to report the measure favorably.

The transcript did not include a detailed fiscal note or a roll‑call vote in the committee record provided; the sponsor described the measure as focused on reducing delay by pre‑reserving manufactured equipment and aligning generation and delivery timelines.","Lawmakers considered legislation to authorize infrastructure to deliver power to economic development sites and to establish a fund to procure long‑lead electrical equipment to prevent project delays.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580170,"Bill would allow city annexation for proposed Cullman County resort; gambling explicitly banned",50,125575,176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f&start=125&end=176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3152052-cc34e7fccf8eb4e2754fec4cac4b4b4f/thumbnail_125575.jpg","/articles/6580170/Alabama/Bill-would-allow-city-annexation-for-proposed-Cullman-County-resort-gambling-explicitly-banned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580170-8fbd287ed7853ab9a2846709362384d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508142&Signature=N3DqRpOfF7xK0mfWehWP~Vg5gPD164MdUzzE8n8JorvKIvxSC0YdE3APwZ65jrRT6m8xRLAJ9~dTYzWkbdX9yT8yXG5fvumevPOL-lM2OLOrght4o1Xqthn9MqxztKxUfc0NrQAjwgVfVyLIAl22Kyt9ogQN9~B~KSkyNfalAXN5ck8c~GojicWcddkmrNreZP-WLSnjXBpH5v3Eg8zZUMsvGOaITO8WwRcAz5YX2CLmGFAnt~gJKx7OQyeI4gvywTcyQbWt60BEBieNXspXeizy3bcP1FV7CUHrEfTmTcdgEfkh24Q7UBBW1U3WQ0lmSeh8ei68~9mGWq6dmtM1cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A bill to authorize the city to annex property for a proposed resort in Cullman County advanced with a favorable committee report after brief discussion.

The sponsor, Elijah Jones, told the committee the measure would allow the city to annex “about a hundred acres in Dover County in Cold Spring, area of the Peninsula,” and said the project is intended to create roughly 300 jobs and produce capital investment in the “250,000,000” range. Jones said the project would generate recurring revenue for schools and county roads if fully built.

The bill, as explained to the committee, includes a provision that “prohibits any gambling enterprises including casinos.” Committee members also noted the legislation contains a sunset clause: if the resort project does not commence by June 1, 2026, the authorization expires. The sponsor also said a memorandum of understanding is being prepared to dedicate funds to local fire and rescue services.

Committee members asked several factual questions about ownership and acreage. The sponsor responded that no landowner would be forced to sell and that the proposal excludes gambling development. Questions about the identity of the current owner and precise acreage were raised during the discussion and described by the sponsor as matters he had recently been briefed on.

After discussion the committee voted to report the bill favorably. There were no recorded roll-call tallies in the transcript beyond committee members saying “aye” and noting no opposition.

The measure is now reported favorably out of committee; additional committee or floor action was not recorded in the transcript segment provided.","A bill advancing out of committee would authorize a city to annex land for a proposed resort in Cullman County, promising job creation and local revenue but including an explicit ban on gambling and a sunset if construction does not begin by June 1, 2026.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee holds public hearing on high‑school NIL bill, AHSAA urges study while sponsor says framework protects students

Committee adopts substitute to create educational tourism distillery license and new mixed‑beverage category (7% ABV cap)

Panel advances bill to redirect surplus from Alabama First Century Fund to energy and economic programs

Bill would create mechanism to speed electric infrastructure and a fund for long‑lead equipment procurement

Bill would allow city annexation for proposed Cullman County resort; gambling explicitly banned