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Senate advances substitute bills, gives favorable reports on multiple appropriations measures
Summary
The Senate met in session to consider a series of appropriations and supplemental bills. Members adopted a substitute for HB 186 (13–0–1) and gave favorable reports on several other bills related to federal grant appropriations, Medicaid funding, and assessments for hospitals and nursing facilities.
The Senate met and took up a package of appropriations and supplemental bills, adopting substitutes and giving favorable reports on measures that fund Medicaid, small-business programs and various state services.
Representative Reynolds presented the first bill and handed out a substitute, saying, "Y'all have before you, the spreadsheet and the bill and we just handed out the substitute, did we not?" The panel then discussed several topics that arose during debate, including dredging and container-facility work at the Port of Mobile, the financial outlook for state parks, tourism as a revenue source, and reductions in growth for Medicaid funding.
Why it matters: the bills considered appropriate federal and state funds for ongoing programs and supplemental grants. Senators repeatedly noted pressure on the budget outlook for next fiscal years and emphasized that some items reflect federal tranches that must be appropriated to allow existing programs and contracts to continue.
Most significant actions
- The substitute to HB 186 was adopted and the bill, as substituted, was given a favorable report. The roll call recorded 13 yes votes and 1 abstention; Senator Jones recorded the abstention. Senator Price was recorded as seconding the substitute.
- HB 185 (a supplemental appropriations measure tied to recent federal receipts) was considered with a substitute that appropriates incoming federal funds into state grant and loan programs; the committee recorded a favorable report with a 14–0 vote.
- The committee also gave favorable reports (by unanimous consent or no-objection roll calls) to a series of other bills on the agenda, including measures labeled HB 182 (amendment adopted to timing of billing dates), HB 183 (Children's First trust fund appropriations), HB 184 (coalition against domestic violence funding), HB 312 (hospital assessments for Medicaid funding), HB 460 (opioid supplemental), HB 405 (nursing facilities privilege assessment surcharge), and others. Many of these were noted as routine appropriations; individual roll-call tallies were not all read into the record and are therefore not specified here.
Key discussion points and clarifications
- Port of Mobile: A senator asked whether the Port of Mobile item related to continuing improvements; a speaker summarized that dredging is near complete and that the bill continues funding for pier work and expansion of container facilities.
- State parks and tourism: Senators discussed whether state parks could ever be fully financially self-sufficient. One senator said the idea is "idealistic" and that while the state should try to maximize fee revenue, it is unlikely parks will fully subsidize themselves.
- Budget outlook and Medicaid: The chair noted that the committee made reductions compared with the governor's submitted figures and that several line items reflected reduced growth rather than absolute cuts; Medicaid was identified as a major change. The chair warned the committee’s estimates for next year show a decline and suggested tighter choices lie ahead.
- Federal tranches and small-business program: Committee staff (Kirk) explained that the SSPCI small-business loan program received additional federal tranches beyond prior expectations and that authority was being provided so the program (through an MOA with the Innovation Corporation) can continue to deploy those funds, including venture-capital-style support targeted to rural communities.
Votes at a glance
- HB 186 (substitute adopted): favorable report; vote recorded 13 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Senator Jones abstained). Second recorded: Senator Price. Motion to adopt substitute: moved (mover not specified on record).
- HB 185 (substitute appropriating recently arrived federal funds): favorable report; vote recorded 14 yes, 0 no. Motion to adopt substitute: moved (mover not specified); second recorded: Senator Jones.
- HB 182 (amendment adopted addressing billing timing): amendment adopted by voice/previous-roll; bill given favorable report (vote tally not specified).
- HB 183 (Children's First trust fund appropriations): favorable report by no objection (vote tally not specified).
- HB 184 (Coalition Against Domestic Violence appropriations): favorable report by no objection (vote tally not specified).
- HB 312 (hospital assessments for Medicaid funding): favorable report by no objection (vote tally not specified).
- HB 460 (opioid supplemental appropriations): favorable report by no objection (vote tally not specified).
- HB 405 (nursing facilities privilege assessment surcharge): favorable report by no objection (vote tally not specified).
(Several other bills on the agenda were also given favorable reports in this session; the committee routinely used previous-roll or no-objection procedures for multiple items.)
Meeting close and acknowledgments: Committee members thanked Legislative Service Agency (LSA) staff and others for preparing materials and copies. The chair adjourned the meeting after concluding the listed business.
