Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance Franchise Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee advances SB271 on franchise-fee language after rejecting and withdrawing amendments
Summary
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provision, advanced from committee after debate over municipal class exemptions; one amendment failed, another was withdrawn, and the committee approved the bill by recorded vote.
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A separate amendment addressing class 5 municipalities was withdrawn by its sponsor before a vote.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.
