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Committee advances multiple bills including retiree bus-driver provision and tax exemptions; votes at a glance
Summary
The Senate Finance committee reported several bills favorably, including HB 151, HB 138 (retiree bus drivers substitute), SB 221 (convenience charge tax clarification), and a package of military and tax exemptions; HB 152 (UA School of Social Work mandate repeal) was also given a favorable report after public comment.
The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee advanced multiple measures during its meeting. Key committee actions included:
- House Bill 151 (Representative Garrett): Reported favorably on a voice/roll-call vote (12 yeas, 0 nays). HB 151 was presented in the context of broader outcome-based funding discussions for higher education.
- House Bill 138 (Representative Pascal, substitute adopted): The substitute would allow state retirees to return as full-time school bus drivers while continuing to receive state retirement under defined conditions and a 2030 sunset; the committee adopted the substitute and reported the bill favorably. Senators pressed for explicit statutory cross-references to certifications and CDLs required to drive school buses.
- Senate Bill 221 (Senator Or): Clarifies that merchant convenience or credit-card surcharges should not be taxed; committee reported the bill favorably.
- Senate Bill 190 (Senator Wagner): Adopted substitute renewing a sales-tax exemption for an entity called Advancing Site Network; the bill was reported favorably.
- Senate Bill 69 (Senator Gavan): Part of a military package exempting certain compensation for civilian employees of deployed armed forces; committee reported favorably.
- Senate Bill 225 (Senator Jones): Would exempt the first $5,000 of taxable income earned from inactive-duty training (drill pay) for National Guard members; committee reported favorably (roll call showed 14 yeas, 1 nay in sequence reported). Senators discussed fiscal tradeoffs and recruitment rationale provided by the lieutenant governor's military stabilization commission.
- Senate Bill 272 (Senator Or): Would limit commercial use of open-records lists of school employees; committee reported favorably and adjourned.
Separately, House Bill 152 — which would repeal the statutory requirement that the University of Alabama maintain a standalone School of Social Work — received extended public comment and questioning and was also reported favorably (two nays, two abstentions).
