Goat Hill Report- Week Ending February 21, 2025
This week the Alabama legislature completed its third week of the 2025 session. This week the legislature was in session for a traditional “two day week”, which means they were on the House and Senate floor on Tuesday and Thursday and held committee meetings on Wednesday. As has been previously mentioned, the legislature will be taking off two weeks in March for Spring Break (the weeks of March 10 and March 24). The legislature has now completed 8 days out of a possible 30 legislative meeting days, and the session is expected to wrap up in mid-May. Details of this week’s notable action and news items are provided below.
Health Care Bills Emerge as High Profile Battles
Three health care fights have emerged as major issues in the 2025 legislative session. The most notable is a public battle between two of Alabama’s political heavyweights, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) and the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA). SB84 by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) would allow nonprofit agricultural groups like ALFA to create self-funded health plans. Though not technically classified as insurance, these health plans would operate outside the Affordable Care Act’s requirements and promise lower premiums ranging from 30% to 60% below traditional insurers. BCBS, which maintains a 90% share of Alabama’s health insurance market, argues the plan would sidestep industry regulations and mislead consumers, and warns that ALFA’s health plan will expand beyond farm families, offering coverage to all members. On the other side, ALFA claims the plan is a lifeline for struggling farmers and small business owners, and insists it’s a necessary fix for farmers priced out of ACA coverage. ALFA and BCBS have launched their own public relations campaigns around SB84. A public hearing on the hearing is likely next month, according to Orr.
As has been the case in recent sessions, legislation to regulate the power of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) is once again drawing attention and also advocates to the halls of the State House. Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) has introduced SB93, one of two bills that would mandate PBMs reimburse retailers/pharmacists for the cost of the drugs, plus a dispensing fee. Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) has introduced SB99, but his PBM bill varies from SB93 on some regulations and how drug acquisition costs and the dispensing fee applied to prescriptions. On Wednesday, local pharmacy owners from around the state pleaded with legislators to stop allowing them to be paid less than their costs to fill some prescriptions, saying it is driving them out of business while benefitting national retailers with the sophistication and buying power to negotiate with PBMs. Opponents of proposed legislation like Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Retirement Systems of Alabama express sympathy for the pharmacists, but counter that but adding a more than $10 dispensing fee to every prescription filled is not the answer. These opponents argue that while the provisions target PBMs, the dispensing fees will in fact be passed on to employers and patients in the state.
Another contentious health care issue, although not as visible as the health plan and PBM fights, is focused on legislation that would raise the age of medical consent from 14 to 18 in Alabama. Two bills pending in the Alabama Senate, SB58 by Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) and SB101 by Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia), as well as HB267 by Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), were borne out of concern about the current age of consent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposals would give parents control over whether minors receive vaccines and their mental health treatment. The bills carve out exceptions in which minors would keep their medical consent authority if: they’ve graduated high school; they’re pregnant; married or divorced; emancipated; living away from their parents or guardians and financially independent. Opponents, including the Medical Association of the State of Alabama as well as other medical and mental health advocacy groups, express concern that the legislation creates an impediment to care for teens that could endanger lives – particularly where parents have their own personal issues or may be the cause of the minors medical/mental issues. SB58 and SB101 both advanced out of the Senate Children and Youth Health Committee meeting last week with only GOP support, and HB267 has not yet been taken up in House committee.
Immigration Bills in the Spotlight
Alabama lawmakers advanced two bills targeting illegal immigration and unveiled new proposals on Wednesday, all designed to complement President Donald Trump’s crackdown effort. The two bills clearing House committees this week were HB7 and SB 63. HB7, by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), would allow state law enforcement to arrest individuals based on their status as an illegal immigrant, would allow state law enforcement agencies to enter into agreement with federal agencies to enforce federal immigration laws and would mandate that law enforcement make a “reasonable effort” to determine the nationality of any arrested individual. SB63, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell (R-Riverside), would mandate that law enforcement agencies collect fingerprints and DNA samples from illegal immigrants while in their custody.
A handful of other bills concerning immigration were introduced this week. Rep. Jennifer Fidler (R-Fairhope) on Tuesday introduced HB297 which would impose a 4% wire transfer fee on international money transfers originating in Alabama. This is a similar bill to SB77 by Sen. April Weaver (R-Alabaster), that is currently awaiting debate and passage in the Senate. HB304, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), would authorize the impoundment of vehicles operated unlawfully by Alabamians without a driver’s license. HB3, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island), would mandate enhanced criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants convicted of felonies against minors. HB302, filed Tuesday by Rep. Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga), would require labor brokers that recruit six or more foreign workers per year to register with the Department of Workforce and use the federal E-Verify program.
Social Media & Children’s Safety Bills Considered
There has been keen focus on social media and children’s safety at the federal level in recent years, and the Alabama Legislature is taking significant steps to prioritize the same issues this legislative session. On Wednesday morning, two public hearings were held on separate measures intended to regulate minors’ use of social media. No vote was taken on HB235 by Rep. Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) or HB276 by Rep. Ben Robbins (R-Sylacauga), but future action on the bills is anticipated. As introduced, Rep. Faulkner’s bill is more restrictive in that it seeks to ban social media account creation for individuals 16 or younger. Opponents from the technology industry raised significant constitutional concerns with the measure in testimony before the Children’s and Senior Advocacy Committee, while other interested parties are seeking to be exempt from the definition of social media. On the other hand, Rep. Robbins’ proposal is restrictive with respect to account access for individuals 18 or younger but also includes more elements related to parental control and content moderation. Rep. Chris Sells (R-Greenville) has also introduced a pair of bills – HB317 and HB318 – that are focused on age verification and content filtering but place more responsibility on the application store (i.e., Apple) and device providers, respectively. This flurry of activity sets up a potential standoff for which bill(s) will receive priority for consideration in the weeks ahead.
Rep. Steve Clouse named Chairman of House Transportation Committee
After last week’s surprising resignation by Rep. Randall Shedd (R-Fairview), longtime legislator Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) was appointed by Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter to replace Shedd as Chairman of the House Transportation, Utilities & Infrastructure Committee. Clouse was first elected in 1994 and previously served as House Ways & Means General Fund Committee Chairman, but in 2022 he faced off against Ledbetter for the vacant Speaker’s seat. The race was competitive, and after Ledbetter emerged from the contest as Speaker he did not retain Clouse as a committee chairman. This week’s announcement of Clouse as Chairman of House Transportation Committee was viewed as an olive branch from the Speaker, and an indication that any hard feelings from the 2022 Speaker’s race are subsiding.
To review a tracking report for bills of interest to the concrete industry, please click here.
The legislature will reconvene on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.