What a week for week two of the legislative session! REALTOR® Day was a resounding success with hundreds of REALTORS® joining together to hear from and meet with the state’s elected officials. An outdoor pavilion with lights, music, and full of people discussing issues important to their businesses was quite the highlight. Continue reading for this week’s events.

Over two hundred and fifty REALTORS® came to REALTOR® Day this year. Governor Kay Ivey issued a proclamation declaring last Tuesday as “REALTOR® Day” before members arrived. The morning was filled with panel discussions on the Legislative Session, Economic Development, and Lawsuit Abuse and amazing guest speakers. Later that afternoon, REALTORS® descended upon the State House, meeting with their senators and representatives from across the state, and members in the Senate gallery were recognized by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth. (The House adjourned prior to REALTORS® arrival). 

The day concluded with the REALTOR® Legislative Reception under a tent next to the REALTOR® Building. With sunny skies and a slight chill, the festivities were enjoyed by the many REALTORS®, state officials, congressmen, and staff in attendance. Thank you to all who took time out of their busy schedules to be with us!

Beginning with REALTOR® Day on Tuesday, the Special Session used three days last week, with the legislature meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday and adjourning the special session Sine Die on Thursday. The legislature passed and the governor signed the two pieces of legislation that were the reason for the special session. First, the state repaid almost $60 million it had borrowed in the early twenty teens from the Alabama Trust Fund. This marks a fantastic turn around over the last decade from a time when deficits were the main issue to the current debates over how to spend the excess. 

The second and larger item was the appropriation of over $1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The legislature took the minimum five days to pass the bill, with the details largely worked out in advance. In general, the ARPA funds were appropriated as follows:

• Over $339 million for healthcare and related services resulting from COVID-19;
• Up to $260 million for broadband expansion;
• Up to $400 million for water and sewer infrastructure projects;
• Up to $55 million for various programs, including food assistance, senior services, domestic violence victims, long-term housing security, and others;
• Up to $5 million to the Department of Labor for expenses related to COVID-19 unemployment hearings; and
• The remainder to administrative costs. 

The 2023 regular session resumed today, and the legislature is expected to use three legislative days this week. No new bills were filed once the special session began, so a large number of new bills are expected to be filed today and in the next few days. The big topics the legislature is expected to cover are the economic incentives and education matters, but the specifics are unknown at the time of drafting. 

Next week, the legislature will pause the session for Spring Break and resume activities on April 4^th with another three-day week. 

We will be back next week with more specifics on REALTOR®-centric bills so stay tuned.