GOP Legislators Share Highlights Of 2012 Legislative Session
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: May 17, 2012
Alabama's
movement toward responsible, conservative government made major
progress
in the second year of Republican leadership in the Legislature, with
several landmark reforms and job creation measures successfully passing
in the 2012 Regular Session.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard and members of the House Republican leadership highlighted many of the legislative accomplishments Thursday at a State House news conference. From pension reform to repealing the legislative pay raise, and from rewriting the state's constitution to making strides to improve public schools, lawmakers' achievements make the 2012 Regular Session a major success, Speaker Hubbard said.
"The days of the 'do-nothing' Legislature in Alabama are over," Speaker Hubbard said. "Alabama now has a 'do-something' Legislature, and I'm proud that we built upon our momentum this year and passed even more conservative reforms. We passed bills that are already creating jobs and lowering Alabama's unemployment rate. We overhauled our state's pension system, cut red tape for consumers and small businesses, and streamlined government agencies to remove unnecessary bureaucracy.
"When you look at the body of work that was accomplished, there's no question the 2012 Regular Session was a major success."
Below and attached is a list of successfully-passed bills that highlight just some of the major accomplishments of the 2012 Regular Session.
Back to Work in Year Two:
What the conservative majority accomplished in 2012
Alabama's
movement toward responsible, conservative government didn't stop with
last year's
successful "Republican Handshake with Alabama." In the 2012 Regular
Session, Republican lawmakers built upon their momentum and passed
several conservative reforms that will help create jobs, allow local
communities more tools to improve education, and reign
in wasteful government spending and debt.
Job Creation
The
Legislative Leadership made it clear from the start that their top
priority in 2012 would
be job creation and economic growth. That's exactly what happened, as
lawmakers wasted no time passing pro-growth jobs bills that are already
beginning to have a positive effect on Alabama's economy.
Here's a list of jobs bills that were successfully passed by the Legislature and signed into
law by Governor Bentley (unless otherwise noted):
o Enhanced
Incentives to Recruit Job-Creating Coal Mining Projects, House Bill 144 sponsored by Rep. Bill Roberts (R-Jasper)
This
new law enhances the state's ability to recruit coal mining companies
by allowing them to qualify for certain existing tax incentives
currently available
to manufacturers and other businesses.
As
a direct result of this law, this month Walter Energy announced it will
build a $1.2 billion facility and bring more than 530 jobs to Alabama.
o The
"Heroes for Hire" Tax Credit Act, House Bill 152 sponsored by Rep. DuWayne Bridges (R-Valley)
With
wars winding down in Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of Alabama
veterans will soon return home to a difficult economy in which it is
hard to find a job.
This new law offers Alabama businesses a $2000 tax credit for hiring a veteran recently returned from war.
o
Aviation and Aerospace Economic Incentives, House Bill 39 sponsored by Rep.
Paul Lee (R-Dothan)
This
new law provides for a special tax incentive allowing Alabama to target
aircraft manufacturers and aircraft parts manufacturers.
o Alabama
Film Incentive Enhancement Act, House Bill 243 sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur)
Alabama
has long trailed behind other states in the film and television
production industry because our state lacked the incentives other states
have to help
attract these job-creating productions here.
A
2011 law that included television productions in Alabama's film
incentive statute has already rendered great success as the popular
shows "Rocket City Rednecks,"
"Big Shrimpin'" and "Sweet Home Alabama" all based their productions in
state.
This
new law expands Alabama's film/television production incentive cap from
$10 to $15 million, making Alabama more competitive in the industry.
The
law also doubles the amount productions could spend and count toward
tax incentive rebates from $10 million to $20 million. This would help
Alabama attract
larger productions that will in turn create more jobs.
o The
Alabama Data Processing Center Economic Incentive Enhancement Act, House Bill 154 sponsored by Rep. Dan Williams (R-Athens)
Data
processing centers are key components of the 21st century economy.
These centers employ a skilled workforce, provide high-paying jobs, and
have a low
environmental footprint. Alabama is uniquely positioned to compete for
jobs in this growing industry.
This
new law expands the scope of certain tax incentives in order to focus
on recruiting more data processing centers to Alabama.
o Spurring
Investment in Struggling Communities, House Bill 257 sponsored by Rep. Jamie Ison (R - Mobile) *not yet signed into law
This
new law would encourage economic investment and job growth in low
income areas by leveraging available federal tax incentive
