A summary of action in the Alabama Legislature on Wednesday, the 21st meeting day of the regular session:
HOUSE:
—Passed a bill to name the queen honey bee as the official state agriculture insect of Alabama. Goes to Senate.
—Passed a bill establishing a new process for grandparents to petition for visitation rights with their grandchildren. Goes to Senate.
SENATE:
—Stalled on a bill to restructure the Birmingham Water Works Board.
—Passed a bill to encourage insurance companies to make use of a law that offers tax credits to companies that provide homeowners insurance with wind coverage in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Goes to House.
—Passed a bill that would let landlords consider a property abandoned if the tenant's power has been cut for more than seven days. Goes to House.
COMMITTEES:
—House Financial Services Committee approved a bill to set up a statewide database for payday loans. Goes to House.
— House Ways and Means-Education Committee held a public hearing, but did not vote, on the Education Trust Fund.
—Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill to allow people to carry loaded pistols in their vehicles without having to get a concealed carry permit. Goes to Senate.
—Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved a bill to set up statewide database for payday loans and extend the length of the loans. Goes to Senate.
—Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee and House Education Policy Committee approved bills providing that seniority can't be the most significant factor in the layoff policies for city and county school systems. Go to Senate and House.
— Senate Health Committee approved a House-passed bill to protect nonprofit spay/neuter clinics from efforts to shut them down. Goes to Senate.
AGENDA:
—House meets at 9 a.m. Thursday and Senate at 10 a.m.
