Senator Orr’s Privatization Bill SB 77 has been re-scheduled for a Public Hearing and vote in the Financial Responsibility and Economic Development (FRED) Committee this Wednesday, April 10th at 10:00am …
Proposed Bill to Privatize AL ABC Retail Locations
Proposed Bill to Privatize ABC Retail Locations Sen. Orr has just released Senate Bill 77, a bill that calls for the privatization of the Alabama ABC retail locations throughout the …
The Case for State Control of Alcoholic Beverages by Dr. Joe Godfrey
Written by Joe Godfrey: It’s that time of year again. The Alabama Legislature is only days from its opening session, and lawmakers across the state are drafting bills they say …
Sen. Orr Drafting Bill to Eliminate ABC Stores
Alabama Senator Arthur Orr is again trying to shake up the state’s alcohol retail sales. He’s drafting a bill to file in the Alabama Legislature’s upcoming session in March that …
2019 Senate Committee Assignments
Rules Finance & Taxation Education Finance & Taxation General Fund Confirmations Judiciary Governmental …
House of Reps assigns Committee Chairs
Rules: Chairman Mike Jones, R – Andalusia, and Vice Chair Paul Lee, R – Dothan. The Consent Calendar Subcommittee: Chairwoman Pebblin Warren, D – Tuskegee. Ways and Means Education: Chairman …
Lawmakers Considering Raising Gas Tax
As state lawmakers prepare to consider a gas tax increase during the next legislative session, a new report from the Public Affairs Research Council shows Alabama’s state and local governments …
Key Points for Alcohol Policy from Surgeon General’s Report
Senator Arthur Orr has requested that Legislative Services Staff meet with ABC to review Orr’s 2018 bill to privatize the retail operations of the Alabama ABC Board. Senate Bill 298 was introduced by Sen. Orr during the 2018 regular session, but never went anywhere. It was that bad.
Now, Senator Orr would like for ABC to meet with Legislative Services staff so they can point out ALL areas of concern, logistical issues and/or conflicts with current law. This is of course so that a new bill can be drafted and ready for introduction during the 2019 regular session, which begins March 5, 2019. A meeting has been scheduled with Mr. Gipson and Legislative Services for 9:30 a.m. on December 17, 2019.
I had a long conversation with Sen Orr this summer to try to dissuade him from this path
as many others have, all to no avail. He told me that he planned to continue his push to privatize ABC Retail and then ABC Wholesale although the legislation he sponsored last year would have privatized everything; retail, wholesale and would do away with ABC as a state Agency.
The above development poses a real concern because Sen Orr’s legislation has, in the past been so bad that not even those who supported privatization would support his Bill. This could change that. For those of us who were hoping this issue somehow might just go away, it’s not. Also, Senator Orr is expected to keep his position as Chairman of the powerful Senate F&T General Fund Committee. This is one of the 3 most important committees in the Senate along with F&T Education and Rules.
We are discussing ways for ABC to deal with this development and will keep you updated as developments occur. Also the following are significant upcoming dates:
Jan 8, 2019 Organizational session begins. Leadership elected, committees assigned.
Jan 14, 2018 Inauguration
Mar 5, 2018 Legislative Session begins
June 17,2019 Legislative Session end date.