Since 2015, 11 measures taken on by the Alabama Legislature have been designated “key votes” by NFIB/AL because of their importance to the state’s small business owners. Did your state representatives stand up for small business on these votes? Below is a roundup of the 11 key votes from 2015-2018, as well as recognition of the legislators who earned a 100 percent voting record for all four years.
NFIB/AL Key Votes
In each case, a “yes” vote supported the NFIB position, and all but one of the measures passed the Alabama House and Senate.
Small Claims Court (HB 232): Doubled the amount—from $3,000 to $6,000—for claims that can be taken to small claims court without an attorney. The rate had not changed since 1996.
Unemployment Compensation Formula Change (HB 19): Revised the unemployment compensation formula for calculating weekly benefits for part-time workers. Previously, you would lose your unemployment benefits if you earned more than $15 a week. The new law allows earnings up to one-third of the weekly benefit amount. It helps small business owners by reducing the number of people receiving benefits and making it less likely the Legislature will raise taxes to increase funding for the Unemployment Trust Fund.
“Right to Work” Constitutional Amendment (HB 37): Affirmed Alabama will remain a “right to work” state, meaning a worker’s job cannot be denied or abridged based on membership or non-membership in a labor union.
Health Savings Accounts (HB 109): Establishes a state income tax deduction for contributions to a Health Savings Account, allowing for deductions at the same level as for federal tax returns. Effective for tax year 2018.
Prohibits cities and counties from establishing their own minimum wage (HB 174): Established that cities’ and counties’ minimum wage can be no higher than the federal minimum wage.
Apprenticeship Tax Credit (SB 90): Introduced $1,000 tax credit for an apprentice up to four years. Maximum claim for no more than five apprentices employed at the time. Includes entities under subchapters S, K, LLC or PC. Definition of apprentice is the same as defined by the U. S. Dept. of Labor.
Third Party Audit and Collection Firms (SB 335): Amends the practice of third party audit and collection firms who contract with municipalities and counties to collect tax dollars. Establishes minimum educational requirement for auditors, establishes a hotline for complaints, and requires third party audit and collection firms to notify taxpayers of their rights under the Taxpayers Bill of Rights at the first contact with taxpayer.
Business Delivery License Reform (SB 316): Exempts a business from the purchase of a business delivery license if its deliveries do not exceed $10,000 annually and the business has no physical presence in the municipality or police jurisdiction. Sets the fee at $100 annually for a business delivery license and caps the issuance fee at $10.
Franchise Business Protection Act (HB 390): Clarified the definition of the employment relationship and stops state enforcement agencies and local governments from expanding the new federal joint-employer standard.
Business License (HB 107): Prohibits cities from requiring a business license for a person traveling through a municipality on business if the person is not operating a branch office or doing business in the municipality.
Unemployment tax reduction (SB 92): Would have made significant changes to the current unemployment law by reducing the maximum number of weeks that unemployment compensation benefits are payable from 26 weeks to the lesser of 14 weeks, or a maximum of 20 weeks, depending upon the average unemployment rate for any benefit year after Jan. 1, 2019. The bill would have allowed a higher weekly benefit amount, increasing from $265 to $275. It also included a 5-week extension for anyone who was enrolled in a state-approved training program. As estimated by the Legislative Services Office, the bill would have lowered unemployment taxes annually by $53 million for Alabama business owners. While the Senate passed SB 92 21-8, the House did not vote on it.
Senators with a 100% Voting Record
Greg Albritton (Bay Minette)
Gerald Allen (Tuscaloosa)
Slade Blackwell (Birmingham)
Dick Brewbaker (Montgomery)
Clyde Chambliss (Prattville)
Gerald Dial (Lineville)
Rusty Glover (Mobile)
Bill Hightower (Mobile)
Jimmy Holley (Elba)
Del Marsh (Anniston)
Jim McClendon (Springville)
Tim Melson (Florence)
Arthur Orr (Decatur)
Trip Pittman (Daphne)
Paul Sanford (Huntsville)
Clay Scofield (Guntersville)
Shay Shelnutt (Trussville)
Larry Stutts (Tuscumbia)
Tom Whatley (Auburn)
Phil Williams (Gadsden)
State Representatives with a 100% Voting Record
Will Ainsworth (Guntersville)
Mike Ball (Madison)
Elaine Beech (Chatom)
Chris Blackshear (Phenix City)
Alan Boothe (Troy)
Mack Butler (Rainbow City)
Steve Clouse (Ozark)
Terri Collins (Decatur)
Danny Crawford (Athens)
Randy Davis (Daphne)
David Faulkner (Birmingham)
Joe Faust (Fairhope)
Bob Fincher (Woodland)
Danny Garrett (Trussville)
Victor Gaston (Mobile)
Lynn Greer (Rogersville)
Tommy Hanes (Bryant)
Corey Harbison (Cullman)
Alan Harper (Aliceville)
Ed Henry (Decatur)
Mike Holmes (Wetumpka)
Steve Hurst (Munford)
Ken Johnson (Moulton)
Ron Johnson (Sylacauga)
Nathaniel Ledbetter (Rainsville)
Paul Lee (Dothan)
Mac McCutcheon (Huntsville)
Steve McMillan (Bay Minette)
Mike Millican (Hamilton)
Arnold Mooney (Birmingham)
Barry Moore (Enterprise)
Becky Nordgren (Gadsden)
Phillip Pettus (Killen)
Chris Pringle (Mobile)
Kerry Rich (Guntersville)
Howard Sanderford (Huntsville)
David Sessions (Grand Bay)
Randall Shedd (Cullman)
Kyle South (Fayette)
David Standridge (Hayden)
Mark Tuggle (Alexander City)
Ritchie Whorton (Owens Cross Roads)
Margie Wilcox (Mobile)
Jack W. Williams (Wilmer)
Phil Williams (Huntsville)
Rich Wingo (Tuscaloosa)
Randy Wood (Anniston)
