The Alabama Legislature’s 2013 Regular Session saw a significant victory in the passage of House Bill (HB) 57, sponsored by Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin. This bill, signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley, requires abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers. Pro-abortionists opposed this bill on the basis that, as they put it, abortion clinics in the state will not be able to meet such high standards and will have to close. Ironically, for years pro-abortionists have argued that if abortions are outlawed, women would be forced to have “back-alley” abortions in unsafe conditions, yet they strongly opposed this bill, which is meant to protect women. Their opposition even resulted in threats against Rep. McClurkin. But thankfully, the bill was passed in spite of their opposition and threats.
Another bill supported by ALCAP, Senate Bill (SB) 4, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, and known as the “Foreign Law Bill,” passed through both houses and was signed into law by Gov. Bentley. This bill makes the application of laws outside the state of Alabama and the United States illegal in Alabama Courts and it protects the rights of Alabama and U.S. citizens.
For the second year, the Legislature failed to pass a law that would have increased the penalty for possession of electronic gambling devices from a Class-A Misdemeanor to a Class-C Felony. In spite of efforts by the Attorney General’s office and the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bryan Taylor, to get the bill passed, the votes were not enough to stop a filibuster in the Senate, led by Sen. Gerald Dial.
After several years of attempting to get a “home brew” bill passed, advocates were finally successful in the 2013 Session. HB9, sponsored by Rep. Mac McCutcheon, passed both houses and was signed into law by Gov. Bentley. This new law allows individuals to brew their own beer at home and store up to 15 gallons of beer, wine or mead, and to transport up to 10 gallons to festivals and competitions. ALCAP was the sole voice in opposition to this bill.
Overall, ALCAP monitored 137 bills relating to: Alcohol and Other Drugs (65 bills, or 47% of the bills we monitored); Tobacco (10 bills, 7%); Family & Marriage (12 bills, 9%); Pro-Life (5 bills, 4%); Religious Liberty (7 bills, 5%); Gambling (8 bills, 6%); Sex Crimes (11 bills, 8%); Other (19 bills, 14%).