Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to this week's County and Municipal Government Committee meeting.
• Association of Volunteer Fire Departments, the Alabama Fire Fighters Association, the Professional Firefighters
• Volunteer Fire Departments, Alabama Fire Fighters Association, Professional Firefighters Association

Bills: SB249 , SB259 , HB67 , HB214 , SB249 , SB259 , HB67 , HB214

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: municipal tax, license fee, local tax increase, ordinance, public hearing, 30-day notice, municipal notice requirements, city council, town council, Alabama municipalities, Code of Alabama 1975, Section 11-45-2, open meetings website, newspaper publication, local government finance, tax transparency, fee increase, municipal ordinance procedure, University of South Alabama, Board of Trustees

Bills: HB 505 , HB 1080 , HB 1585 , HB 1593 , HB 1816 , HB 1950 , HB 1985 , HB 2421 , HB 2615 , HB 2713

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: notice publication, alternative media, government transparency, civic engagement, local government, housing finance, residential development, tax exemption, mortgage, suicide prevention, peer support, fire departments, mental health, advisory committee, e-cigarettes, public health, schools, retail regulation, fire department, age limit

Bills: HB 505 , HB 1080 , HB 1585 , HB 1593 , HB 1816 , HB 1950 , HB 1985 , HB 2421 , HB 2615 , HB 2713

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: notice publication, alternative media, government transparency, civic engagement, local government, housing finance, residential development, tax exemption, mortgage, suicide prevention, peer support, fire departments, mental health, advisory committee, e-cigarettes, public health, schools, retail regulation, fire department, age limit

Transcript Highlights:

• of the municipality.
• </c> police jurisdiction of the municipality. police jurisdiction of the municipality.
• ><c> law</c><00:11:21.680><c> enforcement</c> municipality or any law enforcement municipality or any
• /c><00:14:39.839><c> overlap</c> not a municip municipality overlap not a municip municipality overlap
• , class 3 municipalities, municipalities, class 3 municipalities, to<00:26:04.240><c> provide</c><00:

Bills: HB450 , HB469 , SB298 , HB450 , HB638 , HB469 , SB298

Committee: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: HB450, judges, judicial office, constitutional amendment, Alabama Constitution, age limit, mandatory retirement, judicial eligibility, supernumerary judge, judicial retirement, state judicial retirement benefits, election law, appointment, voter approval, ballot measure, Judiciary Committee, ambulance services, balance billing, health insurance, emergency transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it was brought to me by some of the firefighters and with the state in the fire civil service

Bills: HB27 , HB143 , HB205 , HB308 , HB311 , HB417 , HB430 , HB562 , HB812 , HB1129

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: inmates, department of public safety, per diem, local correctional facilities, jail funding, insurance premiums, Municipal Fire and Police, dedicated fund, assessments, Louisiana legislation, hazardous waste, cleanup fund, environmental protection, state treasury, Consumer Price Index, law enforcement, firefighters, health insurance, survivors benefits, Lafayette

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this bill actually was brought to me by the Firefighters Association.
• It is permissive legislation that allows a municipality to adopt a Firefighters Bill of Rights.
• </c> lobbyists from the firefighters lobbyists from the firefighters association,<00:04:18.120><c> but
• Uh, ladies and gentlemen, this removes the prohibition against municipal officers serving on a municipal
• We're adjourned. commission for municipalities with less commission for municipalities with less than

Bills: HB468 , SB366 , HB468 , HB561 , SB227 , SB32 , HB561 , SB227 , SB32

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: service of process, funding, Marion County, fees, legal documents, firefighters, rights, personnel procedures, state law, public safety, HB468, local commissions, local authorities, municipal planning commission, planning commission, zoning, land use, municipal official, municipal officer, city council

Transcript Highlights:

• public service, I've witnessed firsthand the sacrifices made by individuals who pursue a career in firefighting
• public service, I've witnessed firsthand the sacrifices made by individuals who pursue a career in firefighting
• Currently, we have nine Salem police officers and eight firefighters who are receiving credit.
• Currently, we have nine Salem police officers and eight firefighters who are receiving... police officers
• and eight firefighters who are receiving credit.

Bills: S2907 , H4890 , H4909 , H4879 , H4846 , H4848 , H3924 , H4740 , H4741 , H4267 , H4799 , S2750

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: police, firefighters, retirement, civil service, credible service, public safety, H4890, Quincy, Quincy Retirement Board, public safety personnel, accidental disability retirement, Chapter 32, Section 94, Section 94A, Section 94B, pre-employment physical examination, medical records, retirement benefits, disability retirement, public employees

Transcript Highlights:

• and Municipal Police Employees Retirement System.
• , police departments, and the municipal police retirement system.
• I'm the interim director of the Louisiana Municipal Association.
• Again, Richard Williams with the Municipal Association.
• Shane Spellman, Professional Firefighters, in support.

Bills: HB17 , HB21 , HB24 , HB41 , HB42 , HB45 , HB1134 , HB1237

Committee: Senate Retirement

Keywords: HB 17, District Attorneys' Retirement System, retirement system, reemployed retiree, reemployment, supplemental retirement benefit, service credit, benefit suspension, public retirement, district attorney, assistant district attorney, Louisiana District Attorneys' Association, employer reporting, annual report, retirement benefits, state employees, local funds, state funds, Municipal Employees' Retirement System, part-time retirees

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the great work that our firefighters and law enforcement personnel do.
• the legislative interim from letters we received from survivors of law enforcement officers and firefighters

Bills: HB1607 , HB2159 , HB2441 , HB2521 , HB2531 , HB2543

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: recycling, waste reduction, environmental policy, sustainability, municipal regulations, preK, education funding, childcare, youth development, state budget, HB 2441, line of duty death, survivor benefits, medical insurance premium reimbursement, surviving spouse, domestic partner, dependent children, public employee death benefits, retirement system, Washington State

Bills: HF4074

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Keywords: retirement, pension, public employees, MSRS, PERA, TRA, St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, police and fire, correctional employees, probation officers, telecommunicators, dispatchers, 911 operators, public safety answering point, PSAP, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, paid on-call firefighters, fire relief association, state aid

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the committee, this bill simply offers a cancer death benefit to volunteer firefighters.
• We already have this in place for our paid firefighters. This would allow the...
• are some parameters and safeguards, if you will, that require them to be a certified volunteer firefighter
• First of all, that certification—not all volunteers go out and seek that certified volunteer firefighter

Bills: HB191 , HB35 , HB29 , HB123 , HB35 , HB29 , HB191 , HB123

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax, local tax exemption, county tax, municipal tax, county commission, municipality, Alabama Department of Revenue, tax exemption, ordinance, resolution, fiscal year, September 1 effective date, notice requirement, local government, tax administration, revenue law, state and local taxation, volunteer firefighters

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Diaz makes several important changes, but the one I want to bring up is that it protects firefighter

Bills: HB2013 , HB2292 , HB2334 , HB2349 , HB2350 , HB2845 , HCM2011

Committee: House Land, Agriculture & Rural Affairs

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, forest fire, brush removal, defensible space, community hardening, vegetation management, fire-resistant construction, wildland urban interface, WUI, insurance premium tax, property insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial property insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• to the firefighters' pension.
• So, that is my goal with this is to let municipalities pay for it.
• I don't want benefits for current firefighters, which is fine.
• The firefighters themselves have a really good what's called a Plan B.
• But I think this is so critically important for our volunteer firefighters.

Bills: SB134 , SB1356 , SB1407 , SB1611 , SB1639 , SB169 , SB1722 , SB182 , SB1870 , SB2039 , SB432 , SB609 , SB715 , SB716

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• to the firefighters' pension.
• So that is my goal with this: to let municipalities pay for it.
• So that is my goal with this: to let municipalities pay for it.
• So when was the last time that the city's municipality match was increased?
• So when was the last time that the city's municipality match was increased?

Bills: SB134 , SB1356 , SB1407 , SB1611 , SB1639 , SB169 , SB1722 , SB182 , SB1870 , SB2039 , SB432 , SB609 , SB715 , SB716

Committee: Senate Retirement and Government Resources

Keywords: retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, state government, OMES, Office of Management and Enterprise Services, Department of Labor, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Rehabilitation Services, civil service, human capital management, state employee disputes, whistleblower, veterans employment, veterans placement, fleet management, state fleet, motor vehicles

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources considered a series of retirement, pension, and state employee bills. Senate Bill 1870 would let small municipalities in OPERS with populations of 2,000 or less opt out for new employees; members questioned the fiscal impact and the bill passed 8-0 after the chair struck the title to get a clearer actuarial analysis. Senate Bill 1722 passed 9-0 and would require OMES construction contract fees to be based only on construction costs, not interior design and furnishings, with members discussing how to define those terms and whether historical or specialized projects could still be accommodated. Senate Bill 1639 passed 9-0 after an amendment removed provisions affecting the Indian Education Act commission, leaving a bill to repeal several dormant boards and commissions. The committee also passed Senate Bills 715 and 716, which would increase municipal contributions to firefighter and police pensions, respectively; members raised concerns about city budgets, and the sponsor said he was open to phasing in the increases. Senate Bill 182 passed 5-2 to add certain DHS Inspector General officers and OJA residential care specialists to hazardous duty retirement, and Senate Bill 609 passed 7-0 to allow police recruits to buy up to five years of prior out-of-state service credit as a recruitment tool. The committee then passed Senate Bill 169 5-2 to increase state employee longevity pay by 50%, with supporters citing high turnover and opponents warning about budget pressure and the need for broader raises. Senate Bill 134 passed 7-0 to shorten the waiting period for county employees to return to work from one year to six months. Senate Bill 432 passed 6-0 to raise volunteer firefighter pension benefits, and because it was double-assigned it would next go to Appropriations. Senate Bill 1407 passed 7-0 after an amendment requiring OMES to provide the Commission on the Status of Women an itemized accounting of funds; the bill generally clarifies staffing and financial reporting authority for the commission. Finally, Senate Bill 2039 passed 8-0 after an amendment narrowing the bill to military personnel who are also teachers and defining salary for buyback purposes; the sponsor said the measure would help service members return to teaching and buy back up to five years of credit. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1356 7-0, a broader OMES cleanup bill moving certain functions elsewhere, though members flagged concerns about relocating the state use program and the pay-for-success fund and suggested further study on those sections.

Transcript Highlights:

• know, before serving in the legislature, I spent twenty-five years as a San Antonio professional firefighter
• by the legislature in 1997, the Fund provides... post-retirement health benefits to San Antonio firefighters
• and agreed upon by all key stakeholders: the City of San Antonio, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters
• My name is Stephen Kars, and I'm an active firefighter for the city.
• pension fund and is governed by a nine-member Board of Trustees, funded by contributions from active firefighters

Bills: HB3014 , HB3109 , HB3126 , HB3474 , HB3594

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Keywords: gift card fraud, counterfeit gift card, gift card tampering, gift card theft, prepaid card, stored value card, retail fraud, financial crimes, consumer protection, organized retail crime, gift card skimming, magnetic stripe, chip card, redemption information, gift card packaging, Penal Code, felony theft, state jail felony, third-degree felony, second-degree felony

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080 , SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080 , SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080 , SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Summary: The Senate convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared present. Senator Darrell Weaver delivered the opening prayer, speaking about unity, humility, and Christian service in public office. The body then approved, by unanimous consent, the standing committees and their members for the second regular session of the 60th Legislature. The chamber also recognized the week one pages, who introduced themselves and described their schools, hometowns, sponsors, and future plans. Several senators then introduced interns and guests on the floor, including students from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, as well as a homeschool student from Blair. During announcements, Senator Hamilton noted the Local and County Government Committee would meet later that day in Room 2.30. Members were also informed that devotions would begin the following Wednesday. The Senate then adopted a motion to adjourn, and the chamber stood adjourned until Wednesday, February 4th at 1:30 p.m.

Bills: SB1519 , SB1775 , SB1900 , SB1948 , SB2080 , SB1226 , SB1456 , SB1462 , SB1463 , SB1980 , SB1479 , SB1608 , SB1923

Keywords: municipal zoning, home-based businesses, no-impact businesses, local government, regulation, short-term rentals, municipal ordinance, municipal court, court of record, court not of record, city penalties, fine limits, penalty cap, ordinance enforcement, state statute, traffic offenses, speeding, parking, DUI, DWI

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 227 by Representative Firefighters to limit the post-retirement House Bill 227 limits the

Bills: HB227 , HB556 , HB543 , HB542 , HB482 , HB483 , HB484

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: firefighter benefits, occupational disease, line of duty, disability pension, death benefits, retirement benefits, hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer presumption, HIV, hepatitis, municipal firefighters, state firefighters, fire districts, workers' compensation, public safety employees, post-retirement benefits, benefit eligibility cutoff, occupational illness