The pressure to pass large-scale electronic bingo gambling legislation was intense during the Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, which ends May 15, but opponents of these bills have managed to hold them back. And the bill lowering population numbers to hold a wet/dry election remains in the hands of the Senate.
Some believe this year’s gambling push was much stronger than in years past as Alabamians across the state viewed a multi-media campaign to promote electronic bingo gambling expansion in several counties and others without bingo amendments scurried to get a piece of the pie. But no gambling-related legislation — including the Sweet Home Alabama bills — had passed at press time.
While the Sweet Home Alabama bills and a few others related to gambling did make it onto the calendar in both houses, the only gambling-related legislation that made any major progress during the session was Senate Bill (SB) 135 and House Bill (HB) 363. These identical bills sought to expand and redefine electronic bingo gambling in Greene County.
While gambling-related bills faced roadblocks, alcohol-related bills found more success.
The alcohol bill garnering the most headlines during the session — HB 175 — could still pass into the law if the Senate decides to override Gov. Bob Riley’s veto of the bill. The House overrode the veto earlier.
This bill would allow municipalities with a population of 1,000 or more located in “dry” counties — excluding Blount, Clay and Randolph — to hold wet/dry referendums. Currently, a population of 7,000 or more is required for such a vote.
“My initial response was one of excitement that we had apparently defeated the alcohol industry proponents,” said Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP). “[But] people need to call their senators between now and May 14 and ask them to sustain the governor’s veto of HB 175.”
Another alcohol-related bill, Senate Bill 263, which allows for an increase in the alcohol level in a container of table wine from 14.9 percent to 16.5 percent passed both the House and Senate and is expected to be signed into law by Riley.
Following work done by ALCAP and several legislators, the bill was amended to exclude convenience stores from being able to sell this wine.
The “gourmet beer” bill (HB 373) has passed the House and is awaiting a vote by the Senate May 14 or 15. This bill would permit the sale of gourmet beer, which can have an alcohol content of up to 13.9 percent. Beer currently sold in Alabama has an alcohol content of 6 percent.
In other news, Rep. Blaine Galliher, R-Gadsden, sponsored a resolution deeming Easter week as Week of Christian Heritage in Alabama, which “would allow one week per year to teach the Bible from a historical and literary standpoint.”
To contact your state senator about HB 175, call 334-242-7800 and ask to be connected to your senator’s office.
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