Birmingham Water Works Bill Advances Amidst Local Controversy
The Birmingham Water Works Board is set for an overhaul as Senate Bill 330 received approval from a House committee, paving the way for a final vote on Thursday. Sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, the bill aims to restructure oversight by increasing the board’s diversity with members from outside Birmingham and Jefferson County. This change is intended to infuse the board with enhanced financial and management expertise, addressing ongoing billing, infrastructure, and leadership challenges. Currently, the Birmingham Water Works serves approximately 770,000 customers across five counties, predominantly in Jefferson County.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously last week, but opposition surfaced during a public hearing in the House Commerce and Small Business Committee. House members Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, defended the current board’s improvements, while Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, criticized the bill for excluding a board representative from St. Clair County.
In other legislative updates, a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America has stalled in a Senate committee, failing to muster enough votes. Carried by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, the bill aimed to align Alabama with similar efforts by other states. It met its end with a deadlock, likely concluding legislative attempts for the year.
Additionally, the Alabama House passed a controversial bill mandating that individuals temporarily remove masks during protests upon police request. The vote, tallying 74-22, faced significant pushback from Democrats, who see it as a threat to the right to peacefully assemble. The bill now awaits Senate approval.
Meanwhile, a modified wire transfer bill aimed at preventing fraud also progressed, reducing the reporting threshold for suspicious cash transactions from $3,000 to $1,000, receiving near-unanimous support in the House.
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