The Alabama Legislature adjourned sine die on May 17.

Among the measures passed were the $2.4 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year, legalization of medical marijuana, and a ban on curbside voting.

Additionally, a bill requiring all campaign finance reports to be filed electronically was passed earlier in the session.

This requirement goes into effect in August 2023.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has announced another special election to be held in 2021.

This election will be for Alabama House District 78, which became vacant when Rep. Kirk Hatcher won the special election to fill the vacant Senate District 26 on March 2.

The primary election for the House seat will be held on May 25 with a runoff election on June 22, if necessary.

The general election will be held on September 7.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the special election dates for House District 73 to coincide with the previously announced special election for Senate District 14.

The special primary election will be held on March 30, 2021, with a runoff on April 27, if necessary.

The general election will be held on July 13.

The House District 73 was vacated when Rep. Matt Fridy resigned after being elected to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the special election dates for the Senate District 14 seat previously held by Sen. Cam Ward.

The special primary election will be held on March 30, 2021, with a runoff on April 27, if necessary.

In addition, the general election will be held on July 13.

Ward left the office to accept an appointment as director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has announced the special election dates for Senate District 26.

This seat was previously held by Sen. David Burkette who resigned last week ahead of being arrested for violations of the state’s Fair Campaign Practices Act.

The special primary election will be held on November 17 with a runoff on December 15, if necessary.

The general election will be held on March 2, 2021.

The Alabama Ethics Commission has filed a motion asking the Montgomery County Circuit Court to revise one of their orders.

The Court recently ruled that airport authority employees are not public employees, or subject to the Ethics Act.

The Ethics Commission has proposed rather than looking to whether someone is paid through taxpayer contributions, the standard should be whether their salaries were paid out of revenue from negotiated “commercial arms-length” transactions.

The Birmingham Airport Authority has filed a response arguing the commission’s new standard inconsistent with the facts of the case.

Joining them in opposition, the Alabama Water and Wastewater Institute has also filed a brief arguing this new standard.

The institute argues the standard would create a burden on public corporations and their employees.

Therefore, this would cause an attempt to untie a tangled knot of revenue and determine the status of each employee.

On May 18, the final day of the regular session, the Alabama Legislature voted to approve with Gov. Kay Ivey’s amendment to Senate Bill 161.

This amendment allocates the $1.8 billion received by the state from the CARES Act.

Thus, the Alabama Legislature now stands adjourned sine die.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has scheduled a special election to replace Rep. April Weaver of House District 49.

Weaver recently announced her resignation to take a position with the Trump Administration.

If necessary, the primary election for the seat will be held on August 4 with a runoff set for September 1.

Additionally, the special general election will be held on November 17.

The Alabama Legislature’s leadership has announced the Legislature’s return will be delayed until May 4.

Originally set to return on April 28, the decision complies with Gov. Kay Ivey’s stay-at-home order, which remains in effect until April 30.

This delay will require the Legislature to work quickly as the session must adjourn sine die on or before May 18, per the state constitution.

After reconvening from the scheduled spring break, the Alabama Legislature has decided to suspend the legislative session.

The session is suspended as of March 31, due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Upon reconvening on April 28, the Legislature will have until May 18 to complete any pending legislation.

Legislation includes the constitutionally mandated budget bill for the fiscal year starting on October 1.

Alabama officials held a press conference announcing the March 31 runoff election will be postponed until July 14.

The press conference was held by Gov. Kay Ivey, Secretary of State John H. Merrill, and Attorney General Steve Marshall.

Merrill believes this new date will allow for the electoral process to continue in a normal manner.

He also says the delay will allow all local election officials the time to assess and evaluate the changes needed to ensure the runoff election is administered according to plan.

The Ethics Commission has announced only minimal essential personnel will be in office from March 16 through April 6.

This will likely cause delays in precertification processing.

Accordingly, the Commission has requested that precertification requests be submitted well ahead of time to ensure timely processing.

A drop box has been placed in the front office to accommodate hand delivery during this period.

Citing concern for the health and well-being of the citizens, Secretary of State John Merrill is urging the state’s March 31 runoff elections be postponed.

In a statement over the weekend, Merrill requested an emergency opinion on whether the Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency would authorize this postponement.

Merrill also stated there is no provision or process in Alabama’s Code or Constitution allowing changes to election dates after being set.

The Alabama Ethics Commission issued an advisory opinion finding employees of airport authorities are public employees and therefore subject to the state ethics law.

Attorneys for the Birmingham and Huntsville airport authorities argued airport employees are private because they are paid with funds generated by the airport.

However, the commission ruled the airport’s revenue is considered “state, county, or municipal funds” because the Legislature grants the airport authority the ability to collect those fees for a specific purpose.

Airport employees are criminally liable for ethics violations and, if they meet specific income thresholds, are required to file annual statements with the commission.

The Birmingham Airport Authority intends to appeal to the Montgomery County Circuit Court.