Today marks the 18th meeting day of the 30 day legislative session, and action is continuing to increase as more and more bills are crossing from one chamber to the other for final consideration.

Since the session began, each chamber has largely considered bills that it originates — the House has routinely passed bills sponsored by House members and the Senate has approved measures sponsored by Senate members — but at this point, we will see a noticeable increase in legislation that travels from one chamber to the next and secures final passage.

Among the measures quickly working their way through the legislative process are several bills that are supported and promoted by the Alabama Association of REALTORS®.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law on Tuesday a bill by State Rep. Chip Brown (R - Hollinger’s Island) that expands the list of expenses that can be covered using catastrophe savings accounts. 

Under current Alabama law, catastrophe savings accounts, which provide tax advantages to the holders because deposits are tax deductible, may be used to cover insurance deductibles and uninsured damage resulting from windstorm events.

The newly-enacted law extends the “qualified catastrophic expenses” to include measures that proactively fortify a property against damage from hurricanes, floodwaters, and other windstorm event damage, but those expenses are capped at $15,000. 

The Alabama Senate approved on Tuesday a REALTOR®-supported bill sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton (R - Range) that sets clear time limits for actions related to real estate appraisals.

Under the provisions of Senate Bill 87, a civil action based on a real estate appraisal conducted by a licensed, certified, or registered appraiser much be filed within three years of discovery of the act or omission prompting the action.

It also limits civil actions to no more than five years after an appraisal was completed.

Likewise, complaints made against an appraiser with the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board must be filed within five years of completion of the appraisal prompting the complaint.

That bill proceeds to the House, where it has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

Another REALTOR®-supported measure by Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R - Prattville) that expands exemptions from general contracting licensure requirements secured Senate passage on Wednesday.

State law already exempts numerous services, such as lawn and landscaping maintenance, from the requirement of securing a general contractors license, but Senate Bill 279 adds additional exemptions, such as painting, janitorial work, pressure washing, floor waxing, routine maintenance, and basic upkeep of existing plumbing, electrical, lighting, and HVAC systems.

It, too, proceeds to the House for consideration.

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee awarded a favorable report on Wednesday to consumer protection legislation by State Rep. Chip Brown (R - Hollinger’s Island) that is officially known as the “Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act.”

The measure is model legislation drafted by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators and is intended to provide statutory clarity and a rulemaking path so courts and regulators are not left to resolve disputes in piecemeal litigation. 

The Department of Insurance will create rules governing appeals and claims-handling processes if the bill becomes law.

It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

According to the Constitution of Alabama, the only duty that the Legislature must complete each year is passage of balanced budgets, and both the Education Trust Fund, which provides almost $10 billion in annual funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and four-year public universities, and the General Fund, which allocates dollars to non-education state agencies, are expected to begin moving next week.

The ETF could be considered in the House Ways & Means Education Committee as early as next Wednesday, and the General Fund could be voted up by the Senate Finance & Taxation General Fund Committee on the same day.

The legislative leadership has indicated that at least one more three-day meeting week — the legislature traditionally meets for two days each week — will take place before lawmakers leave for their annual Spring Break recess beginning March 23. 

Plans remain fluid, though, as a growing chorus is calling for adjourning the session as early as possible so incumbents with primary opposition may return to their districts and campaign for reelection.