Legislative Update - Week of March 16, 2020
Coronavirus Impacting Public Policy
Over the course of last week, the attention on and severity of the coronavirus increased dramatically. The outbreak has led to cancellations of conventions and sporting events and also forced employers of all sizes to review risks and consider alternative working conditions. The concerns over large gatherings have forced elected officials at all levels to alter how they adopt public policy.
Early last Thursday morning, March 12, the federal government announced that the U.S. Capitol and House and Senate offices would be closed to the public through the end of March. Then on Friday afternoon, Governor Lee announced that the state Capitol will be closed to visitors. Just hours later, Lt. Governor McNally and Speaker Sexton announced that the Cordell Hull Building – which houses all legislative offices and committee hearing rooms – would likewise close to the general public. While committee hearings and floor sessions will be available for viewing online, these restrictions will prevent testimony on legislation from lobbyists, locally elected officials, and everyday citizens. While there are hundreds of bills still to be considered, the only Constitutional requirement of the General Assembly prior to adjournment is the passage of a balanced budget. It’s anyone’s guess at this point as to when the General Assembly will adjourn and how much debate non-budgetary bills will receive.
Items to Watch this Week
Restricting Employment Practices
HB2545/SB2641 (Potts/Yarbro) would prohibit employers with 50 or more employees from asking current or potential employees about salary history. Employers would be prohibited from denying interviews or employment based on such information. The bill would make a violation an actual crime while also creating a cause of action for an impacted person to sue an employer.
This House bill is scheduled for a hearing this afternoon, March 16, at 2:00 p.m. in the House Consumer and Human Resources Committee, and the hearing or archived video may be viewed here. The Senate bill is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow afternoon, March 17, at 1:00 p.m. in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee, and the hearing or archived video may be viewed here.
Restrictions on Turning Around Blighted Areas
HB1880/SB2058 (Carr/Niceley) would change how local housing authorities redevelop areas considered “blighted.” Under current practice, housing authorities can designate a cohesive area as blighted which allows for the creation of redevelopment zones which make tax increment financing, design review, and infrastructure improvements possible. These zones, however, may only be created following public hearings and approval of the local legislative body. This bill would restrict this practice and require individual parcels to be deemed “blighted” rather than a cohesive area. This change would jeopardize infrastructure improvements and private investments for these areas that need redevelopment.
The House bill is scheduled for a hearing in the House Constitutional Protections & Sentencing Subcommittee tomorrow afternoon, March 17, at 4:30 p.m., and the hearing or archived video may be viewed here. The Senate bill is scheduled on the Senate Floor this afternoon, March 16, at 4:30 p.m., and the discussion and archived video may be viewed here.
*To see the status of all of the bills being tracked by the business community, click here.