The Senate HB vote caught me by surprise. I was just able to decode ALISON b/c I’ve followed state and local politics for a while.

Apparently if the “20gal transport limit” ammendment caused such a swing in support, there must have been some debate about that particular part of the bill?

I don’t follow the legislative process as I should, but I find it interesting… I imagine even if I was there witnessing it, I wouldn’t be able to follow along. Soon as you start voting about whether to vote, my head starts spinning.

Just curious: Is there a better source online for this info? Is the legislature tweeting? I suppose you get much of your info via calls to your “contacts on the inside”?

Anyway, I raise a toast to SB153 and its continued progress!

Steve Manhart

1. BIR passed 15-6 (a BIR is a procedural vote requiring a 3/5 supermajority in order to consider a bill prior to passing the state budgets)
2. Bill failed 7-13. Usually this means the bill is dead.
3. Beason introduced motion to reconsider, or re-vote on the bill. Only a senator who was on the prevailing side can introduce such a motion and it requires a simple majority to re-hold the vote. Beason voted No so he could make the motion. Not sure why he did it except maybe as a favor to the sponsor (who obviously wouldn’t have voted against it). Beason abstained on the second vote. The bill is back up for debate.
4. Dixon introduces the amendment. It passes 15-2.
5. The bill passes vote #2 13-6.
6. The bill is sent to the House.

Thanks for the update. I didn’t expect such a jump forward in one day, since we were calling late last week just to get it on the senate calendar. Can’t say I understand the process very well… at least not in the form that is filed at Alison (http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/ACASLogin.asp) – see what I cut from the 2/23 activity report below.

Anyone have further explanation? Was it debated in depth? Was there significant opposition? Did it nearly die? Does Senator Beason deserve a round of applause for keeping this bill alive? Or did this bill make it through relatively easily compared to others?

I’d like to get a better picture of potential obstacles ahead….

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SB153
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Lost in house of origin

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass lost Roll Call 356

Third Reading Passed

Beason motion to reconsider third reading adopted Roll Call 385.

Beason motion to reconsider passage vote.

Dixon Amendment Offered

Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 386

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 387

Third Reading Received
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