Rep. Danny Crawford

Maddy summaryHB 139 requires corn masa flour sold in the state to contain at least 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound, and corn masa products (like tortillas) to contain at least 0.4 milligrams per pound. This directly affects manufacturers and retailers of corn masa products, mandating added folic acid to improve nutritional content. The bill exempts grocery stores selling conforming products and defines "snack foods" for certain provisions. These requirements aim to standardize folic acid levels in common corn-based foods while clarifying specific exemptions.

Maddy summaryHB 410 sets a new salary structure for Limestone County's sheriff. It replaces the previous rule (85% of the highest-paid 39th Judicial Circuit Judge's salary) with a fixed $149,000 annual base salary, effective January 18, 2027. The bill also requires the sheriff to receive the same cost-of-living increases as other county employees and prohibits personal financial gain from prisoner food accounts. This bill directly affects Limestone County's sheriff and county budgeting for law enforcement compensation.

Maddy summaryHB 412 removes a fixed $15-per-day limit on expense allowances for Limestone County Board of Registrars members, allowing the county commission to set the allowance amount through resolution. The bill directly affects Limestone County registrars and the county commission, which gains authority to determine the daily payment amount. Key provisions include making the allowance retroactive to October 1, 2001, and requiring payments to come from the county general fund, separate from other compensation. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, replacing the previous fixed allowance with a county-commission-determined amount.

Maddy summaryHB 244 exempts electricity and natural gas used in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses from Alabama’s utility gross receipts tax and utility service use tax. This directly affects agricultural businesses operating these facilities by reducing their energy-related tax burden. The bill amends Alabama tax code sections to explicitly add these uses to existing exemptions, clarifying that energy used for heating or operation in these specific agricultural settings is not subject to the taxes. The change takes effect September 1, 2026, and does not alter tax rates for other energy uses.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HJR 76) commends Sandra "Sandy" Thompson for her 17-year leadership as Director of the Alabama Veterans Museum and Archives (AVMA). It recognizes her role in growing the museum's artifact collection to 2,000 items, moving the museum to a larger facility, organizing community events like blood drives and "Threads of Honor" quilting programs, and increasing annual visitors to over 12,000. As a purely commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws, allocate funding, or affect policy - it serves only to honor Thompson's retirement and contributions. The resolution was adopted by the Alabama legislature with a voice vote.

Maddy summaryHB 310 proposes a constitutional amendment for Limestone County, Alabama, that would allow residents aged 65 or older to claim a property tax exemption on their primary residence. To qualify, homeowners must have lived in the property as their main home for at least five years and own it as a single-family residence. The exemption freezes the property’s assessed value from the year before claiming it (for the 2026 value, effective October 2027), while requiring continued residency and maintaining other eligible exemptions. This change requires voter approval through a statewide election under Alabama’s constitutional amendment process.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the income threshold for Alabama's homestead property tax exemption from $12,000 to $16,000 annually for eligible homeowners aged 65+ or those retired due to permanent disability or blindness. It also extends this exemption to unremarried widows or widowers of qualifying individuals, provided their annual income does not exceed $150,000. The exemption applies to property valued at up to $5,000 in assessed value or 160 acres, subject to standard requirements like deed ownership. These changes directly affect homeowners meeting the new income criteria or surviving spouses of those who previously qualified.

Maddy summaryHB 79 consolidates Alabama's current vessel registration fees - previously split between a variable fee based on boat length and a $5 fixed fee - into a single, unified fee. The bill maintains the existing fund distribution: $5 from each registration continues to fund the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, with remaining fees going to the State Water Safety Fund. This change directly affects all boat owners in Alabama who register their vessels annually, simplifying the fee structure without altering the amounts paid. The bill also updates the code language for clarity and consistency, with no changes to fee amounts or fund purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 286 exempts radio and television broadcast stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission from Alabama's utility gross receipts tax and utility service use tax on electricity, natural gas, telephone services, and other connectivity services used in their operations. This directly affects licensed broadcast stations by removing taxes on their energy and connectivity expenses for essential equipment like studio facilities, transmitters, and backup power systems. The bill amends Alabama tax code sections to specifically include broadcast stations in existing exemptions for utility services used in production. The exemption applies to all electricity, gas, phone services, and connectivity used for broadcasting functions, effective September 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThe provided bill text is limited to a single line replacement related to "a grocery store offering conforming products." While the title indicates the bill pertains to requiring certain ingredients for corn masa and products for health reasons, the available text does not provide enough information to explain the specific enrichment requirements or the bill's full mechanisms and scope.