Northport Approves 2023 Legislative Agenda

NORTHPORT, AL — The 2023 Alabama Legislative Session is right around the corner, which prompted the Northport City Council on Monday to pass its legislative agenda as its annual way to communicate its desires to Montgomery.

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This regular session will begin April 10, with final adjournment scheduled for no later than 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 8.

Here's a quick overview of the legislative issues viewed as significant to the citizens of Northport, along with proposed legislation viewed as necessary to protect the city’s interest.

• Make tort liability limits clearly applicable to “individual capacity” suits against municipal employees.
• Support legislation requiring adequate funding by the state General Fund for criminal corrections, mental health systems, transportation, and maintenance, and the Department of Forensic Sciences, and opposes legislation that would pass financial burdens to local governments without accompanying state funding.
• Oppose Drug Sales Exemption from Gross Receipts for Determination of Business License. Pharmacy sales of prescription medication is currently exempt from sales taxes and the city believes the exemption of drug sales from business licensing would undermine the city’s revenues and regulatory authority in an unwarranted manner.
• Support funding for necessary infrastructure, including: Highway 82 west to Rose Boulevard in Northport; Along Highway 69 North and Highway 43 North to Lary Lake Road; Relocation of the city's wastewater treatment plant outfall; Wastewater treatment plant sludge removal project.
• Support funding for other initiatives such as: Recreational and quality of life projects; Storm shelters; Flood mitigation; Pedestrian and bike facilities; Public safety & cybersecurity measures.
• Authorization of Writ Recall fee: Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a municipal judge or a municipal magistrate of the City of Northport in Tuscaloosa County may assess a defendant with a recall fee that shall be paid in order for a municipal judge or magistrate to recall a failure to appear or failure to comply warrant arising from any municipal ordinance violation or other offense brought against the defendant in the municipal court of the City of Northport.
• Oppose regulations that are adverse to city’s water and sewer operations.
• Oppose exemption of sales of food from state sales and use taxes, citing the city's dependence on revenues from state and local sales and use taxes.
• Support supports amendments to current billboard spacing regulations for billboards that lie outside of the zoning authority of the city. This would increase spacing distance to a 2000-foot radius.
• Oppose amendments to current distribution and rates of online sales taxes collected through Simplified Sellers Use Tax.

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