>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS THE 29TH LEGISLATIVE DAY, SO WE HAVE ONE MORE TO GO BEFORE THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS SINE DIE.

TODAY WAS MOSTLY LOW KEY, WITH THE HOUSE AND SENATE MAKING AN EFFORT TO PASS BILLS FROM THE OTHER CHAMBER.

ONE BILL THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF LOTS OF DRAMA YESTERDAY WAS PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS TODAY WITH RELATIVE EASE.

SENATE BILL 119, FROM SENATOR SHAY SHELLNUTT, WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR THE ALABAMA FARM CENTER, A STATE OF THE ART AGRICULTURE EVENT VENUE PLANNED FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY.

IT FAILED TO GET OUT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY, SPARKING ACCUSATIONS OF GAMESMANSHIP RELATED TO THE FAILED GAMBLING PACKAGE.

BUT TODAY REPRESENTATIVE ANDY WHITT, WHO CHAIRED THAT CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, CLEARED THE AIR AND SAID HE SUPPORTS THE FARM CENTER BILL.

>> AND I WOULD NEVER HOLD UP A PIECE OF GOOD LEGISLATION ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WASN'T MOVING.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DOESN'T DO THAT.

SO, AS I SAID, I RECEIVED TEXT MESSAGE AT 1:30 FOR A MEETING AT 1:40.

WE JUST COULDN'T MAKE IT.

AGAIN TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE PASSED THIS OUT OF OUR COMMITTEE TWICE AND VOTED FOR IT.

SO, THERE'S NOTHING TO THAT, RUMOR OR WHATEVER WAS BEING TALKED ABOUT ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> ON THE FLOOR, MEMBERS TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS THE FARM CENTER WILL BRING TO THE STATE.

.

>> THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE AGREED TO ONE CHANGE IN THE BILL THAT DEALT WITH THE APPOINTMENT.

ONE OF THEM BY THE GOVERNOR, LEFT THE HOUSE AND WENT TO THE SENATE FOR CONCURRENCE.

IT HAD ONE APPOINTMENT BY THE MINORITY, A LEADER THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD OF EACH HOUSES FROM A LIST OF FOUR PEOPLE.

THE CHANGES THAT IT WOULD BE ONE MEMBER SUBMITTED ONE NOMINEE BY THE JOINT MINORITY LEADERS OF THE HOUSES FOR THAT TERM.

>> WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE BECOME MORE FRUGAL WITH HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY.

THE DAYS OF US EATING OFF THE VINE AS MUCH AS WE HAVE, ARE COMING TO AN END.

WHEN I LOOK AT BILLS LIKE THIS -- AND I WANT TO READ THIS NOTE, I'M GOING TO READ EXACTLY FROM IT.

IT SAYS, ADDITIONALLY, THIS BILL EXEMPTS THE CORPORATION FROM PAYMENT OF, NUMBER ONE, ALL STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL SALES TAX AND USE TAX.

NUMBER TWO.

AND THE ALL LOCAL, STATE AND AD VALOREM TAXES AND THREE, ANY OTHER TAXES LEVIED BY A COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THIS STATE, INCLUDING LICENSE AND EXCISE TAX.

THIS REDUCES RECEIPTS TO THE STATE, TO THE EDUCATION ACCOUNT BY AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT.

SO WHAT ARE WE PROJECTING THE TOTAL COST OF THIS PROJECT TO BE?

>> PROBABLY, THINK I HEARD THEM TALKING IN THE TERMS OF $160 MILLION, SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.

>> WE'VE REPORTED FOR WEEKS ABOUT LEGISLATION SEEKING CHANGES TO THE ETHICS CODE.

HOUSE BILL 227, FROM REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON WOULD REVAMP THE CODE AND REORGANIZE HOW POTENTIAL OFFENSES ARE INVESTIGATED.

ANT PROSECUTED.

TODAY, THAT BILL DIED IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

ULTIMATELY MEMBERS WERE UNCOMFORTABLE MOVING FORWARD WITH SUCH A FAR REACHING BILL BEFORE MORE REVISIONS COULD BE MADE.

.

>> I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE ETHICS COMMISSION HAS A ROLE IN THIS STATE.

I BELIEVE THE ETHICS COMMISSION SERVES A FUNCTION AND SERVES A PURPOSE, IT'S AN ETHICS VIOLATION.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BAD AND YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT.

IF IT'S A, "YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT," IT SHOULDN'T BE A THREAT OF 20 YEARS OVER YOUR HEAD, IT SHOULD BE A CIVIL PUNISHMENT.

TO THE EXTENT OF A PRETTY HEFTY PUNISHMENT.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

I'M ALL FOR IT.

IF YOU CROSS THE LINE, YOU HAVE SANCTIONS AND PUNISHMENT IN PLACE, YOU SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

IT'S ONLY FAIR, YOU SHOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THE LINES ARE.

>> AFTER THE LAST ETHICS BILL WAS PASSED, AND WE ARGUED THAT MANY THINGS WERE NOT CLEAR, THAT IT WAS LEFT OPEN FOR VARIOUS INTERPRETATION.

AND I KNOW THAT I PERSONALLY, WHEN I CATCH SOMETHING ANYWHERE, IT SHOULD BE CLEAR, EVEN IF HAVE YOU TO REPEAT IT IN THE LEGISLATION.

>> I THINK THIS CONVERSATION WILL CONTINUE AND I SUSPECT THAT WE'LL HAVE HOUSE MEMBERS, HOPEFULLY AND SENATORS, THAT WE'LL HAVE HOUSE MEMBERS, HOPEFULLY AND SENATORS, THAT WILL BE ENGAGED IN FURTHER DISCUSSION SO WE SEE THIS BILL NEXT YEAR.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU PUBLICLY FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS.

YOU KNOW, AS I SAID YESTERDAY, YOU TAKE A LOT OF HEAT FROM LOTS OF DIFFERENT SIDES.

AND IT'S A MATTER OF INTEGRITY AND I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> LATER IN THE DAY, LAWMAKERS PASSED A RESOLUTION ALLOWING LEADERS TO ENGAGE NATIONAL CONSULTANTS ON ANALYZING ALABAMA'S ETHICS CODE AND PROPOSING REVISIONS.

THAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN OVER THE OFF SEASON.

THE SENATE TODAY GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO LEGISLATION AIMED AT SIMPLIFYING THE CHAIN OF COMMAND WHEN IT COMES TO MEDICAL CANNABIS.

HOUSE BILL 390, FROM REPRESENTATIVE DANNY CRAWFORD, SPELLS OUT THAT THE MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION IS THE PRIMARY ENTITY WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO APPROVE AND REGULATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES CAN ASSIST IN THAT WORK.

THE BILL WASN'T CONTROVERSIAL, BUT IT SPARKED A CONVERSATION ON THE SENATE FLOOR ABOUT FRUSTRATIONS OVER CONTINUED DELAYS WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROCESS.

>> THIS IS JUST A SIMPLE BILL THAT HELPS THE STATE OF ALABAMA, THE DEPARTMENT OF AG AND INDUSTRIES, AND RICK PATE, I UNDERSTAND, WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIVE IF WE COULD PASS THIS.

IT'S CLEAN.

>> I'M SURE HE WOULD.

>> IN THE BUDGET WE SENT OVER TO THE GOVERNOR, THERE'S A FEW MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF OUR TAXPAYER MONEY GOING TO LAWYERS TO PREVENT OR FIGHT OR DEVELOP, IN ANY CASE, WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY LICENSES UNTIL THAT GETS DONE.

SO, SOMETHING WE DID, OR SOMETHING SOMEBODY DID HAS BEEN INCORRECT.

AND JUST ABANDONING IT AND LEAVING IT ON ITS OWN DEVICES, WITH US LEFT HOLDING THE MONEY BAG, IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE ANSWER.

>> I HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, SENATOR MELSON HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, COULDN'T GET ANY TRACTION BECAUSE THERE'S JUST DIVISION OF TOO MUCH MONEY INVOLVED AND PEOPLE LET GREED GET IN THE WAY OF TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER NOTABLE LEGISLATION RECEIVING FINAL PASSAGE TODAY.

HOUSE BILL 73, FROM REPRESENTATIVE PHILLIP PETTUS AND SENATOR DAVID SESSIONS, SETS A CAP AT HOW MUCH LOCAL PROPERTY VALUES CAN GO UP OR DOWN, IN EFFECT LIMITING TAX INCREASES.

I'LL TALK WITH SENATOR SESSIONS ABOUT THIS BILL LATER IN THE SHOW.

SENATE BILL 135, FROM SENATOR ANDREW JONES AND REPRESENTATIVE CHIP BROWN, SETS UP A PILOT PROGRAM TO FOCUS ON VETERANS HEALTH CARE AND SPECIFICALLY MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

HOUSE BILL 66, FROM REPRESENTATIVE CHIP BROWN AND SENATOR DAVID SESSIONS, WOULD REQUIRE ACCURATE LABELING OF SEAFOOD SO IT IS CLEAR WHETHER PRODUCTS ARE FROM OVERSEAS.

HOUSE BILL 82, FROM REPRESENTATIVE MIKE SHAW AND SENATOR APRIL WEAVER, INCREASES PENALTIES FOR FALSELY REPORTING A CRIME.

THIS WAS BORN OUT OF THE KARLEE RUSSELL CASE IN HOOVER LAST YEAR.

AND HOUSE BILL 479, FROM REPRESENTATIVE REX REYNOLDS, IS THE FIRST ALLOCATION OF ALABAMA'S OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS.

THEY'LL GO TOWARD ADDICTION PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND OTHER SUCH EFFORTS.

AND BIG NEWS ON THE GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY FRONT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY SIGNED INTO LAW SENATE BILL 270, FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR AND REPRESENTATIVE CYNTHIA ALMOND.

THIS AMENDS ALABAMA'S OPEN RECORDS ACT TO REQUIRE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO RESPOND TO PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS IN A MORE TIMELY MANNER.

ALABAMA HAS FOR DECADES HAD ONE OF THE WEAKEST OPEN RECORDS LAWS IN THE COUNTRY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR NEWS MEDIA AND CITIZENS TO ACCESS PUBLIC INFORMATION.

UPON SIGNING THE BILL, IVEY SAID, QUOTE, THIS LAW PROTECTS GOVERNMENT AGAINST OVERLY BURDENSOME REQUESTS WHILE MEANINGFULLY IMPROVING FAIRNESS, ACCESS AND THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO TIMELY INSIGHT INTO HOW THEIR GOVERNMENT WORKS.

END QUOTE.

THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WAS IN THE HOUSE TODAY.

JEANA ROSS, THE NEWLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM DISTRICT 27, MADE HER FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND WAS ASKED TO SPEAK.

YOU'LL REMEMBER ROSS FROM HER YEARS OF RUNNING ALABAMA'S FIRST CLASS PRE-K PROGRAM AS SECRETARY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>> AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY I'M EXCITED TO GO TO WORK FOR DISTRICT 27 AND THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

I'VE MISSED IT.

I'VE MISSED IT.

THIS FEELS VERY COMFORTABLE, IN A SENSE.

LITTLE OVERWHELMING TO SEE ALL OF YOU AT ONE TIME.

I'M KIND OF USED TO LOOKING AT YOU, ONE ON ONE, BEGGING FOR THINGS ACROSS YOUR DESK.

FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

BUT I AM EXTREMELY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THINGS ACCOMPLISHED AND WORKING WITH THE LEADERS THERE.

I'VE WORKED WITH THEM ON MANY PROJECTS IN THE PAST AND LOOK FORWARD TO CARRYING THAT AGAIN.

WITH GREAT ENERGY AND ENTHUSIASM, I'M GLAD TO BE HERE AND GET TO WORK.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> WELCOME BACK, REPRESENTATIVE ROSS.

WE'LL TRY TO HAVE HER BACK ON THE SHOW, MAYBE NEXT WEEK.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH SENATOR DAVID SESSIONS TO TALK ABOUT HIS PROPERTY TAX BILL, SEAFOOD LABELING AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TODD STACY: WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT, STATE SENATOR FROM GRAND BAY, SENATOR DAVID SESSIONS.

I DIDN'T SAY MOBILE, I SAID GRAND BAY!

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU GOT IT RIGHT.

>> AND NOW, ONE MORE DAY OF SESSION, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE LEADERSHIP HAS TO SAY.

YOU HAVE HAD INTERESTING LEGISLATION AND THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON.

YOU HAD A BILL TODAY.

LET'S START WITH THE PROPERTY TAX CAP BILL.

THIS STARTED REALLY BEFORE THE SESSION EVEN GOT GOING.

YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE COCHG UP FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS BILL DOES AND WHY IT'S NECESSARY.

>> IT CAME UP IN CAUCUS MEETINGS, WAY PRIOR TO LEGISLATURE BEGINNING.

LOTS OF PEOPLE GETTING HIT WITH 20%, 30%' CEASES AND I SPOKE TO REVENUE COMMISSIONERS WHICH WERE NOT HAPPY TO HIT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WITH THOSE KIND OF INCREASES YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEY WERE UPSET ABOUT IT.

AND WE HAD HOMEOWNERS GETTING 50% INCREASES IN ONE YEAR.

AND WE JUST FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO TEMPER THAT GROWTH.

WITH INFLATION GOING STRONG, THE PRICE OF GASOLINE, GROCERIES UP.

AND EVERYTHING GOING UP, UP, UP.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET HIT WITH A 50% INCREASE ON THE HOMEOWNER PROPERTY TAXES.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT CAN BE A STRESS ON PEOPLES' FINANCES.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE LOOKING AT INSURANCE RATES GOING UP EVERY YEAR, SEEMS LIKE.

AND I JUST FELT LIKE, OUR PROPERTY TAXES NEED TO BE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE STABLE AND COUNT ON A STABLE INCREASE.

ALSO, IT PROTECTS FROM A LARGE DECREASE.

BECAUSE IF YOU GO A LITTLE SLOWER GOING UP, WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE REALLY BAD DOWN TURNS, LIKE IN 2009, 2010, THE SHOCK WON'T BE AS BAD.

>> TODD STACY: I SEE.

SPECIFICALLY, SOUNDS LIKE PUTTING GUARD RAILS ON THE PROCESS.

BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT'S THE GUARD RAILS AND WHAT CAN HOMEOWNERS EXPECT?

>> WELL, CLASS 2, CLASS 3 PROPERTIES, WHICH IS OUR FARMLAND, OUR HOMES, YOU HAVE A 7% CAP WHICH IT MEANS IN ANYONE YEAR, IT CAN'T GO UP OVER 7% EVEN IF THE APPRAISED VALUE GOES UP MORE THAN THAT, IT ONLY CAN GO UP 7%.

AND SAY IT GOES UP 10% AND THE NEXT YEAR ONE PERCENT, THE REVENUE STILL CAN CATCH UP, NE STILL HAVE THAT 3% LEFT OVER AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO MAX OUT THE APPRAISED VALUE.

THINK WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA, WE HAD A LOT OF, A DEFICIT IN HOMES.

WE WERE HAVING A LOT OF GROWTH.

WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE HAVE BUSINESSES COMING HERE TO CONDUCT BUSINESSES, BUT WE NEEDED HOMES, BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES.

AND WHEN WE WERE OUT OF DEFICIT, THE PREMIUM COST OF THOSE HOMES HAS JUST SKYROCKETED.

WELL, A PERSON BUYS THE HOME AND PAYS $300,000 AND YOU HAVE AN EXISTING HOME SITTING BESIDE IT, SAME SIZE AND THE HOMEOWNER MAY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 20 YEARS AND ONLY PAID 50,000 WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT.

AND MAY NOT ONLY GET $150,000 OUT OF IT, AND YET GOING TO BE APPRAISED AT THE SAME VALUE AND REALLY CAUSING A STRAIN ON CERTAIN SEGMENT OF THE HOMEOWNERS AND POPULATION.

LIKE I SAID, THIS WAS NOT A PERSONAL THING WITH ME.

MY PROPERTY TAXES HADN'T BEEN GOING UP LIKE THAT BUT I HEARD LOTS OF STORIES THAT THEY HAD.

SO I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THAT HELPS ALL OF THE TAXPAYERS OF THE STATE.

SO MANY TIMES, THE PEOPLE PAYING THE TAXES KIND OF GET LEFT OUT.

WE TAKE THEIR MONEY AND WE SPEND THEIR MONEY.

BUT WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR THEM?

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THIS CAME FROM AND THAT WAS MY GOAL.

>> INTERESTING WAY TO PUT IT.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE PROPERTY TAXES WERE INCREASED.

THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY GOES UP AND THEREFORE, THE TAXES GO UP.

SO, IT'S LIKE A HIDDEN TAX INCREASE IN SOME WAYS.

>> IT IS.

IT IS.

I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS IN COMMITTEE AND YOU HAD CRITICS COMING TO SPEAK ON THE BILL, ESPECIALLY THE EDUCATION GROUPS SAYING, HEY LOOK, YOU ARE LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE WE COUNT ON AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND SCHOOL BOARD'S.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

>> WELL, TODD, FIRST OF ALL, WE DIDN'T CUT ANYTHING.

SO, AND INCREASE IS NOT A CUT.

WE DIDN'T TAKE ANY REVENUE AWAY.

THE ONLY THING THAT TAKES REVENUE AWAY ON A PROPERTY TAX OR REAPPRAISAL IS IF THE VALUES GO DOWN.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY IT'S A DECREASE.

SO, THINK WITH THE 7% K57, IT GIVES A -- CAP 7% CAP, IT GIVES A GROWTH FOR EVERY YEAR, AND I AM IN BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW, IF I CAN GET 3 OR 4% INCREASE OF SALES OF MY GOODS EVERY YEAR, I WOULD BE A HAPPY PERSON.

>> BUT ALSO HAVING THE FLOOR MAY HELP SCHOOLS, IF THERE IS A DOWN TURN OR SOMETHING.

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

IF YOU GO UP 7% FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS AND THEN YOU HAVE AN 8% DECLINE IN VALUES, THAT SHOCK IS NOT NEAR AS GREAT.

>> SO, THIS BILL PASSED THE LEGISLATURE ON THE WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

>> IF THE HOUSE CONCURRED.

THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ON IT.

AND IF THE HOUSE CONCURS, IT WILL GO TO THE GOVERNOR.

OKAY.

ANOTHER BILL ON THE FLOOR TODAY TALKING ABOUT LABELING OF SEAFOOD.

MAYBE YOU HAVE CONSTITUENTS WHO ARE FISHERMEN IN THE SEAFOOD INDUSTRY.

AND TELL US WHY THE BILL CAME ABOUT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THE IMPORTS, FISH AND SHRIMP.

THEY ARE REALLY HURTING OUR DOMESTIC PRODUCTION.

WE HAVE SHRIMP BOATS TIED UP IN MY DISTRICTS, BEING SOLD, AUCTIONED OFF, BEING FORECLOSED ON BECAUSE THEY JUST CAN'T MAKE A LIVING WITH THE FUEL PRICES SO HIGH AND THE SHRIMP BEING SO CHEAP BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTS.

>> SO, COMING FROM CHINA.

>> RIGHT, MOSTLY ASIAN IMPORTS.

AND ANOTHER THING.

THIS WAS TO DEAL WITH THE RESTAURANTS TELLING THE PATRONS WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM.

IF THEY WANT TO SELL CHINESE SWAY, THAT'S FINE BUT LET THE CONSUMER KNOW.

DON'T TELL THEM IT'S WHITE FISH FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO.

IT'S TRUTH IN ADVERTISING TYPE THING TO WHERE THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL A CUSTOMER, YES, THIS IS SWAY FROM ASIA OR IT'S SHRIMP FROM ARGENTINA.

IT'S WILD CAUGHT VERSUS FARM RAISED.

AND THIS HELPS THE CATFISH PRODUCERS TOO.

OUR PRODUCTS ARE GOOD.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PULLS THE PRODUCTS AND TEST THEM FOR CHEMICALS AND CONTAMINANTS.

THE ONLY THING UNSAFE THAT THEY ARE PULLING IS THE ASIAN IMPORTS.

>> TODD STACY: WELL, I TELL YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

I LOVE SEAFOOD, I LOVE GOING DOWN TO THE COAST AND GETTING FRESH SEAFOOD.

>> RIGHT, SCARES ME THAT ME WE MAY LOSE ALL OF OUR FRESH SEAFOOD.

>> RIGHT, I WOULD PAY EXTRA FOR GULF SHRIMP OR BAY SHRIMP.

IS THIS GOING TO GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE?

>> I BELIEVE IT WILL.

IT HAD AN AMENDMENT FOR THE RETAIL ASSOCIATION BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY HANDLE IMPORTED AND DOMESTIC PRODUCTS, IMPORTED TO THEM.

I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT REALLY HURT THE BILL.

YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE SEAFOOD THAT IS U.S.

SEAFOOD THAT MAY BE SHIPPED, RAW PRODUCT TO ANOTHER COUNTRY AND PROCESSED AND SENT BACK.

SO, THOSE LABELS MAY SAY, U.S.

SEAFOOD, PROCESSED IN JAPAN OR CHINA OR ONE OF THOSE OTHER COUNTRIES AND THEN SENT BACK.

MOSTLY, IT'S IN SALMON.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE IT IN.

YOU KNOW, WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GOOD PRODUCTS HERE FOR CONSUMPTION AND WE WANT TO HELP OUR INDUSTRY STAY VIABLE.

>> TODD STACY: INTERESTING.

LAST ISSUE I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT, CANNABIS.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

YOU HAD SOME LEGISLATION TRYING TO PROD THE PROCESS FORWARD.

I KNOW THAT SENATOR MELSON, ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF THE CANNABIS BILL.

AND THINK THERE WERE OTHER BILLS.

BUT WHAT I HEARD IN YOUR COMMITTEE WAS JUST THIS FRUSTRATION, FROM YOU, FROM SENATOR MELSON AND OTHER LAWMAKERS.

IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS SINCE THE LAW WAS PUT IN PLACE.

AND OBVIOUSLY TONS OF LEGAL TROUBLE, LAWSUITS.

AND SOME SELF INFLICTED FROM THE COMMISSION ITSELF.

SO, WHAT CAN BE DONE?

I KNOW THESE BILLS WON'T BECOME LAW.

BUT WHAT'S TO BE DONE FROM THE LEGISLATURE'S PERSPECTIVE TO ACHIEVE THE RESULT THAT YOU INTENDED TO GET THE PRODUCTS TO MARKET.

>> I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DIVE INTO IT THROUGH SESSION.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET OUT OF COURT BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION BEGINS.

MOST STATES THAT HAVE APPROVED MEDICAL CANNABIS HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE A LEGISLATIVE FIX SO TO SPEAK TO GET THIS THING UP AND RUNNING.

WE TRIED TO PUT THE GUARD RAILS IN TO PROTECT ALABAMA BUSINESSES.

THAT WAS OUR INTENT AS A LEGISLATURE FOR IT TO BE ALABAMA NURSERYMEN GROWING THESE PRODUCTS, ALABAMA BUSINESSES PUTTING IN THE PROCESS AND THE DISPENSARIES.

AND THINK THAT IT KIND OF, I GUESS, LOTS OF MONEY MAYBE GOT INVOLVED AND KIND OF CLOUDED THE VIEWS OF TOO MANY.

AND YOU HAD OUT OF STATE CORPORATIONS COMING IN.

>> YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN!

>> PROBABLY REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE TO GET THESE LICENSES ESPECIALLY ON THE INTEGRATED LEVEL.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT TODAY PERHAPS WE SHOULD JUST REVISIT THE WHOLE THING, SCRAP IT AND ISSUE A FEW MORE CULTIVATORS AND FEW MORE PROCESSORS AND NOT HAVE INTEGRATORS.

JUST DO AWAY WITH THAT SEGMENT OF IT WHATSOEVER.

THAT SEEMS TO BE THE SEGMENT THAT THE COMMISSION CAN'T GET RIGHT, IS THE INTEGRATED.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT MONEY, THAT'S KIND OF THE THING, RIGHT?

THAT'S WORTH MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHICH IS WHY, IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T GET A LICENSE, THEY GO TO COURT AND FIGHT THEIR WAY.

SO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

WHY SOMEBODY WOULD DO THAT.

BUT LET ME ASK YOU, LET'S JUST SAY THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID START OVER, DID PASS SOMETHING.

WOULDN'T THAT JUST GENERATE MORE LAWSUITS?

>> HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF IT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK YOU KNOW, MY LEGISLATION, THE PARTICULAR PIECE OF I HAD PROBABLY WOULD HAVE COME CLOSER THAN ANYTHING BECAUSE IT WOULD EXPAND IT SOME, ISSUE MORE LICENSES.

AND I MADE THE STATEMENT, WE DIDN'T PASS THIS FOR COMPANIES TO GET RICH AND MAKE MONEY.

WE PASSED IT FOR MEDICINE, TO TAKE THE PLACE OF SOME OPIOIDS, TAKE THE PLACE OF MORPHINE, TAKE THE PLACE OF DILAUDID.

AND TO USE MEDICAL CANNABIS AS A MEDICATION.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE YOU SAID, BEEN THREE YEARS AND WE HAVEN'T HAD THE FIRST PRESCRIPTION.

>> I CERTAINLY WANT TO HAVE MR. MCMILLAN BACK ON AND THEY CAN'T SAY A LOT BECAUSE OF THE COURT CASES.

IT'S A FRUSTRATING ISSUE.

AND ONE MORE DAY OF SESSION!

AND WE'LL BE WATCHING UNTIL THE LAST GAVEL.

>> I WILL BE HERE.

THANK YOU, TODD.

>> TODD STACY: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK!

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE SAME TIME FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON APT.

AND FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY, WE'LL SEE