HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Athens/Limestone County Chamber held the 2023 Legislative Update on July 25, 2023, at 9 a.m. at Athens State University Ballroom in the Sandridge Student Center. This event serves as an opportunity for the business community to meet with Limestone County Legislative Delegation as they provide a summary of policy issues addressed during the Legislative Session.
The event featured the following representatives from the Legislative Delegation:
- Senator Tom Butler
- Representative Danny Crawford
- Representative Ben Harrison
- Representative Parker Moore
- Representative Phillip Rigsby
- Representative Andy Whitt
Representative Danny Crawford (R) District 5 explained that as decision makers, they desire to hear feedback from the community and, "... it's so important that our community stays involved and understand how what we've done in Montgomery affects them. By explaining it and talking with them we get ideas to help fix some of those things as well as some problems that we might can address the next session."
One of those issues... is statewide. Alabama recently, chose not to create a second minority majority black congressional district which posed this question (by session host:) , "... does the recently redrawn map treat black voters fairly why or why not?"
"We think it's fair and we're gone stand by it and we hope that the court system will see that it's fair," said Representative Crawford.
Furthermore, another one of those issues is the decision to lower the grocery tax to three percent beginning September 1 and to 2% a year later. Will this reduction make a meaningful impact on the average family's food budget? Also, can we realistically get to the 2% mark September 1, 2024, if current conditions stay the same? Representative Ben Harrison shares his thoughts. "The answer is if we could save anybody any money and give it back to them, that's an impact, and that might be a tank of gas that maybe extra package diapers and maybe a vacation, some Christmas gifts anytime we can get back to the taxpayers. it's a good thing."
Reprsentative Parker Moore agrees. "Like he said, you know, it's 200 to $250 on an average savings for that 1 %. So if we tack on that same percentage next year, that's six 700 bucks that you put back in your pocket."
Event sponsors:
- Presenting Sponsor: Trustmark Bank
- Gold Sponsors: Martin & Cobey Construction, Morell Engineering, Athens State University
- Silver Sponsor: Athens City Schools