Stephanie Showalter

The following is a summary of legislation enacted by the Alabama Legislature during the 2007 session.

2007 Ala. Laws 150 (H.J.R. 152)                                              (Approved April 11, 2007)

Creates a Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy for the purpose of developing an Alabama Energy Plan to recommend to the Governor and the Legislature courses of action to address the State’s long-term and short-term energy challenges. The initial focus of the Committee will be on the diversity of transportation fuels used in Alabama and developing markets and technologies for alternative fuel products. The committee is required to submit its recommendations on a yearly basis.

2007 Ala. Laws 232 (S.J.R. No. 68)                                             (Approved June 1, 2007)

Designates the second Tuesday of every April as “Rivers of Alabama Day” to recognize the many valuable assets rivers bring to the State of Alabama.

2007 Ala. Laws 252 (H.B. 450)                                                   (Approved June 6, 2007)

The Lauderdale County Tennessee River Preservation Act prohibits the withdrawal of water from the Tennessee River Basin for transfer to any other river basin outside of the Tennessee River Basin in an amount greater than the amount being withdrawn on the effective date of the act.

2007 Ala. Laws 418 (H.B. 254)                                                  (Approved June 14, 2007)

The Wildlife Heritage Act of 2007 provides hunting license buyers with the option to hunt under a “supervision required” status in lieu of passing a hunter education course. Hunters under supervision must be under normal voice control, not to exceed 30 feet away from a properly licensed hunter 21 years of age or older. The Act also raised the statewide hunting license fee from $16 to $24 and freshwater fishing license fees from $9.50 to $12.

2007 Ala. Laws 464 (H.B. 426)                                                  (Approved June 14, 2007)

The Alabama Uniform Environmental Covenants Act provides rules for the creation, enforcement, and modification of environmental covenants to restrict the use of contaminated real estate. An environmental covenant is “a servitude arising under an environmental response project that imposes activity and use limitations.” Environmental covenants are used to encourage the redevelopment of brownfields and other contaminated sites.