On Tuesday, HB 362, the anti-Forever Wild bill, was defeated in the House. We all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the attempts to tax Alabama’s public lands were done once and for all this session. Unfortunately, like something right out of a horror movie, the bill very briefly came back to life on Thursday night.
Conservation Alabama learned of a plan by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mark Tuggle (R-Alexander City) to bring HB 362 back from the dead Thursday. Rep. John Rogers (D-Birmingham) filed a motion in writing within the first hour of the House convening requesting HB362 be reconsidered despite the bill having been defeated on Tuesday. This is an uncommon occurrence, but one that is allowed by House rules. Thursday evening the bill was brought up before the full House for reconsideration. Rep. Tuggle, who had been working members all day, offered an amendment to the bill in an attempt to appease some House members who voted “no” on Tuesday. A bill like HB 362 that calls for a constitutional amendment requires three-fifths of the vote to pass, and despite his best efforts Rep. Tuggle could not muster the 62 votes he needed. HB 362 was defeated again Thursday night by a margin of 49-12, putting the last nail in its coffin for this legislative session. See more from Conservation Alabama.