Like most states, Alabama is facing difficult financial times,
including a 9.7 percent statewide unemployment rate, causing
Governor Robert Bentley and the Alabama Legislature to impose
severe budget cuts. Recognizing the need to spur the sagging
economy, several Republican legislative leaders have introduced
bills this session designed not only to encourage new businesses to
locate in Alabama, but also to provide incentives to existing
businesses to create new jobs. Below is a summary of four such
bills introduced this session that the authors believe have a good
chance of passing and one bill recently signed by the Governor.
HB 230 – The Full Employment Act of
2011: This bill, promised by Governor Bentley in his State
of the State speech, is designed to encourage small businesses to
create new jobs by offering a one-time income tax credit of $1,000
for each new job created. To be eligible for the credit, wages for
the position must exceed $10 per hour. The bill was
