BIRMINGHAM, AL – Mayor Randall L. Woodfin and the Birmingham City Council have agreed on agenda priorities for the upcoming session of the Alabama Legislature. The priorities include legislation to support the city’s commitment to affordable housing and enhance tools to eliminate blight in neighborhoods.
“I am pleased to see close collaboration with members of the city council as we advocate for legislation that will better serve the needs of our residents and businesses,” Mayor Woodfin said. “Together, with the support of the Jefferson County legislative delegation, we can take steps to enhance our neighborhoods and improve the lives of our residents.”
The city’s priorities for the legislative session include:
· Alabama Landbank Act Amendment
Legislation would amend provisions of the existing Alabama Land Bank Act, allowing local land bank authorities to acquire tax delinquent properties in shortened redemption periods.
· Code Enforcement Lien Foreclosure
The purpose of this bill is to create the most equitable, efficient, and effective code enforcement system for the City of Birmingham. The bill is based on similar legislation for the City of Mobile and is limited to Class 1 municipalities.
· Birmingham Housing Trust Fund
This would provide the enabling legislation to establish the City of Birmingham’s Housing Trust Fund.
· Alabama Vacant Property Registration Bill
The bill grants a Class 1 municipality the authority to enact, by ordinance, provisions for vacant property registration, a fee for the registration of vacant properties, and maintenance standards for vacant properties.
The regular session of the legislature starts February 6.