Alabama lawmakers end legislative session with jest: handing out the 鈥榙eadest bill鈥� award
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Alabama legislators honored a long-standing tradition on Wednesday with their annual award for the 鈥渄eadest bill鈥� of the session, bringing levity to an otherwise politically polarized Statehouse.
The winner was a bill that would require a booster seat for children who weigh less than 65 pounds, up from 40 pounds, introduced by Republican Rep. Ron Bolton.
鈥淥ne size fits all, rarely, if ever, applies to children, much less House members,鈥� the House of Representatives public information officer, Clay Redden, said on Wednesday. 鈥淭his bill would have made it nearly impossible鈥� for some legislators 鈥渢o drive themselves to work,鈥� Redden continued.
Legislators laughed and cheered at Redden鈥檚 remarks.
The award, known as the 鈥淪hroud,鈥� has been given out since 1979 as a 鈥渉igh-profile public burial鈥� for one piece of legislation. Winners are given an empty suit framed in a cardboard box.
Bolton鈥檚 bill read more like 鈥渃hapters from a pediatrician鈥檚 anatomy book or an instruction manual and manual of how to operate a nuclear reactor,鈥� Redden said.
Bolton smiled and posed on the House floor to accept his award.
The legislation won the award over a bill that would have created a sales tax exemption for firearms and ammunition on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, among other runners-up.
鈥淭he fiscal note on the bill suggested there would be little, if any, impact on state revenue, since most gun owners in Alabama already have enough weapons and ammunition to fight World Wars three, four and five,鈥� Redden said.
Some previous winners of the 鈥淪hroud鈥� award have been reintroduced in later years and .
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