Alabama's New Bill: Business Over Environment?

Alabama's state representatives have given the green light to a bill that puts a big limit on how the state can make rules to protect the environment. This bill, called SB 71, says that state agencies can't make environmental rules that are stricter than what the federal government says. It passed with a vote of 68-34, even though Democrats tried to delay it with a long discussion. The bill's supporters say it's all about keeping things fair and consistent for businesses. They argue that strict rules can make living costs go up. But others, like health and environmental advocates, are worried. They think this bill could make it really hard to protect people's health. The bill says that to make a new rule, agencies have to show a clear link between something and actual harm to people. That's a really high bar to reach.Business groups are happy about this bill. They think it will help Alabama attract more businesses by making the rules clear. But health professionals are not so sure. They wrote a letter saying that this bill could mean that rules will only come after people are already getting sick. This isn't the first time something like this has happened. A similar law was passed in Tennessee last year. And right now, Alabama's Environmental Management Commission is looking at new rules for some dangerous water pollutants. But with this new bill, it might be harder to make those rules stick.