Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, speaks on the floor of the Alabama Senate on May 6, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Elliott has filed a bill for the 2025 session that would set a 45-day deadline for public agencies to grant or deny permits and licenses. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
An Alabama state senator has filed a bill that would give state agencies a 45-day deadline to approve or deny a permit or license.
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, would grant automatic approval to those applications if not otherwise denied within the time period.
“Forty-five days is plenty of time and if you’re not going to grant it, then go ahead and tell them why not and what the problem is, but let’s not, let’s not pocket veto this thing by sitting on it and effectively not do anything with it,” he said in a recent interview.
Elliott said the bill would apply to all permits and licenses.
“It’s a building permit, it’s an ADEM permit, it’s a health department permit, it’s a business license, whatever,” he said.
The Legislature returns to work on Feb. 4.
“We are currently reviewing the legislative proposal by Sen. Elliott and gathering input from our municipalities as to its practical impact on their ability to issue business licenses and permitting requests in a reasonable timeframe,” wrote Alabama League of Municipalities Greg Cochran in a statement. “Municipalities are the community guardians ensuring businesses are compliant with state and local laws and ordinances.”
The applicant can request an extension of time if it’s not worked out within 45 days. Elliott said he didn’t want the clock to run out on an applicant and entity if they’re close to a solution. He said he doesn’t want the licensing entity to deny applicants if they think they’re going to run out of time.
“So, if the applicant says, ‘Hey, we’re working to find an answer on this, and we’re getting close, I want to go ahead and extend.’” he said.” Applicant can extend it, but it really does put the onus on the agency to go ahead and get after it.”
He said he, in his business career, and his constituents are frustrated with how long things take and that it’s “maddening” to him how long applications can take.
When he was on the Baldwin County Commission, they saw it as a customer service role. He said it doesn’t always feel like the case at the state government level.
“You’ve heard the old adage: Time is money,” he said. “Well, it doesn’t matter to government, but it does to a small business person. It does to a homeowner.”
YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.