Fair Lending Practices
Predatory payday and title lending practices have been prevalent in Alabama for years, throwing hard-working taxpayers across the state into a vicious, inevitable cycle of debt. Payday and title loans in Alabama can have interest rates — legally– of over four hundred percent, and lenders, who are eager to profit, will certainly not make positive changes themselves. In the 2014 legislative session, the House passed Rep. Todd’s payday loan bill which will require a database for all payday loans to ensure that no one gets trapped in multiple loans.
Medical Marijuana
In the 2014 legislative session, Representative Todd once again fought for the legalization of medical marijuana. She was instrumental in passing Representative Mike Ball’s bill known as Carly’s Law, which will allow those suffering from debilitating seizure disorders to participate in research done by UAB on cannibidiol (CBD) oil. Representative Todd is proud that this research is taking place here in Birmingham where it is most needed.
Spay and Neuter
This year Representative Todd led the passing of House Bill 141 to allow spay-neuter clinics across the state to stay open and continue providing affordable spay and neuter services. Thousands of animals are euthanized in Birmingham every year, and the non-profit spay-neuter clinics who provide these services are invaluable to our community.
Marriage Equality
The recent US Supreme Court decision on the Defense of Marriage Act has put many states in conflict with the federal government on recognition of same gender marriage. Alabama passed a constitutional amendment in 2006 to ban any legal recognition of these marriages. Hundreds of loving couples will, for the first time, be able to file their federal taxes as legal married couples. Rep. Todd and her wife Jennifer will be filing their state taxes as a married couple and encourage all other legally married same gender couples to do the same. For more information visit Freedom to Marry and the ACLU.
