New Bill Would Allow Small Businesses to Stay Open During States of Emergency

Opponents of the Bill Say Health Experts Should Make the Decisions

In alabama.

New at five... alabama lawmakers approved a bill that would allow for churches and small businesses to stay open during states of emergencies.

The legislation was created to prevent what happened a year ago -- when the pandemic forced businesses to close temporarly.

Waay-31s alexis scott is live in huntsville after speaking with a business owner about why he's in support of it, alexis?

House bill 103 would allow for all businesses and churches to stay open as long as they follow and comply with the emergency order and rules and regulations set in place by local government officials or the state.

Many store and restaurant owners told me they were upset they had to close under the public health orders the governor issued about a year ago.

Mainly because many bigger... well-known stores could stay open.

It forced some businesses to close for good.

Stan stinson however was able to ride it out.

He owns earth stone wood-fire pizza.

He believes this bill is extrememly important and wishes it was filed earlier.

Stan stinson, owner of earth "every business is essential to the people running it and to the people who work there.

It's ridiculous to say walmart is more essential than a local hardware store because walmart has places everywhere.

The hardware store owner needs to pay his bills and so does their employees," stinson says he hopes this can give business owners like him a chance to make an honest living without shutting down for months at a time.

The bill is now heading to givernor kay ivey's desk.

I've reached out to her office for a statement.

Her press secretary told me -- they will now review it thoroughly.

Reporting live in hsv,