"ESSENTIAL" BILL COULD HELP KEEP LOCAL SHOP AND RESTAURANTS OPEN DURING EMERGENCY ORDERS

And production there.

A bill heading to governor kay ivey's desk for a signature could benefit small businesses and churches through emergency orders issued by the state.

It was filed in response to what happened about a year ago -- when covid health orders forced some businesses to temporarily close.

Waay-31s alexis scott spoke with business owners in huntsville about what this could mean for their future.

Under the new bill... if signed by the governor...even places like salons will never have to close their doors or shelves for long periods of time again.

Michelle mcgough, co- owner of salon allure "it was hard to be shut down for 8 weeks.

It was difficult.

We did get the ppp loan and that really did help us sustain and give us a healthy year," michelle mcgough is the co-owner of salon allure.

She says this bill feels personal.

Last year -- she had to shut down and re-adjust after the safer at home order called for non-essential businesses to temporarily close... including in-door dining.

Stan stinson, owner of earth & stone wood fire pizza "i think shutting businesses down for over months is criminal quite frankly," stan stinson agrees.

He says this bill is needed for every small business owner in alabama.

He admits 2020 was rough for his business earth and stone woof fire pizza.

Stan stinson, owner of earth & stone wood fire pizza "our business dropped 80% and that was with us making deliveries to neighborhoods and doing everything we could," under house bill 103 -- it 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.

Both mcgough and stinson hope the bill passes because every business has bills and employees to pay.

Michelle mcgough, co- owner of salon allure "they have bills to pay and they have supported us through the pandemic.

Hopefully this year will be a profitable year for those around us," i reached out to governor kay ivey's team to see about getting an answer on if or when she'll sign the bill and a spokeswoman told me right now, they're going to review it and we'll get an answer soon.

Reporting in hsv, alexis scott waay-31 news.

Not everyone agrees with the bill.

Democrats argue its important to leave the specifics of health orders to the governor's office and health experts in order to avoid super- spreader