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What passed in the Alabama Legislature: May 23-25, 2023
Here’s a list of the bills that passed in the Alabama Legislature this week. Tuesday, May 23, 2023 Senate SB304, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, establishes minimum qualifications for the Hale County sheriff. It passed 32-0 and went to the House of Representatives, which passed it on Thursday. SB 305, sponsored by Sen. Bobby […]
General Fund goes to Gov. Kay Ivey after Senate debate over local projects
The Alabama Legislature gave final approval to a $3 billion General Fund budget and a supplemental funding bill early Friday morning, sending it to Gov. Kay Ivey after addressing concerns from some senators about local projects. The House voted to concur on the General Fund Conference Committee substitute 103-0 and the supplemental 103-0. The Senate […]
Bill that makes doxing a crime passes the Senate
A bill that would outlaw doxing passed the Senate on Thursday. HB 287, sponsored by Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, makes it illegal for someone to intentionally post personal identifying information online to harass or harm another person. If the person whose information is shared is a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or public servant, then the […]
Bill prohibiting discrimination for organ donation passes Senate
The Alabama Senate Thursday approved a bill that would prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities who need organ transplants. HB 122, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wood, R-Valley, would ban organizations from placing people lower on a transplant list because of their disability. “My colleague and my district House member that has worked very hard on […]
Alabama Senate passes amended version of former gang bill
The Alabama Senate Wednesday approved an amended version of the bill creating harsher criminal penalties for involvement in criminal enterprises. Most of the amendments to SB 143, sponsored by Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, were cosmetic and changed references from “gang” to “criminal enterprise.” Some offenses were reduced. “This bill, SB 143, is a criminal enterprise […]
DA: Five people indicted on murder, assault charges in Dadeville mass shooting
Five people arrested in connection with the mass shooting at a Sweet 16 party in Dadeville last month have been indicted on murder and assault charges. The Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Office said in a release Wednesday afternoon that Willie Brown, 20; Johnny Brown, 19; Wilson Hill, 19; an unidentified juvenile, 16 and an […]
Alabama House committee approves $8.8 billion education budget
The proposed $8.8 billion Education Trust Fund budget passed an Alabama House committee Wednesday and could be voted on by the full House on Thursday. The House Ways and Means Education Committee approved the ETF and related bills on a series of voice votes. While the budget follows the Senate version, which passed on May […]
First Grade Readiness bill passes Senate Committee
The Alabama Senate Education Policy committee Wednesday approved a bill that would mandate first-grade readiness. The bill, HB 43, sponsored by Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, would require students to show “first-grade readiness” through completion of kindergarten or an assessment. They can also enroll if they transfer from first grade in another state. “I really started […]
Grocery tax cut bill passes its first hurdle in Alabama House
An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved a bill that could cut the state grocery tax in half over several years. HB 479, sponsored by the House Ways and Means Education chair Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, would reduce the tax rate to 3% on Sept. 1. The tax would be cut down to 2% in subsequent years […]
Alabama Senate approves changes to Accountability Act
The Alabama Senate Tuesday approved a bill that could significantly expand the reach of the Alabama Accountability Act. SB 263, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, passed the Senate on a 26-7 vote amid concerns from Democrats that the bill would hurt public schools and some criticism from Republicans that it did not go far […]
Senate committee OKs bill criminalizing absentee ballot help, but reduces penalties
The Alabama Senate State Governmental Affairs Tuesday approved a bill that would criminalize some forms of assistance for absentee voting. But the committee voted to reduce some penalties and to add language clarifying that it is not a crime to help a person with a disability fill out an absentee ballot. The legislation, sponsored by […]
How does Alabama choose textbooks? Slowly
Alabama may be a conservative state. But conservative activists still insist the textbooks here are too left-wing. Earlier this year, the State Board of Education approved English Language Arts textbooks for kindergarten through third grade after a public hearing where critics suggested the books had too much Black history and multicultural stories. These books had […]