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Alabama Reflector
Alabama House education budget chair expects minor changes to Ivey’s ETF proposal
House lawmakers Thursday held a meeting on what could be the 2025 Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget. But they mainly stuck to a discussion of what could change from Gov. Kay Ivey’s original $9.3 billion proposal. Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, the chair of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, said he did not expect […] The post Alabama House education budget chair expects minor changes to Ivey’s ETF proposal appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate passes bill to teach inclusive, factual history
A bill that would require history instruction to be fact-based and inclusive passed the Senate Thursday after little discussion. SB35, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, says history and social studies instruction will be “fact-based, historically accurate, and inclusive of the history and contributions of minority groups.” “This bill will require social studies and history […] The post Alabama Senate passes bill to teach inclusive, factual history appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House rejects Senate’s gambling proposal, sends bills to conference committee
The Alabama House of Representatives isn’t happy with Senate changes to its gambling bill. The chamber Thursday sent HB 151 and HB 152 to a conference committee, almost a month after senators effectively gutted the original package, which passed the House in February. Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, said on the floor that the “number […] The post Alabama House rejects Senate’s gambling proposal, sends bills to conference committee appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Civil rights groups file suit against Alabama law criminalizing some absentee ballot assistance
A group of civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama against a new Alabama law criminalizing some forms of absentee voting assistance, alleging it amounts to voter suppression. Gov. Kay Ivey signed SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, on March 20. “Voter […] The post Civil rights groups file suit against Alabama law criminalizing some absentee ballot assistance appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama 2nd Congressional District hopefuls address infrastructure, health care, residency
Three candidates for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District faced each other in a forum hosted by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Wednesday morning. Democratic primary run-off candidates Shomari Figures and House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, were both present, as was Republican Dick Brewbaker, a former state senator from Pike Road. Republican candidate Caroleene Dobson, […] The post Alabama 2nd Congressional District hopefuls address infrastructure, health care, residency appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate committee OKs bill that could punish voluntary union recognitions
An Alabama Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that would withhold economic incentives from companies that voluntarily recognize unions or do not hold secret ballots in union elections. . SB 231, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, passed the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on an 11-3 vote, down party lines. “It just […] The post Alabama Senate committee OKs bill that could punish voluntary union recognitions appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama bill aims to shift focus from jails to treatment for mental health, substance use
Alabama lawmakers have filed two bills aimed at making it easier to treat people dealing with both mental health and substance abuse disorders. SB 240, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, and HB 359, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster are identical bills that supporters said would give probate judges jurisdiction to help keep […] The post Alabama bill aims to shift focus from jails to treatment for mental health, substance use appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Democrats’ quest to hang on to U.S. Senate majority centers on Arizona, Montana and Ohio
WASHINGTON — Political consultants and Beltway pollsters are setting up camp in purple states to join a towering battle for control of a narrowly split U.S. Senate, but come November, only the voters will make that choice. The road to the majority in the upper chamber of Congress mostly runs through Arizona, Montana and Ohio, […] The post Democrats’ quest to hang on to U.S. Senate majority centers on Arizona, Montana and Ohio appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Mobile clinic to end IVF program amid litigation over frozen embryos
A Mobile health care system that provides in vitro fertilization (IVF) care will stop the services at the end of the year, citing lawsuits over the fertility treatment. Infirmary Health, one of several entities sued over the accidental destruction of frozen embryos at the clinic in 2020, faced additional litigation after a February Alabama Supreme […] The post Mobile clinic to end IVF program amid litigation over frozen embryos appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House bill would allow local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws
An Alabama House committee Wednesday held a public hearing on a bill that would allow state and local law enforcement to arrest people based on immigration status. HB 376, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would allow sheriffs’ offices and police departments to to enter into agreements with federal agencies to enforce the country’s immigration […] The post Alabama House bill would allow local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama death row inmate sues to stop nitrogen execution
An Alabama death row inmate has sued to stop his pending execution by nitrogen gas, arguing it violates his constitutional rights. In a lawsuit filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the U.S. Middle District of Alabama, attorneys for Alan Eugene Miller, sentenced to death for the murder of three co-workers in 1999, said that […] The post Alabama death row inmate sues to stop nitrogen execution appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Proposal to increase Alabama’s online sales tax brings support, criticism
A proposal to increase the state’s online sales tax that supporters said is meant to help competition drew criticism from education groups Wednesday, who suggested schools were left out of the bill. HB258, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would add an additional levy on top of the 8% online tax, known as the simplified […] The post Proposal to increase Alabama’s online sales tax brings support, criticism appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Swing states see newcomers as Americans move from blue to red counties
In recent years, millions of people across the United States have moved from Democratic cities to Republican suburbs, complicating the politics of swing states in a pivotal election year, according to a Stateline analysis. Republican suburban counties in four swing states — Georgia in the South and Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in the Midwest — […] The post Swing states see newcomers as Americans move from blue to red counties appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House approves legislation overhauling state ethics code
The Alabama House of Representatives voted 79-9 Tuesday for a bill that would significantly change the state’s ethics laws. HB 227, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, would repeal the current ethics laws for public officials and employees, replace the code with tougher punishments for ethics violations and weaken the powers of the state Ethics […] The post Alabama House approves legislation overhauling state ethics code appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board hires new attorney to replace Laura Clark
The governing board of the Autauga-Prattville Public Library Tuesday dismissed their attorney over what they described as a conflict of interest. The Board of Trustees made their decision during a special meeting Tuesday to replace Laura Clark, who had been hired by the newly-installed board in February. The board did not specify what the conflict […] The post Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board hires new attorney to replace Laura Clark appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Amended school safety bill passes Alabama Senate
The Alabama Senate Tuesday unanimously approved a bill setting safety requirements for public schools in the state. SB 98, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, will require schools to employ a series of school safety criteria, including security cameras, alarm systems, door locks, emergency escapes and “any other physical measures” used to strengthen school security. […] The post Amended school safety bill passes Alabama Senate appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Jeana Ross, Alan Miller advance to GOP runoff in House District 27 special election
Former Alabama Secretary of Early Childhood Education Jeana Ross and Arab City Councilman Alan Miller are headed to a runoff for the Republican nomination for Alabama House District 27 in Marshall County. Ross, who lives in Guntersville, had 1,404 votes (39.23%) in unofficial returns Tuesday evening. Arab City Councilman Miller had 737 votes (20.59%) as […] The post Jeana Ross, Alan Miller advance to GOP runoff in House District 27 special election appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate committees OKs bill consolidating occupational licensing boards
An Alabama Senate committee Tuesday approved a bill that would consolidate occupational licensing boards in the state. SB 224, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would create a new executive director position to oversee the boards in the state, though a committee amendment removed some of them from the legislation. “As we’ve discussed previously, this […] The post Alabama Senate committees OKs bill consolidating occupational licensing boards appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate bill would increase medical cannabis production licenses
An Alabama Senate bill filed Tuesday would significantly increase the number of medical marijuana production licenses amid a months-long legal dispute over the process of awarding existing licenses. SB 276, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, would increase the maximum number of dispensary licenses from four to seven; requires the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission […] The post Alabama Senate bill would increase medical cannabis production licenses appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Rosa Parks, Helen Keller statues could reach Alabama State Capitol in 2025
Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller could be erected on the grounds of the Alabama State Capitol early next year, according to the Alabama Women’s Tribute Statue Commision. Catie Marie Niolet, a Birmingham attorney who represents the commission, said at a Tuesday meeting that they were working with the Alabama Department of Finance and […] The post Rosa Parks, Helen Keller statues could reach Alabama State Capitol in 2025 appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
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The Alabama Reflector is an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in our state. We look at the problems affecting Alabamians, and search for solutions. We connect readers with the decisions made in the hallways of the State House and try to give a voice to those outside it. We write stories about people in power and men and women on the margins. We hope to reflect what our home is, and what it could be. Alabama Reflector is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Reflector retains full editorial independence.
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