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Alabama Reflector
Alabama House committee approves immigration detention bill
An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved legislation that would allow local law enforcement agencies to arrest undocumented immigrants. Members of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security committee approved HB 376, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, on a voice vote. The vote came after the committee sent the bill to a subcommittee to make […] The post Alabama House committee approves immigration detention bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Speakers urge Alabama lawmakers to fund Summer EBT, restore library funds
Speakers at a public hearing Wednesday on the proposed 2025 Education Trust Fund budget urged lawmakers to include more money for summer meal programs, and reconsider cuts to the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS). The proposed 2025 ETF, sponsored by House Ways and Means Education Committee Chair Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, will allocate about $9.3 billion […] The post Speakers urge Alabama lawmakers to fund Summer EBT, restore library funds appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies
U.S. Supreme Court justices spent two hours Wednesday debating whether a federal law about emergency treatment encompasses abortion care even in states with strict abortion bans, with no clear indication of how they may ultimately rule. A decision could come as soon as the end of June to decide whether Idaho’s near-total abortion ban means […] The post Supreme Court justices appear split over whether to protect abortion care during emergencies appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
House education policy committee approves bill that could exclude students from classrooms
An amended version of a bill establishing policies for student exclusion from classrooms passed the House Education Policy Committee Wednesday. SB 157, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is a “Teachers’ Bill of Rights” that would provide teachers with pathways to remove students from their classrooms for behavioral disruptions. The bill passed on a voice […] The post House education policy committee approves bill that could exclude students from classrooms appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Biden signs $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan into law
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan emergency spending law Wednesday to provide an additional $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, ending months of behind-the-scenes maneuvering and public pleas for Congress to approve the funding. The package also included a measure requiring the popular app TikTok be sold by its Chinese […] The post Biden signs $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan into law appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Sponsor critical after Alabama Senate committee cuts down parental leave bill
An Alabama Senate committee Wednesday narrowly passed a bill to extend parental leave to education employees, but only after reducing the length of the leave and the circumstances when it can be used. Those changes — which cut offered leave from 12 to six weeks; only allow one parent to take leave after childbirth and […] The post Sponsor critical after Alabama Senate committee cuts down parental leave bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama legislators delay meeting on gambling bill
Alabama legislators delayed a meeting Wednesday on a proposed gambling package that has divided the House and Senate. Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, wrote in a text message on Wednesday that the two chambers are closer to a compromise after “several productive meetings” between members of the conference committee assigned to resolve differences between the […] The post Alabama legislators delay meeting on gambling bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. Supreme Court urged to protect emergency room abortion care ahead of arguments
A doctor in Idaho recently saw a pregnant patient whose water broke at 15 weeks of pregnancy — something that normally happens at 38 weeks or later. It was about eight weeks before the fetus could be delivered and survive, even with medical intervention. Amniotic fluid, released when the water breaks, is critical to fetal […] The post U.S. Supreme Court urged to protect emergency room abortion care ahead of arguments appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House approves expansion of state ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
The Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday approved a major expansion of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law after a two-hour debate. HB 130, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, would expand the limitations on teachers addressing sexual orientation and gender identity, currently banned in kindergarten through fifth grade instruction, to kindergarten through eighth grade. […] The post Alabama House approves expansion of state ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House passes bill allowing some undocumented immigrants to attend college
The Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday approved a measure that would allow some students living in the country illegally to attend public higher education in the state. HB 210, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, would allow students in the U.S. without legal permission to attend one of Alabama’s post-secondary institutions, if they have […] The post Alabama House passes bill allowing some undocumented immigrants to attend college appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama House OKs sanctions for companies that voluntarily recognize unions
The Alabama House of Representative passed a bill Tuesday that would effectively sanction companies that voluntarily recognize unions. SB 231, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would withhold economic incentives to a company that voluntarily recognizes a union “solely and exclusively on the basis of signed labor organization authorization cards if the selection of a […] The post Alabama House OKs sanctions for companies that voluntarily recognize unions appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate committee amends bill defining sex-based terms
An expanded version of a bill defining sex terms passed out of a Senate committee Tuesday. HB111, sponsored by Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, defines “female” as “an individual who has, had, will have, or would have, but for a developmental anomaly, genetic anomaly, or accident, the reproductive system that at some point produces ova” and […] The post Alabama Senate committee amends bill defining sex-based terms appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
U.S. Senate sends foreign aid bill to Biden as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’
WASHINGTON — An additional $95 billion in military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan cleared the U.S. Senate after a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voted Tuesday to send it to President Joe Biden. The 79-18 vote wrapped up months of debate within Congress about whether the United States should approve the aid or […] The post U.S. Senate sends foreign aid bill to Biden as McConnell chides GOP ‘isolationist movement’ appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate approves bill that would keep Joe Biden on the state ballot
A bill that would allow Joe Biden’s name to appear on the Alabama ballot in November passed the Senate floor Tuesday. SB 324, sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, would require parties to certify their candidates 74, rather than 82, days before an election and adjusts other timelines accordingly. “What this does in essence […] The post Alabama Senate approves bill that would keep Joe Biden on the state ballot appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama legislators plan Wednesday meeting on gambling bill
Alabama legislators plan to hold a meeting Wednesday on a proposed gambling package that has divided the House and Senate. Three members of a conference committee assigned to resolve differences between the chambers over the package said in separate interviews Tuesday that they held a meeting on the bill on Monday. The House version, passed […] The post Alabama legislators plan Wednesday meeting on gambling bill appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants
This story originally appeared on Stateline. This month, Wisconsin joined 27 other states that have banned or restricted local governments’ use of private donations to run cash-strapped election offices, buy voting equipment or hire poll workers for Election Day. All of the state laws came in the past four years, pushed by conservative lawmakers and […] The post Cash-strapped election offices have fewer resources after bans on private grants appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Medical parole bill makes it through Alabama House committee
A divided House Judiciary Committee Wednesday approved legislation allowing the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles to consider an applicant’s medical condition when reviewing a parole application. HB 299, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, made it through committee after lawmakers delayed passage for one week to modify the bill in a subcommittee. “I wouldn’t […] The post Medical parole bill makes it through Alabama House committee appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Kids Count report: Alabama still 45th in childhood well-being
Alabama ranked 45th overall among U.S. states for childhood well-being, the same rank as the previous year, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book. “For years, we have discussed how the face of our state continues changing – we are aging and growing more diverse,” wrote VOICES for Alabama’s Children Executive Director Rhonda Mann […] The post Kids Count report: Alabama still 45th in childhood well-being appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Alabama Senate committee approves compromise bill on physical therapy access
The Alabama Senate Healthcare Committee Wednesday approved a bill that would reduce the number of physician referrals a patient needs for physical therapy. HB 232, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, would allow physical therapists to conduct initial screenings of patients for nonwork related injuries or conditions. “This bill is a provisional direct access for […] The post Alabama Senate committee approves compromise bill on physical therapy access appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
The death of Birmingham-Southern College will cost us
Birmingham-Southern College, a Wall Street Journal “2024 Top Liberal Arts Colleges” institution; a college that battled for its existence for nearly two years; an institution jerked around by a fickle and unsympathetic state Legislature, has finally and formally been declared dead. Who delivered this deadly diagnosis? We did. Who is responsible for this sordid murder […] The post The death of Birmingham-Southern College will cost us 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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