The Alabama Legislature reconvened its regular session this Tuesday, March 21st, with a full agenda of bills to address following the five-day Special Session, which ended on March 16. Many were awaiting the Governor’s Education Trust Fund and General Fund budget proposals, which were released...
Volume 24 Number 2 - March 10, 2023 Last week, Governor Kay Ivey called lawmakers into a special session to distribute the last of the American Rescue Plan Act relief funds. Final votes were widely expected to occur on Thursday. On Tuesday, the House Chamber took up...
Volume 24 Number 1 - March 10, 2023 The Alabama legislature convened the 2023 Regular Legislative Session on Tuesday 7 March 2023. This session marks the first year of a four-year quadrennium, with approximately 30% of the membership being freshmen. As widely anticipated, Governor Ivey announced in...
This Tuesday, the Alabama Legislature convened the 2023 Organizational Session to vote on new leadership positions, rule changes, and announce this year’s committee assignments and chairs. With such an active election cycle in 2022, there was a significant amount of turnover in the House membership, while...
Volume 23 Number 12 - April 8, 2022 Final legislative day brings controversial bills Representatives and Senators met for 15 hours on Thursday in an effort to wrap up the 2022 legislative session 2.5 weeks earlier than required. Despite finishing early, they were able to complete 29...
Volume 23 Number 11 - April 1, 2022 Senate approves Education Trust Fund budget The Senate, on Thursday, approved an $8.2 billion Education Trust Fund budget by a vote of 32 - 0 with very little debate. It now goes back to the House of Representatives for...
Volume 23 Number 10 - March 18, 2022 House committee approves lottery legislation House Bills 501 and 502, both sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown (R - Mobile), would allow paper-based lottery games, including Powerball and Mega Millions, but not electronic ones. Both bills were approved by the...
Volume 23 Number 9 - March 11, 2022 Permitless carry bill signed into law On Thursday, Governor Ivey signed HB 272 by Rep. Shane Stringer (R - Citronelle), which would allow people in Alabama to carry concealed weapons without a permit or a background check. Ivey signed the...
Volume 23 Number 8 - March 4, 2022 Senate approves bill to allow handguns without permit On Thursday, Republicans voted to invoke cloture and end debate after approximately one hour on HB 272, which would allow people to carry concealed handguns in public without first getting a...
Volume 23 Number 7 - February 25, 2022 Senate approves General Fund budget On Thursday, the Senate approved the largest General Fund budget in state history. The $2.7 billion budget was approved in a 29-1 vote. The budget will include a $20.8 million increase (35%), to $80.3 million,...