Category: Alabama Legislature
Innovation Corporation Bills Pass the House
MONTGOMERY — Two bills meant to promote and boost entrepreneurship in the state overwhelmingly passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday.
House Bill 540 from Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, would create the Alabama Innovation Corporation to help increase Alabama’s competitiveness in areas of technology and innovation as it relates to economic development strategies.
Read more.
Charter School Funding Bill Fails in the House
MONTGOMERY — A bill that would have allowed public charter schools to receive more local tax dollars failed to advance the Alabama House of Representatives Thursday. Read more.
Senate Approves Ban on Double Voting, Delays Decision on Curbside Ban
The Alabama Senate on Thursday approved several measures related to elections and alleged voter fraud.
“There are few pillars of our democracy more important than the security of our elections,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed, R-Jasper, said after the votes. “Free and fair elections, conducted in a secure manner, are a hallmark of our country, and serve as a defender of the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans.”
Among those measures are ones that would make it a felony to vote twice in any election, require legislation related to the conduct of general elections be passed at least six months before the election, and move up the deadline for applying to vote by absentee ballot. Read more.
More from the Legislature:
Charter School Funding Bill Fails in the House
Innovation Corporation Bills Pass the House
Legislative Oversight and State Parks Bills Advance, Other Bills Considered by Committees
Civil Asset Forfeiture Compromise Clears Senate
Legislative Briefs: Nursing Home, Hospital Visitation; Drive-Through Alcohol Sales
Legislative Oversight and State Parks Bills Advance, Other Bills Considered by Committees
MONTGOMERY — Several legislative committees met Wednesday as the Alabama Legislature continues its final month of the 2021 regular session. Here’s a rundown of what happened at the State House.
Legislative Oversight Bill Passed by Committee
A bill that would create a joint legislative oversight committee to review any large expenditures from state agencies passed the Senate General Fund Committee on Wednesday. Read more.
More from the Legislature:
Civil Asset Forfeiture Compromise Clears Senate
Legislative Briefs: Nursing Home, Hospital Visitation; Drive-Through Alcohol Sales
Lottery, Casino, Sports Betting Legislation Sent to House Committee
The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday received a Senate-passed gambling measure that had morphed from one entirely focused on a state lottery into an umbrella bill with the lottery, casinos and sports betting.
The bill got a first reading and was sent to the tourism committee. This is the twisted trail of a legislative effort to enhance state revenues without directly imposing new taxes. Read more.
More from the Legislature this week:
Broadband Expansion Bill Close to Final Vote
Bill Would Create Scholarships for Rural Teachers
Teacher Retirement Bill Advances
ADOC Reporting, Sexual Assault Victim Bills Advance, Grand Jury Bill Delayed
Bill Would Change State’s Grand Jury Secrecy Laws, Free Witnesses to Talk About Testimony
Broadband Expansion Bill Close to Final Vote
MONTGOMERY — Legislation to create a new state agency to oversee the expansion and availability of high-speed broadband internet services throughout the state is close to final passage in the State House.
Various broadband and technology entities in the state voiced their support for Senate Bill 215 from Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, on Thursday during a public hearing. The House Urban and Rural Development Committee did not vote on the bill but plans to next week. Read more.
More from the Legislature this week:
Bill Would Create Scholarships for Rural Teachers
Teacher Retirement Bill Advances
ADOC Reporting, Sexual Assault Victim Bills Advance, Grand Jury Bill Delayed
Bill Would Change State’s Grand Jury Secrecy Laws, Free Witnesses to Talk About Testimony
ADOC Reporting, Sexual Assault Victim Bills Advance, Grand Jury Bill Delayed
Teacher Retirement Bill Advances
MONTGOMERY — A “slimmed down” teacher retirement modification bill cleared a Senate committee Wednesday. House Bill 93 as amended would let newer teachers in the state rollover each year their sick leave and get paid for unused days when they retire. Current Tier II teachers lose unused days each year. Read more.
Bill Would Create Scholarships for Rural Teachers
MONTGOMERY — Legislation in the Alabama Senate would give scholarships to students seeking to be STEM or special education teachers in Alabama if they agree to teach in rural areas. Read more.
More from the Legislature this week:
Teacher Retirement Bill Advances
ADOC Reporting, Sexual Assault Victim Bills Advance, Grand Jury Bill Delayed
Bill Would Change State’s Grand Jury Secrecy Laws, Free Witnesses to Talk About Testimony
Senate Approves Delay of Literacy Act Student Holdback Requirement
MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Tuesday voted to delay by two years the requirement that third graders who don’t read at set levels be held back in school, as described in the Alabama Literacy Act, despite opposition from some chamber leaders.
Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, sponsored Senate Bill 94. It passed by a vote of 23-9.
The 2019 law currently requires that, starting at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, third grade students demonstrate sufficient reading skills before being promoted to fourth grade. Smitherman and others argued that COVID-19-caused learning loss would lead to more students being held back next year if lawmakers didn’t act. Read more.
More from the Legislature this week:
Bill Would Change State’s Grand Jury Secrecy Laws, Free Witnesses to Talk About Testimony
