Category: Alabama Legislature
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
Bill Would Change State’s Grand Jury Secrecy Laws, Free Witnesses to Talk About Testimony
A lawmaker from north Alabama wants grand jury witnesses to be allowed to discuss their testimony and experiences with prosecutors, something now prohibited under state law.
Rep. Mike Ball, R-Madison, says current law takes away witnesses’ First Amendment rights. His bill would repeal an oath of secrecy for grand jury witnesses.
House Bill 202 will be in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Ball said his original bill is modeled after federal grand jury laws, but he will bring a substitute to committee that makes the “bare minimum” changes he thinks are needed in state law.
“They could talk about whatever they knew before, the questions they were asked and how they were asked,” Ball told Alabama Daily News. Read more.
More from the Legislature this week:
Legislature Advances Wine Shipment Bill, Other Health Care and Employer-Related Bills
MONTGOMERY — The Legislature approved several bills Thursday. Here is a wrap up on action on important legislation. Read more.
‘Vaccine Passport’ Ban Bill Passes Senate
The Alabama Senate on Thursday approved a bill to prohibit the issuance of state or local government “vaccine passports.” Senate Bill 267 sponsor Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said governments shouldn’t allow access to services based on individuals’ immunization status. Orr talked about the current COVID-19 situation, but the bill isn’t specific to the coronavirus. Read more.
Lifetime Concealed Carry Permit Bill Passes Final Vote
MONTGOMERY — A bill that would create a lifetime concealed carry permit and require the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to develop a statewide firearm “prohibited person” database passed its final vote Thursday. Read more.
More from the Legislature this week:
‘Vaccine Passport’ Ban Bill Passes Senate
Legislature Advances Wine Shipment Bill, Other Health Care and Employer-Related Bills
Constitutional Amendment Would Allow $80M Bond Issue for State Park Renovations Passes First Vote
House Committee Advances Medical Marijuana Bill; Three More Votes Needed
Legislature Sends Alcohol Delivery Bill to Governor
House Passes CA Prohibiting Legislative Changes Within Six Months of Elections
Bill Increases Tax Credit Limit for Accountability Act Donors
Yoga Bill Going to Senate, Committee Advances Student-Athlete Compensation Bill, More Action in the Legislature
MONTGOMERY — Several state legislative committees met to consider bills Wednesday. Here are the highlights of action from the State House. Read more.
House Committee Advances Medical Marijuana Bill; Three More Votes Needed
Sen. Tim Melson’s bill to allow medical marijuana with restrictions cleared another hurdle Wednesday when it was approved by the House Judiciary Committee. Read more.
