Alabama Legislature

Alabama House, Senate GOP Approve Two Separate Congressional Maps

House and Senate Republicans approved two different congressional maps in committees Tuesday, potentially creating a conflict just days ahead of a deadline to submit proposals to a federal court. The House State Government committee approved a new state congressional map that creates a majority-Black congressional district in western Alabama and a 42% Black district in the southeastern part of the state. But a Senate committee Tuesday approved a map that lowers the Black population to 38% in the southeastern district while reducing the Black population in the western district to about 50%. Read more.

by Alander Rocha and Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector

Proposed Alabama Congressional Map Would Only Have 1 Majority-Black District

A Republican-dominated reapportionment committee Monday approved a new state congressional map that creates a majority-Black congressional district and one that is 42% Black. The party-line vote, coming on the first day of a special session for redistricting, came after Democrats said they were being ignored in the process and after two hours of discussion that often felt like the start of legal arguments for a federal court hearing scheduled next month. Read more.

by Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector

In Dueling Alabama Congressional Map Proposals, a Dispute Over Possibilities

Can Alabama draw new maps on explicitly racial lines? Maybe. “It’s kind of head spinning and even lawyers who are in the space get a little confused,” said Michael Li, a redistricting expert and senior counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University. At the Tuesday public hearing, attorney James Blacksher and Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, went back and forth about whether Alabama’s new maps can split counties to be on explicitly racial lines. The answer to that question remains to be seen. Read more.

by Jemma Stephenson, Alabama Reflector

Lawmakers Begin Redrawing Alabama’s Congressional Map

The effort to redraw the congressional map began Tuesday with a public hearing at the State House. This follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding a lower court’s ruling that Alabama’s congressional map does not reflect the state’s Black population. Read more.

by Richard Banks, WBHM

Governor Sets a Special Session on Congressional Redistricting to Start July 17

Gov. Kay Ivey called a one-issue special session for July 17 for legislators to adopt a new congressional district map. Read more.

by Virginia Martin

Supreme Court Ruling Means Special Session on New Map, Potential Race Shake-Ups in 2024

MONTGOMERY — The Supreme Court’s Thursday decision to overturn Alabama’s congressional map set off speculation about when the Legislature will have to redraw the seven districts and which incumbents’ territory will change significantly before next year’s election cycle. The SCOTUS decision came about 36 hours after Alabama lawmakers ended their 14-week regular lawmaking session. Sen.

by Alexander Willis and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Major Bills Cross the Finish Line With One Day Left in Legislative Session

Gov. Kay Ivey signed both budgets and supplemental spending packages Thursday. A plan to reduce the state sales tax on food is on the way to her desk as well. Read more.

by Andrew Yeager, WBHM

Grocery Taxes Face the Chopping Block in South Dakota (and Alabama)

High food prices and the end of extra food-stamp allotments mean hard choices around the country for lower-income people. “You’re having to make the decision between ‘am I paying my mortgage, or my medical bills or my medication or buying food?’” said Stacey Andernacht with hunger relief organization Feeding South Dakota. But in her state, there’s yet another factor pushing up costs: South Dakota is one of just three — along with Mississippi and Alabama — that levies its full sales tax rate on groceries without a credit or rebate to offset the costs. Read more.

by Melissa Hellmann, Center for Public Integrity

Fairfield Rep. Plump Resigns as He Faces Conspiracy and Obstruction of Justice Charges

State Rep. Fred L. Plump Jr., D-Fairfield, has been charged with conspiracy and obstruction of justice and has agreed to resign from the Alabama House of Representatives. Plump is accused of conspiring to funnel taxpayer money from a community service fund to a nonprofit of which he was executive director, then paying about half of the money in kickbacks to another individual. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Child Advocacy Group Meets With State Leaders as Economic Security Worsens for Alabama Kids

MONTGOMERY — The nonprofit organization Voices for Alabama’s Children is asking state leaders to expand social services for children who are faring worse economically when compared to over a decade ago. Meeting with several state department heads – including Barbara Cooper, secretary for the state Department of Early Childhood Education, Eric Mackey, state superintendent and others – Voices is advocating for a number of policy proposals, including Medicaid expansion, increased funding for mental health services and the state’s First Class Pre-K Program, and more. Read more.

by Alexander Willis, Alabama Daily News