A House Committee passed a bill that would increase penalties for those who participate in riots with several changes. Also, the House passed a bill to allow certain individuals to omit their personal identifying information from the state’s voter registration list. Read more.
MONTGOMERY — Across the state, there are about 7,500 positions for math and science teachers in public schools. About 4,600 are filled with credentialed educators, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said Tuesday. In an effort to attract and retain more math and science teachers, Orr and other lawmakers are proposing spending about $100 million on a new program to boost qualifying teachers’ pay. The proposal is part of the $7.67 billion 2022 education budget approved Tuesday in the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. “We’re being more strategic in our compensation conversations,” Orr told Alabama Daily News. He chairs the committee. Read more. More from the Legislature: Riot, Voter Bill Taken Up in Legislature Read complete legislative coverage
The Birmingham City Council approved a loan and incentives program Tuesday that will keep the Woodland Park neighborhood’s Save A Lot location from closing. The city will provide the store, at 873 Dennison Avenue SW, with a 24-month loan not to exceed $1,000,000 at 3% interest. It also will give the company up to $750,000 in tax rebates over the next 10 years. The money will go toward renovations, inventory changes and new staff positions. Read more.
Voterama in Congress WASHINGTON — Congress gave final approval to the coronavirus relief bill this week, but there were other essential issues discussed in Washington, as well. The House passed two bills aimed at strengthening background checks on gun sales, for instance, and the Senate confirmed several key appointments by Biden, including Merrick Garland as attorney general. Here are votes on major issues during the legislative week ending March 12. HOUSE Final OK to Virus Relief Voting 220 for and 211 against, the House on March 10 gave final congressional approval to a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. Read more.
MONTGOMERY — A bill that would create the crime of doxing, or intentionally posting personal information online with the intent to harass or harm a person, passed the Alabama House of Representatives unanimously Thursday. Rep. Shane Stringer, R-Citronelle, is the sponsor of House Bill 403 and said he developed the bill after seeing judges and public officials harmed or harassed after their private information was released. “The internet and social media has become the new weapon of our day and age and we’re starting to see people use social media to harm people that they disagree with or don’t like their opinions or views, taking your private information and making it public,” Stringer said. Read more. Also in the Legislature Alabama to Receive $4B From Biden Relief and Stimulus Plan Bill to Increase Charter School Funding Passes Committee Senate Kills Lottery, Gambling Legislation Bill to Limit Executive Branch Spending Advances House Passes General Fund Budget that Increases Funding for State Agencies Bill Stalled That Would Increase Penalties for Rioting State Budgets, Legislative Authority, Gambling Bills in State House This Week Public Records, Hairstyle Discrimination, Marijuana Among Issues Before Legislature
MONTGOMERY — Alabama is set to receive more than $4 billion from the COVID-19 relief and stimulus package enacted this week. The bill, titled the American Rescue Plan Act, was passed by Congress this week and signed into law by President Joe Biden on Thursday. Spending in the bill totals $1.9 trillion, including $350 billion directed to state and local governments. According to the Alabama Department of Finance, Alabama's share of that will be $4.043 billion. Department spokesman Susan Wilhelm confirmed to Alabama Daily News that of that money: $2.1 billion is earmarked for a state relief fund; $192 million will go toward a state capital projects fund; $417 million will go to metropolitan cities; $362 million will go to non-county municipalities; $951 million will go to counties. Read more.
The Jefferson County Commission Thursday sent an additional $1.4 million to the sheriff’s department to replace aging vehicles. Read more.
MONTGOMERY — Several legislative committees met Wednesday to consider bills and hear from the public. Here's the latest from the State House. Public Records Bill Delayed A bill that would strengthen Alabama’s public records law was delayed Wednesday at the call of the bill’s sponsor to hear concerns from interested parties. Read more.
MONTGOMERY — Legislation advanced Wednesday to change how local tax dollars fund charter schools, a move proponents say is needed to make their funding more equal to that of traditional public schools. Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, sponsored the 2015 legislation that allows charter schools in the state. “Over the last five years, we’ve learned some things we need to tweak,” Collins told Alabama Daily News. Read more. Also in the Legislature Alabama to Receive $4B From Biden Relief and Stimulus Plan Senate Kills Lottery, Gambling Legislation Bill to Limit Executive Branch Spending Advances House Passes General Fund Budget that Increases Funding for State Agencies Bill Stalled That Would Increase Penalties for Rioting State Budgets, Legislative Authority, Gambling Bills in State House This Week Public Records, Hairstyle Discrimination, Marijuana Among Issues Before Legislature
When Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed leases for two new privately-owned prisons earlier this year, the decision sparked uproar with the public, activists and the legislature. While state leaders say the move aims to improve prison conditions, some worry it will only increase the incarceration rate in a state that ranks 13th nationally. Louisiana ranks number one in the country for incarceration rates, and Mississippi comes in second. With the U.S. Department of Justice investigating all three states for the prison conditions and their release practices, each state is testing a different approach to address those issues. In Alabama, 30-year lease agreements with CoreCivic would allow one of the nation’s largest private prison companies to own and maintain the two facilities while the state corrections department staffs them. Together they’ll hold 7,000 inmates. Ivey pushed the deal through without opening it up to public opinion or working with state lawmakers. This has residents like Alan Parker worried. Read more.
