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‘Doxing’ Ban Passes House

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

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Alabama to Receive $4B From Biden Relief and Stimulus Plan

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.

by Todd Stacy and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bill to Increase Charter School Funding Passes Committee

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

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

As Alabama Seeks To Build New Prisons, Mississippi Sets Sights On Reform

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.

by Becca Schimmel, WBHM

Senate Kills Lottery, Gambling Legislation

The Alabama Senate on Tuesday defeated a plan to start a lottery and allow casinos in the state by two votes. Twenty-one votes were required to approve the constitutional amendment, but the Senate vote was 19 to 13 in favor. Gov. Kay Ivey said the defeat just meant more work needed to be done on a gambling proposal, and she still supported giving Alabamians a vote on whether they want a lottery and gaming. “This issue is too important to not get it right,” Ivey said in a statement. “No doubt gambling is complex and challenging, but I remain committed to giving the people of Alabama the final say." Read more. Also in the Legislature 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

by BirminghamWatch

Bill to Limit Executive Branch Spending Advances

MONTGOMERY -- The Senate Government Affairs Committee on Tuesday advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit Alabama governors and executive agencies from entering into contracts larger than $5 million or for more than a two-year period without the Legislature’s approval. Senate Bill 290 is sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, one of the loudest voices of opposition to Gov. Kay Ivey’s plan to lease three large men’s prisons. Albritton said the governor’s prison lease plan was a “major contributor” to his filing of this bill, but not the single reason. Albritton chairs the Legislative Contract Review Committee, which reviews service contracts state agencies enter into. Some of them can be multimillion-dollar agreements. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

House Passes General Fund Budget that Increases Funding for State Agencies

MONTGOMERY -- The Alabama House of Representatives passed the General Fund budget Tuesday, sending a bill to the Senate that increases funding across the board for state agencies and programs for the next fiscal year. As passed, the $2.47 billion budget is an increase of $78.9 million over the current fiscal year's General Fund and $15 million more than Gov. Kay Ivey's original budget proposal from February. It includes a 2% pay raise for state employees. Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, who chairs the House General Fund budget committee, said he felt lawmakers arrived at a good budget, which was reflected in the 101-1 vote in the House. Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, cast the lone no vote. "All in all, I felt like this was a good budget that leaves some money on the table that will help us get ready for any other surprises that are coming down the road," Clouse said. Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News
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