Government

Alabama Delegation Experiences Life in the Minority, with Some New Committee Assignments

Alabama’s freshman lawmakers in Washington are stepping into committee roles — and, in one case, into a brand new committee — as most of the state’s veteran lawmakers continue life in the minority party or experience it for the first time in years. On the Senate side, Republican Sen. Richard C. Shelby has moved from chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee to vice chairman, with Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont assuming the chair. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Alabama’s new senator, who has moved into office with a high and controversial profile, has secured spots on the Armed Services; Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and Veteran’s Affairs committees. Among Alabama's seven House members and two senators, only Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham is in the majority party, Read more.

by Brett Davis

5G Infrastructure Bill Clears Senate

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday approved legislation to create a statewide standard for deploying 5G cellular infrastructure and setting limits on how much money local governments can charge providers for access to utility structures. “This legislation provides a consistent framework for the deployment of small cells, giving providers some certainty as they invest in local communities to expand this very necessary infrastructure,” bill sponsor Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, said. Read more. More from the Legislature: Medical Marijuana, Alcohol Delivery, COVID Liability Bills Pass First Tests Legislative Session Starts With Caution, Big Bills Bill Would Filter Emergency Health Orders Through Layman Board in Jefferson County Read more on the legislative session, which began Tuesday.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Report: Changes to Habitual Offender Law Needed

A new report urges Alabama leaders to change state laws that mean “death in prison sentences” for inmates convicted of crimes in which victims were not injured. “Condemned,” from the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, details how Alabama’s Habitual Felony Offender Act is more punitive than most other Southern states’ laws and how keeping these men — many of them now senior citizens — in prisons is costing the state millions of dollars in medical care. “We hope (lawmakers and other officials) realize that hundreds of people are still trapped in life without parole sentences for crimes where there was no physical injury and who if sentenced today would do a fraction of their current sentences,” Appleseed Executive Director Carla Crowder told Alabama Daily News. Read more. More from the Legislature: Legislative Session Starts With Caution, Big Bills Marsh Steps Down, Reed Steps Into Pro Tem Role in the Senate Bill Would Filter Emergency Health Orders Through Layman Board in Jefferson County Read more on the legislative session, which began Tuesday.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Marsh Steps Down, Reed Steps Into Pro Tem Role in the Senate

MONTGOMERY — After ten years of leading the Alabama Senate as president pro tempore, Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston, officially stepped down from the upper chamber's top job Tuesday, relinquishing the role to Sen. Greg Reed, R-Jasper. The friendly leadership transition, first reported in November, became official as lawmakers opened the 2021 legislative session. Turning in his letter of resignation to the secretary of the Senate, Marsh thanked his colleagues, staff and family for their support during his tenure as pro tem, the longest in Senate history. "It has been a privilege to serve as pro tem of this body since 2010," Marsh said from the Senate floor, choking up at moments. "I believe we've accomplished some great things together." Read more.

by Todd Stacy, Alabama Daily News

COVID-19 Protocols Limiting Public Access to Legislative Session

Watch the Legislature remotely The Legislature’s external website has been upgraded to add enhanced streaming video of all business in the House and Senate chambers, as well as the meetings and hearings in committee rooms around the State House. There now are video links to both chambers and five committee rooms. You can watch proceedings on the Legislature’s video services page. In-person public access to the legislative session that starts Tuesday will be severely limited, and State House leaders are asking people to watch the action online and communicate with representatives electronically. “We need public input in what we do down here because the things we do make decisions on taxpayer dollars and public welfare,” Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said. But in-person interactions with House or Senate members will require appointments. “You won’t be able to just walk through the front door and go up to the seventh floor,” McCutcheon said. “What we’re telling people is, don’t come to the State House anticipating to meet someone unless you have made some phone calls and you have a prior appointment.” Read more. Read more on the legislative session, which begins Tuesday.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bell Lining Up for Another Shot at the Mayor’s Chair

Former Birmingham Mayor William Bell has signaled his intention to enter this year’s mayoral race, challenging incumbent Mayor Randall Woodfin, who unseated him in 2017. Paperwork filed with Jefferson County’s probate court Monday shows that Bell has formed a principal campaign committee — of which he is the sole member — for a 2021 mayoral run. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Ivey Signs Leases for Two Prisons, Part of $3 Billion Plan

Gov. Kay Ivey signed lease agreements for two men's prisons on Monday, part of her plan for three new facilities the state will lease for 30 years at an estimated total cost of about $3 billion. Construction for the two facilities is expected to begin later this year or the beginning of 2022. The two lease agreements are with entities of prison builder CoreCivic. They will construct, own and maintain the facilities. It will be the Alabama Department of Corrections that staffs and administers the prisons. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Ivey to Sign Prison Lease Deal, Lawmakers Bristle at Higher Cost Revelation

Gov. Kay Ivey is set to sign lease agreements for two new men’s prisons as part of a long-negotiated plan to overhaul Alabama’s dilapidated corrections infrastructure. However, some state lawmakers are unhappy with the project after being told it will cost more each year than originally estimated. On a call with state lawmakers Friday, Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said Ivey would soon sign contracts with CoreCivic, one of the developers bidding for the massive prison project. Asked to confirm the news, Ivey Press Secretary Gina Maiola said the contracts were scheduled to be signed on Monday. Read more.

by Todd Stacy and Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Lawmakers Cautious of ‘Uncertain Environment’ for 2022 Budgets

MONTGOMERY — Passing the state’s two budgets is the Legislature’s only constitutionally required action each year. But in a COVID-19-altered session that will be anything but regular, even the most basic of tasks could prove to be a challenge. “Realistically, hopefully we can keep the budgets on the fast track, but when you look at the budgets and the work that needs to be done, it’s probably middle to end of March, preferably the first of April, before we could get budgets out,” Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said. Both Rep. Bill Poole, R-Tuscaloosa, the education budget committee chairman in the House, and Sen. Greg Albritton, the Senate's General Fund committee chairman, have said lawmakers will be cautious in their 2022 spending plans. Albritton said the General Fund’s December revenue growth was essentially flat compared to December 2019. “I'm not suggesting level funding at this point, but I'm just concerned with the growth we've grown accustomed to and what we’re seeing now,” Albritton said. Read more. Read more on the upcoming legislative session.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Alabama’s Senators Vote to Block Impeachment, Reject Biden Nominees

WASHINGTON – Alabama’s two Republican state senators showed a united front last week while siding with a move to challenge the constitutionality of a Trump impeachment trial and voting against President Biden’s nominees to key positions. Here are votes on major issues in the Senate during the week ending Jan. 29. The House was in recess. Read more.

by Voterama in Congress