Alabama Legislature

Who’s Running? 2022 Alabama House Races Update

There are about 20 open Alabama House seats ahead of the 2022 election cycle and several incumbents have announced primary challengers. Here’s an update on who is and isn’t running. Candidates have until Jan. 28 to qualify. Meanwhile, legislative districts could change, some likely significantly, when lawmakers later this month or early next month redraw lines with new census data. GOP Rematch in HD73? Recently elected Rep. Kenneth Paschal, R-Pelham, may again face Republican Leigh Hulsey of Helena for House District 73 seat in Shelby County. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

COVID-19 Federal Funds in Alabama Total $46B, Contribute to Big 2021 Tax Revenues

About $46.8 billion. Billion with a B. That’s how much federal COVID-19 relief money has gone to Alabama residents, businesses and government agencies since the pandemic began. About $30.3 billion of that has been given directly to individuals and businesses to assist them, Kirk Fulford, deputy director of the Legislative Services Agency, told state lawmakers recently. About $6.3 billion was in the Paycheck Protection Program, forgivable loans to help businesses weather the economic drought caused by COVID-related shutdowns. And nearly twice that much, $12.6 billion, has gone directly to individuals in stimulus checks. The money had a big impact on the state’s record tax receipts for fiscal 2021, which ended last week, Fulford said. That’s especially true in the Education Trust Fund, where sales and income tax are the main contributors. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Melson: Proposed Changes Coming to Medical Marijuana Law

MONTGOMERY— Proposed changes to Alabama’s medical cannabis law will be coming soon. Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, the sponsor of the cannabis bill that became law earlier this year, said he will file legislation to make technical changes to some of the wording around timing and deadlines in the law, including starting the licensing process for growers earlier. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Prison Plan Passes: How It Happened and What’s Next

Construction will start early next year on the two 4,000-bed men’s prisons the Alabama Legislature approved after a rapid-fire, five-day special session last week. The package of bills Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law late Friday includes the borrowing of up to $785 million for the two prisons and the use of $400 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act for the mega-prisons in central and south Alabama. A second phase of construction allows for a new women’s prison and renovations to three existing men’s prisons. Prison proposals have floated around the State House for years, dying when they couldn’t overcome turf wars and pricetags. So, what changed the attitudes of legislators this year? “There was a recognition of need that I don’t think we’ve seen before,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, told Alabama Daily News. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Ivey Signs $1.3B Prison Construction Plan

MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey and lawmakers celebrated Friday afternoon as the governor signed bills to spend $1.3 billion on two new 4,000-bed men’s prisons. A smaller women’s prison and renovations to some existing prisons will come later. Ivey said that the building of the new prisons is the legally, fiscally and morally right thing as the state addresses its prisons crisis. “Let me be clear, while more reform of the system can and does need to be addressed in the future – and I am committed to that as are many legislators – today’s bill signing on the construction part of this issue is a major step forward,” Ivey said. Read more. Also in the Legislature: Legislature, Ivey Approve Parole Change Bill

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Legislature, Ivey Approve Parole Change Bill

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature gave final passage to a bill that requires those who are released early from prison to undergo mandatory electronic monitoring. The week-long special session began with the possibility of two criminal justice bills passing but ended with just one making it to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk. She signed it Friday afternoon. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Lawmakers: New Prisons to Help ADOC Staffing Shortages, Overtime Expenses

The Alabama Department of Corrections has spent more than $25.2 million on overtime this fiscal year trying to fill shifts in its understaffed prisons. Overtime and the chronic staffing shortage is part of the discussions this week as lawmakers make their case for two new 4,000-bed men’s prisons. Since the beginning of fiscal 2016, ADOC has spent about $185 million on overtime, according to information given to Alabama Daily News by the Alabama State Personnel Department. Plans for the prisons passed the House Wednesday and a Senate committee Thursday. The Senate is expected to vote on the plan Friday and could then adjourn the special session. Proponents of the plan say the new sites will be easier to staff than the old and dangerous lockups that have about half the number of needed employees. “Part of what we hope to do with this new construction is improve the conditions and the safety of those that work there, so it won’t be so difficult to hire new employees,” Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, told ADN. Read more. Previously in the Legislature Prison Construction Plan Passes House, Moves to the Senate

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Prison Construction Plan Passes House, Moves to the Senate

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a prison constriction package, including a bill to borrow up to $785 million to build two mega-jails, marking an optimistic outlook for final passage as the legislation moves to the Senate. The prison construction legislation will be in the Senate General Fund budget committee meeting at 9 a.m. Thursday. If approved there, the package could receive final passage and go to Gov. Kay Ivey Friday in the quick-moving special session. House Bill 4, the multi-phased plan to build three new prisons and renovating others, caused the most debate in the House on Wednesday but ultimately passed in a mostly party-line vote of 74-27. The House also passed two other funding bills that would appropriate $135 million for renovations in prisons, allocate $19 million to purchase the Perry County Correctional Facility and use $400 million of the state's American Rescue Plan Act funds. Read more. More on the prison debate: Prison Construction Bills Pass First Vote in House Committee Sentencing Reform Bills Pass Committee

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Smitherman Files Literacy Act Delay Bill

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, on Monday filed a bill to stop the spring 2022 implementation of the third-grade holdback provision of the Alabama Literacy Act. Read more.

by Alabama Daily News

Sentencing Reform Bills Pass Committee

MONTGOMERY — The House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved two criminal sentencing reform bills, sending them to the full House of Representatives for a vote as soon as Wednesday. The bills, sponsored by committee Chairman Jim Hill, R-Moody, are separate from the prison construction package that also advanced in committee Tuesday but were included by Gov. Kay Ivey in her call for a special session. Read more.

by Mary Sell and Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News