Tag: Alabama Legislature
The Alabama Legislature is returning. Here’s what to expect.
The Alabama Legislature will kick off the 2024 session on Tuesday with work on the state’s two budgets and a host of other issues awaiting them.
Lawmakers this year are expected to take up legislation that would create a voucher-like program for schools in the state and possible legislation creating mandatory kindergarten or something very close to it. Legislators may also consider bills on gambling; ethics and trafficking and kidnapping. Read more.
Givan Bill Would Require Fathers to Pay for Abortions or Have Vasectomies
UPDATED — Alabama Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham is introducing a bill in the upcoming session that would require a father either to pay in the rare case that a woman has an abortion in Alabama or to have a vasectomy.
Addressing more common issues, Givan’s bill would add exceptions to the state’s abortion law in cases of incest and rape and to preserve the health of the mother. Now, the state’s law allows an abortion only to prevent a serious health risk to the mother. Read more.
A Call to Call: BSC Alumni Again Urged to Appeal to Legislators to Save Their School
Alumni of Birmingham-Southern College have again received a call to contact state legislators, this time to seek a rewrite of last year’s legislation that had been designed to provide a reprieve from the college’s possible closing. Read more.
Commissioners Endorse Amendment 1, Say It’s Needed to Address Local Issues
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday passed a resolution endorsing Amendment 1 on the March 5 ballot, but not before two commissioners gained greater understanding of the measure.
Joe Knight explained during Tuesday’s committee meeting that the amendment would make it easier for legislators to pass local legislation earlier in the session. It would allow legislators to take up bills that are specific to one county before it takes up the state’s budgets. Normally, the legislators must have 3/5 of a quorum vote to OK a budget isolation resolution, which allows them to take on other bills before the budgets. It often is late in the session before the budgets are passed. Read more.
Earlier This Week:
JeffCo Commission Considers Backing Amendment to Make Passing Local Laws Easier
JeffCo Commission Considers Backing Amendment to Make Passing Local Laws Easier
The Jefferson County Commission on Thursday will be considering its support for an amendment on the March 5 ballot that would make it easier for legislators to pass local legislation earlier in the session.
The resolution supporting the adoption of Amendment 1 was discussed in the commission’s committee meeting Tuesday. District 4 Commissioner Joe Knight, president of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, explained following the meeting that the amendment simplifies matters that are specific to individual counties.
“The commission is saying we’re in support of voting for Amendment 1, which is an amendment that will take off the BIR (budget isolation resolution) requirement hurdle before you can get to your local legislation if the budgets haven’t passed,” Knight said. “And they’re never passed until late.” Read more.
League of Women Voters, ASU Team Up to Offer Public More Legislative Info
The League of Women Voters of Alabama is expanding its work to give the public access to what goes on in the Legislature. The league’s Education Fund and Alabama State University are collaborating to recruit interns to record House and Senate public meetings that are not live-streamed and make them available on its Alabama Channel. Read more.
Bryan Brinyark Wins House District 16 Special Election
Republican lawyer Bryan Brinyark will head to Montgomery to represent House District 16, which includes Fayette County, parts of Tuscaloosa and western areas of Jefferson counties. Read more.
Republican Brinyark, Democrat Underwood Vie for State House Seat
Voters in House District 16 go to the polls Tuesday to elect a new representative to the state House.
Republican nominee Bryan Brinyark will face Democratic nominee John Underwood in the election for the district, which extends from Fayette County to north Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson counties. Read more.
Hendrix Declared House District 55 Winner
Travis Hendrix has been named as the next legislator to represent Alabama House District 55.
Hendrix ran for the seat in a special Democratic primary and won the nomination in an October runoff with Sylvia Swayne. Because no Republican ran for the seat, Hendrix would not have had competition in the special general election on Jan. 9, and so he was declared winner. Read more.
Travis Hendrix Wins Nod for Alabama House District 55 Seat; Brinyark Nominated for District 16 Seat
Travis Hendrix was overcome with emotion as he made his triumphant arrival at Soho Ensley Tuesday night after defeating Sylvia Swayne by an almost 2-1 majority in a runoff for the District 55 seat in the Alabama House of Representatives.
Hendrix drew 65.12% of the votes to Swayne’s 34.88%, according to results reported by Jefferson County.
“I just feel really, really, really good,” he said after he composed himself. “I thank all the voters that came out in District 55. I thank everybody who voted for me. I thank you for the love and the support (from) my family, my friends, from the local government, from the state government, from everybody that supported me.” Read more.
