Alabama 2022 Legislative Report: Week 9
The Legislature is taking a scheduled break this week and will return for day 24 of the regular session on Tuesday, March 29.
Legislature
Voting rights groups continue fight against “Zuckerbucks” bill; Allen dismisses concerns
Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, said the bill would not prevent private groups from educating voters separate from the government.
Dothan set to receive state forensics laboratory over a decade after previous lab closure
The General Fund budget is likely to give $5.3 million to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to construct a new forensics lab in Dothan.
House passes bill criminalizing prefilling absentee applications
Democrats expressed concern that the bill could make criminals out of good people.
House passes bill banning “divisive concepts”
Democrats said the bill is designed to "erase history" during a three-hour filibuster Thursday.
House gambling proposal emerges, passes committee Thursday
Brown's gambling legislation now moves to the Alabama House for consideration sometime after the Legislature's week-long spring break.
Marsh’s public charter school funding bill passes in Senate
Alabama's public charter schools may soon begin receiving county education funds, if Marsh's legislation passes.
Legislature OKs tax cut bill for Gulf Coast commercial fishing operations
The measure now travels to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk for her signature.
March 18, 2022
Competing bills prioritizing joint child custody both pass House committee
Kenneth Paschal, R-Pelham, said the default position right now relegates one parent, typically the father, to a time-share more fitting of an aunt or uncle.
Senate committee OKs bill protecting doctors who provide “off-label” COVID treatments
Doctors who have treated patients with medicine including Ivermectin and hydrochloryquine spoke in support of the bill.