Legislature

News / Legislature / State

Senate Committee approves medical marijuana bill

Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a bill that would allow Alabama residents to obtain medical marijuana on an 8 to 1 vote. Senate Bill 167 was sponsored by State Senator Tim Melson, R-Florence. SB165 would create a tightly regulated network of state-licensed marijuana growers, dispensaries, transporters, and processors. Patients would … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 20, 2020

Opinion

Alabama close to allowing hot dogs to be rescued

Most readers know that we’ve had a grumble of pugs for years. We lost four in the grumble last year. All of our dogs are rescues, and most of them have some disability: unable to walk well, blindness, incontinence, a perpetually crooked head. And most of the pugs are elderly, so we expect to lose … Continued

Joey Kennedy

February 20, 2020

House Judiciary Committee passes bail reform law named for Aniah Blanchard

The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday passed a bill to give judges more discretion in denying bail to people accused of committing violent crimes. The bill is named for Aniah Blanchard, a 19-year-old Alabama college student who was kidnapped and murdered last year. The man charged with her murder, Ibraheed Yazeed, was out on bond … Continued

Jessa Reid Bolling

February 20, 2020

House votes to outlaw smoking, vaping in automobiles with children present

Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted for legislation to be smoking and vaping in motor vehicles if there is a child under 14 years of age. House Bill 46 is sponsored by State Representatives Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham. HB46 as introduced by Hollis would have banned smoking with children in automobiles. State Representative John Rogers, … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 19, 2020

Legislation would limit death penalty appeals

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth on Tuesday discussed legislation that would reduce the length of some death penalty appeals. “Over the last 13 month, seven Alabama law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty by violent criminals, which is a new record and obviously not one the state of Alabama is proud … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

February 19, 2020

Alabamians for Fair Justice urges lawmakers to repeal habitual offender law

Tuesday in Montgomery, over a hundred advocates for criminal justice reform will urge Alabama lawmakers to adopt reforms to help alleviate Alabama’s prison crisis. Alabamians from across the state will push for major changes that would help make prison sentences proportionate to the crimes committed, prevent people convicted of minor offenses from going to prison, … Continued

February 19, 2020

Montgomery’s new occupation tax likely to be challenged by the legislature

Tuesday night, the Montgomery City Council voted to impose an occupation tax on everyone who works in the city of Montgomery. Tens of thousands of people would be adversely impacted by the move. The Alabama legislature appears to be on the verge of blocking the controversial measure. Earlier that day that Senate Government Affairs committee … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 19, 2020

House considers bill to allow alternative materials as temporary cover at landfills

Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill to change the statutory definition so that temporary “cover” in landfills can be a material other than “earth.” Earth is also known as soil or just dirt. House Bill 140 is sponsored by State Representative Alan Baker (R-Brewton). Rep. Baker said that all the bill does … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 19, 2020

Likely Republican primary voters reject Poarch Creeks “winning” plan

A survey of likely Republican primary voters obtained by APR shows that a majority do not support giving the Poarch Band of Creek Indians a monopoly over gaming in the state despite the tribe’s promise of a billion dollars. Over the last several months, PCI has orchestrated a massive media blitz to convince Alabamians that … Continued

Bill Britt

February 18, 2020

McCutcheon not optimistic about passage of “constitutional carry” legislation

Alabama House Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, discussed gun legislation that could appear before the House of Representatives this year. In past sessions, constitutional carry legislation has made it out of the Alabama Senate, but stalls in the House. This year, Rep. Andrew Sorrell, R-Muscle Shoals, is carrying the bill in the House. APR asked McCutcheon whether … Continued

Brandon Moseley

February 18, 2020