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Prepare for more gambling debates in the 2020 Legislative Session

More gambling arguments are on their way.  Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, the House budget chairman, told several media outlets on Monday that he planned to file legislation that would create an education lottery in Alabama.  Clouse’s bill would create a paper lottery with scratch-offs and PowerBall options, but would exclude video lottery terminals. Clouse said … Continued
January 28, 2020

Among the prefiled GOP garbage, there is one good bill

Thank you, Randy Wood.  Given the current race to the bottom that is occurring within the Republican primary for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat, and given the various pandering bills that have been prefiled and those that are still to come, I was starting to wonder if there was a single GOP lawmaker left in this … Continued
January 27, 2020

Prisons ask for $42 million budget increase in 2021

Thursday the House and Senate General Fund budget committees were in Montgomery for a rare joint session as all of the State General Fund (SGF) department heads made their 2021 budget requests. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeffrey S. Dunn requested $563 million in FY2021 – a $42 million increase from the 2020 budget. Dunn … Continued
January 24, 2020

Chip Brown introduces bill to allow judge to deny bail to violent offenders

Wednesday, State Representative Chip Brown (R – Mobile) and Angela Harris, the mother of Auburn murder victim Aniah Blanchard, were in Montgomery urging legislators to support a proposed Alabama Constitutional amendment that allows prosecutors and judges broader discretion in requesting and denying bail to those accused of committing violent crimes. Section 16 of the 1901 … Continued
January 23, 2020

NRA supports streamlined concealed carry permits bill

Wednesday, State Senator Randy Price (R-Opelika) and State Representative Proncey Robertson (R-Mt. Hope) pre-filed a bill that would establish a cohesive and statewide management level process for administering and managing concealed weapons permits in the state of Alabama. The National Rifle Association has endorsed this legislation. “As retired police officer I know firsthand what law … Continued
January 23, 2020

Trump impeachment trial begins today

The U.S. Senate will begin their constitutional duties today considering the two Articles of Impeachment sent by the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-California, and house Democrats believe that Trump abused his power and obstructed Congress. No Republicans voted in favor of the Articles of Impeachment in … Continued
January 21, 2020

Allen pre-files bill requiring the playing of the national anthem

State Senator Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, has pre-filed a bill requiring that all Alabama public K-12 schools must play the Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week and at the start of all athletic contests. Senate Bill 13 would require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each K-12 public school to broadcast or sanction … Continued
January 15, 2020

Pringle files bill requiring public school athletes to compete as birth gender

Thursday, Congressional Candidate State Representative Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, filed legislation that would require public K-12 school students use their biological gender, as it appears on their birth certificate, to determine the sporting events in which they may participate. The bill would also ban teams from using public facilities if children are competing in single-gender sporting … Continued
January 15, 2020

Legislature expects $500 million more for education in 2021

Saturday, State Senator James “Jabo” Waggoner Jr., R-Vestavia Hills, told the Mid Alabama Republican Club (MARC) that the Education Trust Fund (ETF) will be $500 million greater in the 2021 budget than in the 2020. “Revenue in the education budget is up over $500 million because the economy is booming,” Waggoner said. We are looking … Continued
January 13, 2020

Marshall opposes medical marijuana bill

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) on Monday sent letters to state legislators urging them to oppose legislation that would allow approved medical providers to prescribe cannabis for patients they believe would benefit from it. Marshall expressed concerns about addiction to marijuana and worried that legalization of medical marijuana in the state would be similar … Continued
January 9, 2020