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Survey shows majority of Alabamians support prison rehabilitation programs

According to the 2019 edition of the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama’s Public Opinion Survey, a large majority of Alabamians support expanding rehabilitation programs for those being released from prison. The study found that 86 percent of the state’s citizens support expanding rehabilitation and re-entry programs for people in prison and 83 percent support … Continued
April 11, 2019

Senate Committee approves bonus for retired state employees

The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee gave a favorable report Wednesday to Senate Bill 206, which would give a one-time bonus to retired state workers. SB206 is sponsored by state Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster. Ward said that under his bill each retired state employee would receive $24 per year of service in a … Continued
April 11, 2019

House passes general fund budget, 2 percent state employee pay increase

The Alabama House of Representatives passed the state general fund budget, HB152, on Tuesday. HB152 is sponsored by House Ways and Means Chairman Steve Clouse, R-Ozark. HB152 passed 103 to 0. The House also passed HB166, sponsored by the late Rep. Dimitri Polizos, R-Montgomery, to give state employees a 2 percent cost of living allowance. … Continued
April 10, 2019

On two fronts: Ethics laws face challenges before Supreme Court and in Statehouse

Alabama’s ethics laws are under attack on two fronts. A bill moving through the Legislature would significantly loosen the state’s “toughest-in-the-nation” ethics rules, which govern the behavior of state officials, lawmakers, lobbyists and those who hire them. In the courts, though, another challenge is brewing. Former Republican House Speaker Mike Hubbard — convicted on 12 … Continued
April 9, 2019

New ethics law: A brief analysis

An initial analysis of Senate Bill 230, which repeals and replaces sections of the Alabama Ethics Act as adopted in the 2010 special legislative session, finds that it makes two radical changes. First, it removes the section of code that governs using a public office for personal gain, and secondly, it essentially turns the Alabama … Continued
April 8, 2019

House passes anti-vaping regulations

Alabama is one of just three states, Pennsylvania and Michigan were the other two, where is legal to sell vaping devices to a child. On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill, HB41, to regulate the booming vaping industry. State Representative Shane Stringer, R-Mobile, is the sponsor. He and representative Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, … Continued
April 8, 2019

House committee OKs bill to increase penalties for attorneys that case run

On Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a bill, HB189, which increases the penalties for unscrupulous attorneys who aggressively seek out potential plaintiffs, by offering bribes, inducements, or by hiring a person to recruit potential clients. The term used for this unscrupulous practice is case running. “Under existing law, an attorney … Continued
April 8, 2019

Week three 2019 regular session legislative report

Contributed by the Lyons Law Firm. View the full report here. The Alabama Legislature resumed its annual Regular Session on Tuesday, April 2 for Day 5. Twenty-seven committee meetings were held throughout the week to consider legislation. Both Houses met on Wednesday, April 3 for Day 6 and Thursday, April 4 for Day 7. In … Continued
April 8, 2019