2020 legislative session

Budget is priority number one for Legislative Session

The 2020 Regular Legislative Session has resumed after a six-week hiatus due to the coronavirus shutdown of the state and nation. The session must end by May 18, 2020. The only thing they will do is pass barebones budgets. The most important and actually the only constitutionally mandated act that must be accomplished is the … Continued

Steve Flowers

May 6, 2020

Senate committee OKs bill to extend unemployment for six months

On Monday legislature returns to work after a lengthy absence due to the coronavirus crisis. The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee met on Monday. The committee gave a favorable report to a Labor Department bill, HB351. The committee amended the bill so that during a state of emergency Alabamians who became unemployed can draw … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 5, 2020

Senate bill would shield businesses, other entities from coronavirus lawsuits

The Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee on Monday gave a favorable report to a bill that would make it harder for persons to sue others for their coronavirus infection. SB351 is sponsored by Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Chairman Arthur Orr, R-Decatur. This bill would provide civil immunity for business entities, health … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 5, 2020

Alabama Senate passes $1.25 billion bond issue to build school buildings

Monday, the Alabama Senate passed the Investing in Alabama’s Future Act, Senate Bill 242, authorizing the Alabama Public School and College Authority to sell and issue $1,250,000,000 in bonds for capital improvements for the support of public education. The Act provides funds for capital improvements for the public schools, the Alabama Community College System, and … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 5, 2020

Proposed 2021 General Fund budget has $167 million increase

The Alabama legislature returns to Montgomery Monday to finish the 2020 regular legislative session and work on the state General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets. The first item to be considered will be the SGF. The 2020 SGF budget was $2,222 million. The proposed 2021 budget is $2,389 million — a $167.3 million increase … Continued

Brandon Moseley

May 4, 2020

Daniels: Alabama Democrats won’t participate in legislative session

When the Alabama Legislature returns for the end of the 2020 Legislative Session next week, Alabama Democrats won’t be there. House minority leader Anthony Daniels told the “Alabama Politics This Week” podcast on Thursday that he and “99 percent” of Democratic lawmakers plan to stay home and not participate in a session, in the middle … Continued

Josh Moon

April 30, 2020

Rep. Will Dismukes: “It is time to put the working people of Alabama back to work”

Friday, State Representative Will Dismukes, R-Prattville, joined the growing chorus of political and business leaders calling on Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) to lift the shelter in place order as well as the orders forcing so-callend “non-essential” businesses to close their doors. “How long must we wait to open Alabama up?” Rep. Dismukes said on … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 27, 2020

Sen. Vivian Figures urges Alabama Senate leadership not to continue with session

Sen. Vivian Figures, a leading Democrat in the Alabama State Senate, is urging the Senate’s leadership not to resume the 2020 Legislative Session on May 4 as planned because of concerns over the health and safety of the senators and their staffs. Figures represents a district in Mobile County, where the number of COVID-19 cases … Continued

Chip Brownlee

April 24, 2020

Cannabis industry group promotes hemp, marijuana industries

Monday, the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ALCIA) announced that they have launched their new website. “During the COVID-19 pandemic it has never been more important to offer natural alternatives to pharmaceuticals,” said Alabama Cannabis Industry Association Executive Director Chey Garrigan. “This pandemic has shown that Americans need natural remedies that are grown and manufactured by … Continued

Brandon Moseley

April 21, 2020

Legislature returns to a much different Statehouse

The Alabama Legislature will return from their spring break vacation Tuesday, but nothing is the same as it was two weeks ago. Monday, the press was informed that the corps will be removed from the press rooms behind the chambers. Those rooms are being given to the legislators so that they can sit the necessary … Continued

Brandon Moseley

March 31, 2020