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Senate committee approves bill to allow display of Ten Commandments on public property

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter An Alabama Senate committee approved a bill Thursday that will allow for the public display of the Ten Commandments on public property including government building grounds and public schools. The bill, by Sen. Gerald Dial, R-Lineville, received a unanimous vote from the Senate Constitution, Ethics and Elections committee after … Continued
February 9, 2018

Small income tax break gets Senate approval

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate approved a small income tax break Thursday. Part of the Republican agenda, the break would increase the adjusted gross income range for the largest standard income tax deduction, meaning some families will have a smaller tax burden next year. “We finally have some dollars to deal … Continued
January 26, 2018

Alabama Senate passes bill to prohibit, track racial profiling in traffic stops

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama State Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday in favor of a bill that would define racial profiling, prohibit law enforcement officers from engaging in it and require law enforcement agencies to track the race of those pulled over for traffic stops. Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, introduced the bill, which … Continued
January 17, 2018

Monument Bill passes out of Senate again

Sam Mattison Alabama Political Reporter A bill that would protect monuments older than 40 years passed the Senate today after it was sent back by the House with amendments. The bill initially faced concerns that it would not protect Civil Rights-era monuments while protecting Confederate Memorials. The original bill only required monuments that were over … Continued
May 19, 2017

Autism Bill passes Senate on Tuesday instead of Wednesday

Sam Mattison Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate passed a bill that would require healthcare plans to cover Autism Spectrum Disorder treatments for people under 19. Only children 9 and under are required to be covered currently. The substituted version of a bill was unexpectedly introduced on the Senate floor. It was originally scheduled to … Continued
May 17, 2017

An executive amendment from the Governor could hold up controversial adoption bill

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey is considering an executive amendment to a controversial bill passed by the Alabama Legislature this week that would give faith-based adoption agencies the right to deny services to same-sex couples. Ivey is considering a relatively minor change to the bill, sources close to the … Continued
April 27, 2017

Senate withstands filibuster, passes ETF budget

By Josh Moon Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate on Tuesday finally waited out Sen. Paul Bussman and passed its version of the State’s Education Budget. The $6.4 billion Education Trust Fund Budget increases overall funding by a bit more than 1 percent, or about $90 million, and mostly level funds K-12 schools and higher … Continued
April 5, 2017

Senate passes bill allowing release of prisoners for medical reasons

Sam Mattison Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would allow the release of prisoners under certain medical conditions. The bill would require the Department of Corrections to publish an annual list of inmates that have been in an infirmary or in a physician’s care for more than 30 days. From … Continued
March 15, 2017

Senate Bill concerning monuments passes but not as originally written

By Sam Mattison Alabama Political Reporter The Alabama Senate passed Senate Bill 60 on Thursday March 9th, after it was amended on the floor to change the time requirement in the bill. The bill concerns monuments on public land. The unamended bill prohibited anyone from disturbing any monument on public land that has been standing … Continued
March 10, 2017

Senate Approves Hiawayi Robinson Act

Staff Report On Tuesday, March 10, the Alabama Senate approved SB108 establishing the Hiawayi Robinson Statewide Emergency Missing and Exploited Children Alert System, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures (D-Mobile County). It was the second bill passed (32-0) by the Senate this Legislative Session. “I was very elated and touched to have all Senators present … Continued
March 11, 2015