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Legislature to address education reform this week

For decades, Alabama state government has largely deferred decision making on educational matters to the elected state school board. The governor and legislature prepared budgets and the state school board and their appointed superintendent largely did things their way without a lot of interference. This week the legislature is considering a broad spectrum of bills … Continued
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May 27, 2019

General Fund Budget goes to a conference committee

Tuesday the Alabama Senate approved the fiscal year 2020 state General Fund Budget. The general fund budget funds all non-education state spending: including prisons, Medicaid, mental health, state law enforcement, forensics, courts, public health and dozens of other state agencies. All education funding meanwhile is in the education trust fund budget. Most states do not … Continued
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May 22, 2019

Storm shelter tax credit bill advances out of committee

The House Ways and Means Education Committee gave a favorable report to an income tax credit for Alabama homeowners to build storm shelters on Wednesday. House Bill 428, the storm shelter tax credit bill, is sponsored by State Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn. Lovvorn is a professional firefighter, who earlier this year responded to the fatal … Continued
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May 20, 2019

Lottery bill to be considered in committee this week

The lottery bill is expected to be voted on in committee this week. AL.com has reported the vote would take place in committee Tuesday, but later reporting by the Alabama Daily News stated that the vote would be Wednesday afternoon in the House Tourism and Economic Development Committee. As of press time, the legislature is … Continued
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May 14, 2019

House passes broadband bill

The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation last week to try to make broadband more available to Alabamians, particularly rural Alabamians who few high-speed internet options. House Bill 400 is sponsored by state Representative Randall Shedd, R-Cullman. Shedd said, “We have all seen the map with whole counties in red with declining populations. Young people … Continued
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May 6, 2019

Stutts says that this has been a contentious session

State Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Sheffield, provided a legislative update to the Shoals Republican Club at their monthly breakfast Saturday. Stutts said, “It has been a pretty contentious session.” “We have had a lot of non-Republican bills,” Stutts said. “It started with the special session for the gas tax. Then there was the lottery bill. Medical … Continued
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May 6, 2019

Senate passes largest education budget in state history

Thursday, May 2 the Alabama Senate passed the education trust fund (ETF) budget, Senate Bill 199 on a 28 to 2 vote. SB199 was sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, who chairs the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, released a statement regarding Senate passage of the Education … Continued
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May 3, 2019