Skip to content

forced economic shutdown

News / Governor / State

Ainsworth commends Ivey for reopening more businesses

Friday, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) revised the state public health order to allow the reopening of restaurants, gyms, and close-contact service providers with proper social distancing enforced. The Governor also removes the 10-person limit on non-work gatherings, although six-foot distancing remains in place. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth commended the Governor for allowing those business … Continued
May 11, 2020

State Rep. Kerry Rich: “We are not going to be in proration”

Amid a growing economic collapse due to the forced economic shutdown to deal with the coronavirus crisis, the Alabama House of Representatives met to pass the state’s Education Trust Fund budget Thursday. State Rep. Kerry Rich, R-Albertville, addressed the fear that the economic crisis could negatively impact Alabama’s schools. “We are not going to be … Continued
May 9, 2020

Alabama Legislature passes state general fund budget

The Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday passed the 2021 state General Fund budget, which funds non-education state agencies. The 2021 SGF is $2,391,206,601, which is $168,860,692 more than the $2,222,345,909 in the 2020 budget. The 2021 general fund budget goes into effect Oct. 1. Alabama has an arcane budgeting system in which over 90 … Continued
May 8, 2020

Alabama House to address both budgets Thursday

The Alabama House of Representatives met in Montgomery to consider legislation as the 2020 legislative session winds down. The House has yet to act on either budget, but that is scheduled to change Thursday, when they pass both the state general fund (SGF) and education trust fund (ETF) budgets. House Ways and Means General Fund … Continued
May 7, 2020

Pressure grows on Ivey for a wider opening of the economy

An estimated 82 protestors from the Small Business Coalition, that opposes the state’s “safer-at-home” restrictions, marched from Montgomery’s Crampton Bowl, to the Statehouse and on to the front steps of the Alabama Capitol Building on Tuesday. The protestors carried flags and signs while urging Gov. Kay Ivey to lift the restrictions placed on the economy … Continued
May 6, 2020

Alabama Senate passes state general fund budget

Tuesday the Alabama Senate passed the 2021 state general fund budget (SGF). Despite the economic fallout from the forced economic downturn, the Senate passed a $2,391,206,601 SGF budget, a $168,860,692 increase over the 2020 budget of $2,222,345,909. The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee is chaired by Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore). As Chair, Albritton … Continued
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
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
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
May 4, 2020

Marsh applauds Ivey for taking the first steps to reopen Alabama

Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, released a statement supporting Gov. Kay Ivey’s announcement of the Safer at Home Order. Gov. Ivey is lifting her shelter in place order for all Alabamians Thursday at 5 p.m. She has replaced that with her new safer-at-home order, which lifts some restrictions. “After consulting with the medical … Continued
April 30, 2020