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Bill would require legislative approval of some agency rule changes

A pre-filed bill would require agencies to seek legislative approval from Alabama lawmakers before enacting any new rule or rule change that would have an economic impact of more than $1 million. Rep. Wes Allen, a Republican, said he is proposing the legislation because new regulations make it hard for small businesses and farmers to … Continued
March 1, 2019

Lawmakers use exclusive enclave as launching pad for payday lending fight

Recently, two state lawmakers chose Jefferson County’s Mountain Brook neighborhood as a backdrop to introduce a payday lending reform bill. The legislation’s sponsor and co-sponsor are State Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, and State Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, respectively. According to a report of the event by al.com, “the lawmaker [Garrett] said he’d like to … Continued
February 26, 2019

Poarch Creek Indians believe Alabamians are fools and…

PCI Tribal Chief Stepanie Bryan penned an op-ed in the Montgomery Advertiser over the weekend in which she says the tribe supports a vote on a state-wide lottery. Bryan thinks the people of Alabama are fools and jackasses. After many “ours,” “us” and “we”s to make her argument sound as if she were a kindly … Continued
February 25, 2019

Sen. Cam Ward will again chair the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee

The senator largely responsible for rewriting many of Alabama’s antiquated sentencing laws and who has led an effort to reform Alabama’s prisons will again chair the Alabama Senate’s Judiciary Committee. Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, was selected to chair the powerful committee responsible for oversight of Alabama’s criminal justice system. Ward, who has served in the … Continued
January 17, 2019

House Democrats say new rules will subvert democracy, transparency

House Democrats say new rules passed during an organization session earlier this week will subvert Democracy and limit the small Democratic minority’s ability to have any say or influence on legislation. “The New Procedural Rule Changes by House Republicans will silence the voices of citizens and minimize legislators ability to fully vet key legislation,” Minority … Continued
January 11, 2019

There’s a reason the state legislature has no oversight of the AHSAA

Kyle South is the reason that the Alabama Legislature has no authority over the Alabama High School Athletic Association. South, a Republican state representative from Fayette, announced on Wednesday that he would be filing legislation that, if passed, would give the state legislature and the Alabama Department of Education some oversight of AHSAA rulings and … Continued
January 10, 2019

Jones, Gardner introduce legislation to help student veterans recover unpaid costs

U.S. Senators Doug Jones, D-Alabama, and Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, introduced the Fix Immediately Outstanding Underpayments (IOUs) for Student Veterans Act. The sponsors say that the legislation will force the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay student veterans money they are entitled to, but did not receive because of the VA’s own error. Veterans … Continued
December 6, 2018

The 2019 gas tax, gambling fight is under way

The fight over a gas tax increase has begun. Just out of public view, lawmakers and lobbyists and business interests are working together and against each other to draw up bills that will increase Alabama’s gas tax as much as 18 cents initially, depending on the type of fuel being purchased. But there is broad … Continued
December 5, 2018

McClendon bill would outlaw holding a cell phone while driving

Alabama State Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, will introduce legislation that would make it illegal for Alabama motorists to operate a motor vehicle while holding their phones, whether that is texting or holding it to their ear to talk or communicating with their social media friends. “Under this proposed new law, drivers may make calls, but … Continued
December 5, 2018