Orr pre-files bill to limit use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement
The bill would prohibit law enforcement from using facial recognition as the sole basis to establish probable cause or arrest.
Senate Judiciary Committee
Alabama Republicans satisfied with Barrett’s performance
A vote to send Barrett’s nomination to the Senate floor is scheduled for Oct. 22.
McCutcheon is in “wait and see mode” on medical marijuana bill
Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives Mac McCutcheon (R-Monrovia) last Thursday was asked by reporters where he stood on pending medical marijuana legislation. “I am in a wait and see mode,” McCutcheon told reporters. “The sponsor of the bill has done a lot of work.” On Tuesday, State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) introduced a … Continued
Prison reform, construction package expected before end of session
A wide-ranging package of bills aimed at prison reform is expected to drop in the Alabama Legislature in the next few weeks, the chairman of the Senate’s judiciary committee tells the Alabama Political Reporter. The legislative package includes sentencing reforms, oversight legislation, reporting requirements and a new prison construction plan. The package, when it is … Continued
The bill that would have killed Alabama ethics laws is dead
The worst bill this legislative session (so far) is dead. Sen. Greg Albritton’s rewrite of state ethics laws — which all but eliminated ethics laws — will apparently never leave the Senate Judiciary Committee, chairman Cam Ward said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s dead in my committee,” Ward told APR. It was an odd turn of events … Continued
US Senate Judiciary Committee advances Brasher for Alabama district court nomination
Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advances the nomination of Andrew Brasher for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama. Brasher is the Solicitor General of Alabama. In that role, he has defended Alabama’s Sanctity of Marriage law, pro-Life legislation passed by the legislature, Alabama’s voting rights law, … Continued
“Zombie Bill:” Thought dead, juvenile justice reform bill resurfaces in Alabama Senate
Previously thought to be dead for this legislative session, a massive rewrite of Alabama’s juvenile justice statutes surfaced in the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, again raising the possibility that the legislation may make it into the law books this year. The House passed the legislation last week. “For a while there this bill has been … Continued
Bill to license some day cares passes Senate committee unanimously, goes to floor
By Samuel Mattison Alabama Political Reporter The day care bill, which would license certain day cares in the state, gained a favorable report Wednesday from the Senate Judiciary Committee after overwhelming approval on the House floor a couple weeks ago. In a release after its approval, the bill’s sponsor state Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, said … Continued
General Fund uncertainty may hinder more criminal justice appropriations
By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Alabama Medicaid Agency isn’t the only part of the State government with funding issues, and uncertainty over the future of Medicaid is spilling over into other agencies’ funding as well. The Alabama Legislature will begin its regular legislative session in just a few weeks. As lawmakers prepare, the session … Continued
Petition to Remove Sen. Jeff Sessions from Judiciary Committee Reaches 30K Signatures
By Chip Brownlee The Alabama Political Reporter A petition launched online to remove Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) from the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary has reached more than 30,000 signatures, following controversial remarks from the senator on Republican Nominee Donald Trump. At least 32,000 people have signed the petition on UltraViolet.org, according to … Continued