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Tim Melson

News / Legislature / State

Medical Cannabis Study Commission has a draft bill

The legislature assigned the Medical Cannabis Study Commission with the task of making a recommendation to the Alabama legislature on what a medical marijuana bill would look like in the state of Alabama. The Commission met on Thursday and for the first time began working on a first draft of that legislation. State Senator Tim … Continued
November 8, 2019

Medical marijuana users tell their stories to Medical Cannabis Study Commission

Thursday, the Medical Cannabis Study Commission held its third meeting. The Commission has been tasked with presenting a policy recommendation to the legislature on exactly what the best medical marijuana bill should look like. The Commission held a public hearing in which a number of medical marijuana users claimed that the drug has benefitted them. … Continued
October 4, 2019

Roby: 2.4 million STEM jobs went unfilled last year

U.S. Rep. Martha Roby, R-Montgomery, said Monday in an email to constituents that in “2018, nearly 2.4 million STEM jobs went unfilled, largely because STEM education is not readily available for many students.” STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM is the fastest growing sector of the job market; but according to the … Continued
September 24, 2019
medical marijuana

Marijuana Study Commission considers tough medical marijuana bill

Monday, the Alabama Marijuana Study Commission met for the second time to consider making a recommendation to the state legislature on legalizing medical marijuana The Committee is Chaired by State Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence), who introduced medical marijuana legislation during the 2019 legislative session. His legislation passed the Senate, but ran into heavy opposition in … Continued
September 10, 2019

One human trafficking bill signed, another pocket vetoed

Tuesday Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that would require students at trucking schools to take classes on identifying human trafficking. A second bill that would have exposed the men who purchase sex was pocket vetoed by the Governor. House Bill 261 was sponsored by House Assistant Minority Leader Merika Coleman (D-Midfield) and State … Continued
June 14, 2019

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
May 27, 2019

Senate passes bill to allow retired law enforcement officers to work as school security

The Alabama Senate approved a bill Thursday by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, that would allow local school boards of education to hire retired law enforcement officers to serve as armed school security staff, provided they possess 25 years of experience. The officers must complete active shooter prevention training approved by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency … Continued
April 19, 2019

Alabama Senate Republicans hold onto commanding super majority

The people of Alabama went to the polls on Tuesday and gave a resounding vote of confidence to the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus. Currently the GOP holds a commanding 26 to 8 to 1 supermajority in the Alabama Senate. According to our early calculations, it appears that Senate Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston) has grown … Continued
November 7, 2018

Legislature passes lifetime waterfowl stamp bill

Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted for a bill to create a lifetime state duck hunting stamp. The state already sells lifetime hunting licenses, but Senate Bill 9 will allow hunters to buy a lifetime stamp for ducks. The hunter will still have to buy the annual federal stamps. Senate Bill nine was sponsored … Continued
April 2, 2018