Friday Five: April 19, 2024
The Alabama Legislature is in session, and Peritus PR is back with our fan-favorite #FridayFive legislative highlights series.
Every Friday, we’ll delve into the legislative “specials” of the week to help you digest the issues legislators have been chewing on at the Alabama State House. Grab your fork and knife, and dig into some of the bills that were introduced, debated, passed, failed or signed this week.
If you’re hungry for more, get the full course with our 2024 Alabama Legislative Guide.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
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The House has passed Gov. Ivey’s “Working for Alabama” package, comprised of five bills targeting economic development, career and technical education, childcare tax credits, housing initiatives and more. One bill in the package would rename the Secretary of Labor and the Department of Labor to the Secretary of Workforce and the Department of Workforce, respectively. The bill also includes the expansion of their responsibilities to include oversight of all existing workforce development programs.
Despite Alabama's low unemployment rate, its workforce participation rate has consistently lagged behind the national average, but proponents of the package hope this will boost workforce participation and economic growth in the state.
Read more: Alabama House passes ‘Working for Alabama’ package (Alabama Reflector)
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The Legislature passed a bill to extend the deadline for presidential ticket submissions, likely ensuring President Biden's appearance on the state's ballot. Alabama's Secretary of State had warned of Biden missing Alabama’s original deadline because the formal nomination at the Democratic National Convention occurs after the cutoff. This legislation, which awaits final approval, mirrors a similar move in 2020 for then-President Trump's nomination.
Read more: Alabama Legislature Moves To Keep Joe Biden On The Ballot In November (Huffington Post)
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The House approved a $9.35 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget, featuring a 2% pay raise for education employees. The bill, HB145, also includes significant increases in funding for K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies. Notably, it allocates $200 million for the state's pre-K program and provides for various educational initiatives, including support for literacy and numeracy. The budget also includes funding for the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis. The legislation now moves to the Alabama Senate for further consideration.
Read more: Alabama House passes $9.3 billion Education Trust Fund budget (Alabama Reflector)
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The House passed legislation defining biological sex as the legal gender record within the state. The bill, known as 'The What is a Woman Act,' specifies definitions for terms like man, woman, boy, and girl, based on genetics at birth. While amendments were made to address concerns about unintended consequences and gender discrimination protections, some lawmakers expressed concerns that the bill could have negative implications for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly regarding the rights of transgender and non-binary Alabamians. Despite this, it passed with a vote of 73 to 24 and now moves to the Alabama Senate for further consideration.
Read more: Alabama House passes bill defining man, woman into law (Yellowhammer News)
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A landmark gambling bill encountered a setback in the Senate, which presented a revised version diverging significantly from the House's proposals. While the House bill aimed at broad changes including a state lottery and casino licenses, the Senate's revisions scaled back these plans, leading to uncertainties as the legislation moves to a conference committee for negotiation. The appointed conferees from both chambers seek a compromise that respects Alabama's conservative values while addressing revenue allocation and educational investments. The outcome of these deliberations holds immense significance for Alabama's gambling landscape and economic future, as both legislative bodies strive to reach an agreement that balances public interest and fiscal responsibility.
Read more: Historic gambling bill faces critical test in conference committee (Alabama Political Reporter)
OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY
Like curating your perfect plate at Nana’s Thanksgiving, we all have the right to saddle up to the table with our idea of what’s right for Alabama. With this legislative menu in hand, it’s time to decide what is going to hit the spot for our communities, our organizations and our lives.
Our team has brewed the perfect pairing with our #ALPolitics Guide, helping you identify and contact the representatives serving as head chefs in your communities’ kitchens, explore media resources to keep you informed throughout the session and bridge the gap between policymakers and your community’s table.
Whet your appetite for a better Alabama — we will see ya here next Friday!
At Peritus Public Relations, we know you want to make an impact. To do that you need confidence and clarity to take action. Tell us what’s keeping you up at night and stop letting fear of a misstep get in the way of driving your mission forward. We believe you deserve to get it right. For over a decade, organizations like yours have trusted us to navigate the best path forward.
Peritus specializes in issue advocacy, stakeholder engagement, government affairs and strategic consulting. Let’s connect if you want to learn more about how state policy affects your mission and bottom line.
Check out the 2024 Peritus PR Alabama Legislative Guide here.