Friday Five: April 21, 2023
The Alabama Legislature is in session, and Peritus PR is back with our fan-favorite #FridayFive legislative highlights series.
At the end of each week, we’ll take a pit stop to help make sense of the bills that were introduced, debated, passed, failed or signed at the Alabama State House.
If you missed our 2023 Alabama Legislative Guide, start there.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
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Gov. Kay Ivey signed her “Game Plan” into law after the incentives package passed unanimously in both the House and Senate. According to the governor, “The Game Plan will give Alabama’s team the tools it needs to extend our winning record in economic development and help us unleash a new wave of growth and innovation across the state. From our rural areas to our big cities, this is going to benefit every corner of Alabama.”
Read More: Governor Ivey Signs ‘The Game Plan’ Legislation, Strengthening Alabama’s Economic Future
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A first-grade readiness bill has passed in both the House and Senate and next heads to the governor’s desk for her signature. Gov. Ivey is likely to sign it swiftly as she has shown favor to the legislation, most notably in her State of the State address: “It’s also past time we require our students to complete kindergarten. I call on you to adopt legislation to ensure our students are ready for the first grade. Our first-grade teachers should be preparing those students for the second grade, not simply catching them up to be on a first-grade level.” Under the bill sponsored by Rep. Pebblin Warren (D-Tuskegee), children would be required to complete kindergarten or pass an assessment measuring first-grade readiness.
Read more: House passes “first grade readiness” bill (Alabama Political Reporter)
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On the same week as a shooting in Dadeville, Sen. Merika Coleman (D-Pleasant Grove) introduced a bill to reduce firearm access for individuals with certain “red flags” that may deem them unfit to own and operate a weapon. According to reporting by Alabama Daily News, Coleman said, “What it does in essence is give law enforcement a tool to remove guns from a person who shows that they are a threat to themselves or others. I’m willing to sit down with anybody to have discussions about what a ‘red flag’ type bill should look like.”
Read More: ‘Red flag’ gun proposal introduced in Alabama Legislature (Alabama Daily News)
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The Alabama House advanced a bill that would extend a ban on transgender athletes to compete in collegiate-level sports. Under pending changes to Title IX by the Biden administration to include trans students, this ban would cost Alabama and its schools federal funding. Alabama is among 22 states that filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration after the Title IX changes were proposed last year.
Read More: Alabama House OKs ban on trans athletes at a college level (Associated Press)
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The House Judiciary Committee reviewed a bill this week that would establish a resentencing process for certain people sentenced to life without parole. Sponsored by Rep. Chis England (D-Tuscaloosa), HB229 is intended to decarcerate older inmates who do not pose a public threat. Eligibility requirements include: the individual’s crime did not cause physical harm, they have served at least 15 years in prison and they are over the age of 50.
Read More: Formerly incarcerated men plead for passage of “second chance” bill (Alabama Political Reporter)
OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY
State public policy shapes our communities, our organizations and our lives. In return, we all have the right and privilege to shape public policy. The driver’s seat has your name on it.
We know life gets in the way, and there are a number of roadblocks to following the legislative session. That’s why Peritus’ public affairs team created a handy-dandy #ALPolitics Guide with all the tools you need to identify and contact your local representatives, explore media resources to keep you informed throughout the session and bridge the gap between policymakers and your community. If you’re reading this, you’re off to a good start.
See ya next Friday!
Check out the 2023 Peritus PR Alabama Legislative Guide here.