Friday Five: April 7, 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
After taking last week off for Spring Break, lawmakers returned to the State House this week to resume the regular legislative session.
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Down, set, hike! This week, Gov. Ivey introduced her “Game Plan” to galvanize Alabama’s economy with four bills that will: (1) renew the Alabama Jobs Act and Growing Alabama program, (2) spur industrial site development, (3) bolster a tax credit for innovative small businesses and (4) increase transparency around the Jobs Act. “The Game Plan will position Alabama for a new era of vigorous growth, allowing us to continue our record-breaking economic development success, while providing new levels of support for the state’s innovation economy,” Gov. Ivey said.
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Birmingham Southern College will remain open after a unanimous vote by the institution’s board of trustees on Wednesday, April 5. Lawmakers are still resistant to the college’s plea for a $30 million bailout, but, according to House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), the legislature may consider setting up a loan program for higher education institutions like Birmingham Southern as another option to keep them moving "forward ever,” like the college’s motto.
Read more: Alabama House speaker says loan possible for Birmingham-Southern (AL.com)
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After both the House and Senate passed it unanimously, Gov. Ivey signed HB1 into law, raising the stakes for fentanyl trafficking with mandatory minimum sentences. One gram of the pure substance now automatically warrants three years in prison. For eight grams, the required sentence is life with the possibility of parole. According to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne), “One gram seems low … However, one gram can kill up to 500 people. One gram is not for personal use.”
Read More: Lawmakers approve, Ivey signs harsher penalties for fentanyl (Alabama Daily News)
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A bill to safeguard visitation rights for patients in hospitals and nursing homes has passed unanimously in both the House and Senate as of Thursday, April 6. Under the proposed guidelines, patients may designate an “essential caregiver” who will be allowed two hours daily visitation, including physical contact, without proof of vaccination. Opponents to the bill fear it poses a health risk by increasing exposure to potential contamination. The bill now awaits Gov. Ivey’s signature.
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During the 2021 legislative session, lawmakers banned transgender athletes from K-12 sports. This week, a bill was introduced to extend the ban to public colleges and universities. Under pending changes by the Biden administration to Title IX 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: Biden Title IX proposal protects transgender athletes, as Alabama weighs collegiate ban (AL.com)
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.