Friday Five: February 7, 2025
Alabama’s legislative session is underway, and the trail ahead is full of decisions that will shape the state’s future.
Each week, our #FridayFive maps out the key developments from the State House. We’ll track legislation that is gaining momentum, facing obstacles or coming to a halt. Stay informed as we break down what’s moving, what’s stalled and what it all means for Alabama.
For the full picture, explore our 2025 Alabama Legislative Guide and get ahead of the twists and turns this session.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
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Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur) is bringing back a plan to help struggling rural hospitals stay open. House Bill 86 would create a tax credit program for individuals and businesses that donate to eligible hospitals. The bill caps credits at $20 million in 2025, $25 million in 2027 and $30 million in 2028 and beyond.
More than half of Alabama’s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closing, and 19 face immediate danger. Collins has scaled down the tax credit cap from last year’s failed bill and made the program more flexible for businesses. With another hospital closure last fall, she hopes this version will gain traction.
Read More: Alabama lawmaker makes renewed effort to fund struggling rural hospitals (Alabama Daily News)
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Gov. Kay Ivey is proposing a $9.9 billion Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget for FY 2026, a 6% increase from last year. Her plan allocates $6.7 billion to K-12 schools and $2.6 billion to higher education, with additional funding for mental health programs and scholarships.
The budget includes $101 million for the CHOOSE Act, a school choice program that provides financial assistance for private education and public charter schools. State Superintendent Eric Mackey is also requesting $627 million in additional K-12 funding to support reading programs, special education, school safety and transportation.
Read More: Gov. Kay Ivey, education advocates request 6% ETF budget increase (Alabama Reflector)
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Alabama lawmakers are advancing a slate of immigration enforcement bills, aligning state policy with federal efforts under the new Trump administration. The measures include SB 53, which would make human smuggling a Class C felony, and SB 55, which would invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses issued without legal status verification. Other bills would expand fingerprinting and DNA collection for undocumented individuals (SB 63) and add fees to international wire transfers (SB 77), with taxpayers eligible for credits.
Supporters say the bills strengthen enforcement, while opponents warn they erode trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities. The bills now head to the full Senate for debate.
Read More: Alabama senators advance package of bills targeting immigrants (Alabama Reflector)
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As lawmakers enter week two, the House is set to take up the Safe Alabama package, a bipartisan effort to strengthen public safety and support law enforcement. “Bolstering public safety is my number one priority this session, and I am proud to partner with Speaker Ledbetter and a bipartisan group of legislators in putting forward a package of bills that will back the blue and combat inner city gun violence,” said Gov. Kay Ivey in her State of the State address.
Key measures include the Inner City Gun Violence Act, a ban on Glock switches and the Back the Blue Protection Act, which expands legal protections for officers. The package also boosts funding to the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit and establishes a scholarship program for law enforcement families.
Read More: Gov. Ivey officially launches “Safe Alabama” public safety package (Alabama Public Radio)
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The Alabama Senate has unanimously passed SB 70, a bill to establish the Alabama Veterans Resource Center (AVRC), a centralized hub connecting the state’s 400,000+ veterans to employment, health care, education and mental health services. The center will be overseen by a nine-member advisory board, with appointments from state leadership.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre), includes a $5 million state investment, after which funding will come from public-private partnerships. “We need to coordinate consolidated efforts and have a one stop place…that helps our veterans with what they need,” Jones told lawmakers on Thursday. The bill now heads to the House for final passage.
Read More: Alabama Senate passes bill to create statewide veterans resource center (Yellowhammer News)
OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY
The session moves fast, and the path isn’t always clear. Some bills will race ahead, others will hit rough terrain and a few may never leave the trailhead.
That’s why Peritus PR is here with Friday Five—to help you stay oriented as the session unfolds. We’ll mark the milestones, flag the detours and keep an eye on what’s coming next.
Follow along on our socials and check back here every Friday to stay on course. Double-knot your laces—this session won’t wait for stragglers.
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 2025 Peritus PR Alabama Legislative Guide here.