Friday Five: March 10, 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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Right off the bat, Gov. Ivey called a special session for lawmakers to allocate the state’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The plan gaining traction would split the $1 billion pot across health care providers, water and sewer infrastructure, broadband expansion and a variety of pandemic relief efforts. The bill will likely go to the House floor for a vote next week.
Read More: Lawmakers advance plan for American Rescue Plan funds (Associated Press)
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Each year at the top of the regular legislative session, Alabama’s governor gives a state of the state address including their policy agenda. In this year’s address, Gov. Ivey boasted big budgets and the state’s strong financial position, calling upon lawmakers to give back to Alabama taxpayers with a rebate from ARPA funds. Her other priorities include business climate, economic development, education, mental health and law enforcement. Later in the week, the governor returned to the State House where she and the legislature celebrated former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby for his outstanding service to the state as Alabama’s longest serving U.S. senator.
Read more: Gov. Ivey’s State of the State address
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Gov. Ivey talked quite a bit about the state’s business climate in her state of the state address, including that she seeks to reduce red tape for growing Alabama businesses. The day after the address, she issued an executive order charging state agencies (e.g. oil and gas, environmental management, building commission, etc.) to hold on new regulations until March 2024 and reduce business regulations by 25% before March 2025.
Read More: Ivey orders 25% cut to business regulations (Alabama Daily News)
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When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, Alabama’s abortion ban trigger law took effect, making the procedure a felony at any stage of pregnancy. This week, Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) filed legislation to provide exemptions to the ban in cases of rape or incest. Similar legislation is expected to emerge in the House, but lawmakers across the aisle are not likely to budge, focusing instead on adoption access.
Read More: Democrats seek repeal or exemptions in state abortion ban (Associated Press)
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Four inmates have died in Alabama prisons just this month. Understaffing is a significant challenge to safety and security in the state’s correctional facilities, so the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is raising salaries to incentivize recruitment and retention of correctional officers. On the same day ADOC announced the raises, friends and families of the incarcerated gathered outside the State Capitol to bring visibility to the poor conditions in Alabama prisons.
Read More: Department of Corrections announces salary increases, new pay grades (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.