Friday Five: May 10, 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.
Still hungry? Stay tuned for more information about Peritus’ upcoming Legislative Session Recap virtual panel on May 30th.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
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This week, the Senate greenlit changes to the state's General Fund Budget and passed it just in the nick of time before sine die on Thursday. With a robust allocation of $3.4 billion, including provisions for prisons, mental health initiatives and other non-education sectors, the budget saw a significant $360 million increase year over year. Gov. Ivey lauded legislators for their prudent financial management amidst national economic hurdles, highlighting the prioritization of critical sectors like public safety and mental health care. Bolstered by a historic surplus carried over from the previous fiscal year, this budget underscores lawmakerst’ seadfast commitment to conservative fiscal strategies. Gov. Ivey affirmed her readiness to sign the budget into law, underscoring its pivotal role in safeguarding Alabama's future prosperity.
Read more: Alabama lawmakers send record general fund budget to Governor Ivey for approval (Yellowhammer News)
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The legislative session ended without the passage of a proposal that would allow Alabama voters to decide on a lottery and casino authorization, falling short by one vote in the Senate on April 30. Despite hopes for a potential revote, no senator changed their stance. The failure marked the closest the Legislature had come to sending the lottery to the ballot since 1999, despite being a priority for legislative leadership and Gov. Kay Ivey.
Read more: No lottery in Alabama: Vote to move forward with lottery, casinos plan fails by 1 vote (AL.com)
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Gov. Ivey has signed the "Working for Alabama" legislative package into law, a comprehensive set of bills aimed at revitalizing Alabama's workforce, economic development and rural communities. Backed by bipartisan support and extensive collaboration, the package addresses critical issues such as labor force participation rates, affordable childcare and housing. Key components include the Alabama Workforce Transformation Act, the Alabama Growth Alliance Act, and measures to support childcare and housing through tax credits. The initiative reflects a concerted effort to equip Alabamians with the skills and resources needed for 21st-century jobs and economic prosperity.
Read more: Governor Ivey Signs Landmark ‘Working for Alabama’ Legislative Package into Law (The Office of Alabama Governor Kay Ivey)
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The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee deferred a bill proposing significant ethics law reforms, effectively ending its consideration for the 2024 legislative session. However, both chambers of the Alabama Legislature adopted a joint resolution to commission an independent study of the state's ethics laws—which governs more than 300,000 state employees, including teachers, police and firefighters—with findings due by the start of the 2025 legislative session. Despite the bill's setback, members acknowledged the need for improvements to the state's ethics framework, suggesting continued discussion and potential reintroduction of similar legislation in the future.
Read more: Future of Alabama ethics law reform uncertain after bill dies in committee (Alabama Daily News)
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Gov. Ivey signed legislation to strengthen the state's open records law by establishing response deadlines for public entities. Under the new law, public records officers must acknowledge receipt of a request within 10 days and provide a substantive response within 15 additional business days. The legislation, effective October 1, 2024, aims to improve transparency and accountability, addressing longstanding criticisms of Alabama's open records framework. Currently, according to MuckRock — a non-profit organization that assists individuals with filing governmental requests for information through the Freedom of Information Act and other public record laws — agencies take an average of 192 days to fulfill requests.
Read more: Alabama Senate sends public records bill to Kay Ivey (Alabama Reflector)
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.