Friday Five: May 5, 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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At a record breaking $8.8 billion, the Alabama State Senate passed an amended version of Gov. Ivey’s proposed budget for the Education Trust Fund. Broadly speaking, the updated budget assumes a narrower interpretation of “education” and replaces funding items like $25 million for a whitewater park with funding opportunities for schools. The proposal would also create a lending program for struggling higher education institutions like Birmingham Southern. The budget packet now advances to the House.
Read More: Senate approves $8.8B education budget, $2.8B surplus spending plan - Alabama Daily News (aldailynews.com) (Alabama Daily News)
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Alabama is close to banning trans athletes from competing in collegiate sports after the Senate passed HB261 this week. A slightly-amended HB261 returns to the House for another vote, but it is likely to pass swiftly as the chamber’s initial vote was a landslide 83-5. Under pending changes to Title IX by the Biden administration, this ban could cause Alabama schools to lose federal funding.
Read more: Senate passes college trans athlete ban (Alabama Daily News)
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SB247 advanced out of a Senate committee this week, taking the state one step closer to banning “divisive concepts” from public education. The bill received backlash from educators and advocates at a public hearing. Committee member Sen. Robert Steward (D-Selma) voted against SB247 and said, “I feel like this bill is a guise to prohibit educating future generations so we can be more informed, so we can be better citizens, so we can be a better nation.” Critical Race Theory was already banned in 2021 by the Alabama State Board of Education. SB247 and its companion bill HB7 both await full chamber votes in the House and Senate respectively.
Read More: ‘Divisive concepts’ bills again advance in Alabama, take aim at DEI, ‘woke’ ideas (AL.com)
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This week, Gov. Ivey signed significant revisions streamlining Alabama’s adoption process for state agencies and families. The new guidelines will shorten the timeline of adoption by as much as a year, according to the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg). Rep. Shaver has been working on the bill for four years in collaboration with the Alabama Law Institute, and before the session began, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter named it as one of his top priorities. Shaver said, “If we’re going to be a pro-life state, we need to make sure that we stand up for the kids and give options to parents.”
Read More: Ivey signs law to make adoption easier (Yellowhammer News)
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The House unanimously passed a state tax exemption for overtime pay. Sponsored by House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville), HB217 would halt the 5% tax on overtime pay for three years, at which time lawmakers would vote whether or not to extend the exemption. “It’s the first one we’ve seen like it in the country. It’s an incentive to get our labor force participation up, an incentive for people who are already working to work more,” said Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), chairman of the House education budget committee.
Read More: Lawmakers advance tax exemption for overtime pay (Associated Press)
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.