2024 Alabama legislative session: Difference between revisions

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The [[Alabama House of Representatives]] consisted of 77 Republican members (76 of them white) and 28 Democrats (26 of them Black), and was presided over by Speaker [[Nathaniel Ledbetter]] (R-District 24, Rainsville), who appointed chairs for all House legislative committees. The [[Alabama State Senate]] had a 27-8 Republican majority (all 27 Republicans being white and 7 of 8 Democrats being Black), and was chaired by [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Will Ainsworth]], with [[Greg Reed]] (R-[[Alabama Senate District 5|District 5]], [[Jasper]]) serving as senate president pro tem.
The [[Alabama House of Representatives]] consisted of 77 Republican members (76 of them white) and 28 Democrats (26 of them Black), and was presided over by Speaker [[Nathaniel Ledbetter]] (R-District 24, Rainsville), who appointed chairs for all House legislative committees. The [[Alabama State Senate]] had a 27-8 Republican majority (all 27 Republicans being white and 7 of 8 Democrats being Black), and was chaired by [[Lieutenant Governor of Alabama|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Will Ainsworth]], with [[Greg Reed]] (R-[[Alabama Senate District 5|District 5]], [[Jasper]]) serving as senate president pro tem.


Governor [[Kay Ivey]] announced in January that her priority for the session was to pass a school choice bill providing educational savings accounts, giving parents the opportunity to use state funding for private schools or for homeschooling expenses.  
Governor [[Kay Ivey]] announced in January that her priority for the session was to pass a school choice bill. That topic, and passing new restrictions on absentee voting were considered priorities for the Republican Caucus, and were expected to pass before the [[March 5]] [[2024 primary elections|primary elections]] so that members could better campaign on those issues.


House Speaker [[Nathaniel Ledbetter]] remarked that his priorities for the session revolved around addressing obstacles to workforce participation, including access to health care, child care, and transportation. Many recommendations in this area were developed by the The Lieutenant Governor’s Commission on 21st Century Workforce, chaired by [[Will Ainsworth]].
House Speaker [[Nathaniel Ledbetter]] remarked that his priorities for the session revolved around addressing obstacles to workforce participation, including access to health care, child care, and transportation. Many recommendations in this area were developed by the The Lieutenant Governor’s Commission on 21st Century Workforce, chaired by [[Will Ainsworth]].

Revision as of 17:45, 6 February 2024

The 2024 Alabama legislative session began on February 6, 2024.

The Alabama House of Representatives consisted of 77 Republican members (76 of them white) and 28 Democrats (26 of them Black), and was presided over by Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-District 24, Rainsville), who appointed chairs for all House legislative committees. The Alabama State Senate had a 27-8 Republican majority (all 27 Republicans being white and 7 of 8 Democrats being Black), and was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, with Greg Reed (R-District 5, Jasper) serving as senate president pro tem.

Governor Kay Ivey announced in January that her priority for the session was to pass a school choice bill. That topic, and passing new restrictions on absentee voting were considered priorities for the Republican Caucus, and were expected to pass before the March 5 primary elections so that members could better campaign on those issues.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter remarked that his priorities for the session revolved around addressing obstacles to workforce participation, including access to health care, child care, and transportation. Many recommendations in this area were developed by the The Lieutenant Governor’s Commission on 21st Century Workforce, chaired by Will Ainsworth.

Among the other major issues taken up during the 2024 session were proposals to create a state gaming commission to help regulate illicit gambling and also to put the issue of a statewide lottery program back before voters. The Alabama House Republicans discussed a proposed "comprehensive" gambling bill during a closed meeting on January 10.

Notable Acts

Budgets

Criminal code

Education

Governor Kay Ivey announced in January that her priority for the session was to pass a school choice bill providing educational savings accounts, giving parents the opportunity to use state funding for private schools or for homeschooling expenses.

Multiple "school choice" bills were expected to be filed during the session. The main points of contention were the source of public funding for educational savings accounts, and the degree to which private schools would be accountable for their use of public funds.

Elections

Local bills

The Birmingham City Council passed a resolution on January 23 setting out its legislative agenda for the session. The council expressed a need for legislation to increase fines for littering, dumping and overgrow lots and expanded power to foreclose on nuisance properties. It advocated for increasing the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and creating a Birmingham Housing Trust Fund. The council also requested caps on employee liability. Council President Darrell O'Quinn moved to add a request for the legislature to explore possibilities for exempting Birmingham from the Jefferson County Personnel Board, but after hearing from the Birmingham Firefighters Association Local 117 and the Fraternal Order of Police Birmingham Lodge No. 1 the council dropped that item from the resolution.

The Birmingham Water Works Board contracted with lobbyists Fine Geddie & Associates and The Jones Group to represent its interests and promote its legislative agenda. Several members of the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation had called for the board to undergo a state audit.

Other proposed legislation

Senate Bill 4, prefiled by Gerald Allen, would make it a misdemeanor to display an unapproved flag at public buildings or parks.

Special sessions

References

External links

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