2024 Alabama legislative session
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 providing educational savings accounts, giving parents the opportunity to use state funding for private schools or for homeschooling expenses.
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.
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
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
- Sharp, John (November 12, 2023) "Through regulation, Alabama House leaders begin crafting gambling strategy for 2024 session." AL.com
- Cason, Mike (January 10, 2024) "Alabama House Republicans discuss gambling bill in closed meeting." AL.com
- Rocha, Alander (January 10, 2024) "House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter’s 2024 priorities: child care, transportation, education." Alabama Reflector
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 12, 2024) "Lawmakers seek audit of Birmingham Water Works, citing allegations of fraud, waste and more." AL.com
- Cason, Mike (January 22, 2024) "Gov. Kay Ivey says ‘landmark’ school choice bill her top priority." AL.com
- Garrison, Greg (January 23, 2024) "Birmingham explores leaving JeffCo Personnel Board; police, firefighter unions object." AL.com
- Bryant, Joseph D. (January 24, 2024) "Birmingham Water Works spends $360,000 to influence state lawmakers." AL.com
External links
- Legislative Acts by Year at sos.alabama.gov
- Alabama Legislature active session at legiscan.com