Gov. Kay Ivey has signed two pieces of legislation aimed at improving and expanding broadband services across Alabama. The bills signed Thursday specifically target rural and small communities that are often underserved by high speed internet. Ivey says it’s imperative that the state provide students, hospitals and small businesses with the high speed broadband they need to “have success in…
Alabama lawmakers have approved a pay equity bill that would prohibit businesses from paying employees less because of their gender or race. The Alabama House of Representatives voted 99-0 to give the bill final passage. If signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey, it would end Alabama’s status as one of just two states without a pay equity law. The…
Alabama lawmakers have voted to abolish judge-signed marriage licenses as some conservative probate judges continue to object to same-sex marriage. The House of Representatives voted 67-26 today for the bill that would replace marriage licenses with a new form called a marriage certificate. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. For years a few conservative probate…
Lottery legislation has stalled in the House of Representatives after supporters did not have enough votes to get the bill up for debate. The bill has failed a procedural vote required to bring bills up for debate. Supporters were one vote short. The proposed constitutional amendment would authorize a state lottery played with paper tickets but not with video lottery…
A proposal to start a state lottery in Alabama is heading to a key vote in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers are expected to debate the bill this afternoon. The proposed constitutional amendment would authorize a state lottery played with paper tickets but not with video lottery terminals. The lottery legislation faces an uncertain outlook. Some conservative lawmakers are opposed to…
The Alabama Senate voted 25-6 tonight to approve the abortion bill that will outlaw nearly all abortions in the state. Abortions would only be legal if the mother’s life was in danger. The Senate rejected five proposed amendments to the bill. Some had wanted rape and incest to be included among the exceptions. If the bill becomes law, a doctor…
Alabama News Network Political Analyst Steve Flowers is weighing in on the debate over Alabama’s abortion bill. That bill would outlaw nearly all abortions in the state. It would make it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion. Flowers says if the bill passes the Legislature and is signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, it won’t hold up in…
The Alabama Senate goes back into session at 4PM today. It is expected that senators will debate and possibly vote on a bill that would ban nearly all abortions in the state. The bill would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony. The only exception is when a mother’s life is in danger. The bill…
The funeral for one of the first black members of the Alabama Legislature will be held in the same church where his daughter died in a racist bombing in 1963. A service for Chris McNair will be held May 17 at 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. McNair’s daughter, Denise McNair, was among four black girls killed when Ku Klux…
There were tense moments in the Alabama Senate this morning over the abortion bill. That bill would outlaw nearly all abortions in the state. Tempers flared as Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) had asked for roll call votes for any decisions being made about the bill. At issue was the rape/incest amendment that was added to the bill in…
