Alabama inched closer to setting aside a day to honor civil rights icon Rosa Parks. An Alabama Senate committee on Tuesday approved legislation to name Dec. 1 as Rosa Parks Day. The bill now moves to the full Senate. Parks was arrested Dec. 1, 1955 in Montgomery for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. Her…
Alabama inched closer to abolishing judge-signed marriage licenses, a change that would let conservative probate judges avoid issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. A few Alabama probate judges for years have refused to issue marriage licenses to anyone so they do not have to give them to gay couples. The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved the bill on a…
The Alabama House of Representatives has approved a redistricting bill after an all-day debate. Lawmakers on Thursday voted 71-32 to approve the boundaries for the 35 Senate districts. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. Black lawmakers, who are opposed to the plan, had the lengthy bill read aloud on the House floor. The process took…
Alabama lawmakers have advanced an effort to require yearly inspections of faith-based day cares that are currently exempt from state oversight. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved a compromise plan passed by the House last month. The proposal would require all child care facilities that take government subsidies to be licensed. It would also allow the Department of Human…
An Alabama lawmaker shouted down a committee meeting speaker who dismissed marijuana arrest disparities as playing the “race card.” Democratic Rep. Juandalynn Givan, of Birmingham, warned former state Rep. Richard Laird on Wednesday to never return to the House Judiciary Committee for using the term. She also argued with the body’s chairman for interrupting her during the spat. Laird apologized…
The Alabama Legislature has given final approval to the education budget and a four percent pay raise for teachers. The House of Representatives and state Senate on Thursday approved conference committee reports on the legislation. The two bills now go to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature. Bentley praised the passage of the bills, saying state leaders are sending a…
Alabama lawmakers will hold hearings this week on the state’s Medicaid program. The House and Senate general fund budget committee have scheduled a joint meeting Wednesday to discuss funding for the health care program that covers approximately a million Alabamians. House Speaker Mike Hubbard said last week that lawmakers plan to question Medicaid officials about the agency’s finances and costs….
Alabama legislators say they need more information on an unprecedented process before they can move forward with articles of impeachment against embattled Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley. Articles of impeachment filed Tuesday are on hold as legislators work to set up a new committee to vet the process. The committee could have subpoena power to hear testimony on allegations against Bentley….
The Alabama legislature has approved a General Fund budget that Gov. Robert Bentley has vowed to veto over Medicaid funding. The Senate on Wednesday voted 20 to 13 to pass the budget, which is $85 million short of the amount Bentley says is needed to adequately fund the state’s Medicaid program. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh says the state…
An Alabama legislator wants to decriminalize the possession of medicinal marijuana oil in a bid to help families dealing with serious epilepsy and other medical conditions. The House Judiciary Committee heard public testimony last week on a bill put forward by State Rep. Mike Ball which would allow legal access to cannabidiol, or CBD oil. The legislation is a follow-up…
