Capitol Journal

We report on this week’s Supreme Court hearing on former House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s appeal of his felony ethics convictions. We’re joined by Attorney General Steve Marshall, who discusses the state’s case against Hubbard, as well as his office gearing up to defend Alabama’s new abortion ban. We’re also joined by Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed, who talks about the fallout over the abortion ban’s passage and a possible special session on the state’s prison problems.

We report on the legislative session winding down today. Lawmakers gave final passage to the $7.1 billion education budget and a bill that would set up an appointed, rather than elected, state school board. A medical marijuana study commission bill also hung in the balance. We’re joined by Alabama Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey, who discusses the education budget and the school board bill. We’re also joined by Sen. Greg Albritton of Atmore, who talks about the General Fund, final passage of his marriage bill and the death of his lottery legislation.

We report on the legislature today giving final passage to the $2.1 billion General Fund budget. A conference committee is set to take up the $7.1 billion education budget tomorrow. We also report on the Senate today giving final passage to a bill that would revamp the Board of Pardons and Paroles. And we’re joined by Rep. Randall Shedd of Cullman, who discusses the governor signing into law his broadband expansion legislation.

We report on a House committee today approving a bill that would set up a commission to develop medical marijuana legislation. We also report on both the General Fund and education budgets heading to conference committees to work out their differences. And we’re joined by Sen. Tom Whatley of Auburn, who is one of the conferees who will tackle the education budget. Whatley will also reflect on the tragic events in his district over the last five months.

 We report on the House taking up the $7.1 billion education budget. We will be joined by Rep. Danny Garrett of Trussville, who discusses his role in helping craft the spending plan as a member of the budget committee. Garrett also talks about final passage of legislation he carried that would tie state jobless benefits to the unemployment rate. We also report on a public hearing on a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

We report on a lawsuit filed today over the abortion ban passed by the legislature last week. We’re joined by Sen. Garlan Gudger of Cullman, who says he and his family have been harassed since he voted for the abortion ban. We also report on this week’s apparent death of a bill to set up an Alabama lottery. And we talk with Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jefferson Dunn about a strategic plan released this week to address our prison problems.

We report on the release of a three-year plan that the state Department of Corrections says provides a "road map" for dealing with serious problems in Alabama prisons. We also report on final House passage of a bill that would take the state out of the marriage license business. And we’re joined by Rep. Steve Hurst of Munford, who talks about tensions in the House on Wednesday evening and about this week’s House passage of his chemical castration legislation.

We report on the House lottery bill’s sponsor saying today that it was dead for the session. We also report on a House committee today approving a $7.1 billion education budget and sending it to the floor. And we’re joined by Rep. Kerry Rich of Albertville, who talks with us about the lottery proposal, the abortion ban (and the fallout over it), and the prospect of a special legislative session to address our prison problems.

We report on the House taking up a lottery bill today and it failing an early procedural motion. We also report on the Senate taking up the General Fund budget. And we’re joined by Rep. Jamie Kiel of Russellville, who will discuss the education budget being debated at a House committee public hearing today.

We report on the House taking up closely-watched legislation that would essentially ban abortion in the state. We’re joined by Rep. Ginny Shaver of Leesburg, who will discuss her bill to require doctors to preserve the life of a baby if it was born alive after an abortion. And we report on today’s Senate committee approval of a $7 billion state education budget.