Capitol Journal

We report on the scheduled last day of the legislative session, with final approval of the education budget hanging in the balance. High-profile bills dealing with both racial profiling and lobbying exemptions for economic development professionals were also on the line today. And we’re joined by Rep. K.L. Brown of Jacksonville, who will discuss tornado recovery efforts in his area and how the storm narrowly missed his own home. Brown also talks about school security.



We report on the state’s $6.6 billion education budget heading toward final legislative passage after a conference committee worked out differences. We also report on a compromise version of a racial profiling bill heading to the House floor, something that was expected to prevent a filibuster. And we’re joined by Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile, who discusses the failure of his bill that would have imposed term limits on state lawmakers.


We preview the upcoming final two days of the legislative session, including a conference committee set to meet tomorrow to work out differences in the state’s $6.6 billion education budget. We also report on two bills that could be the source of some controversy before lawmakers go home: one that would exempt economic development professionals from state lobbying rules, and another that would require law enforcement to collect traffic stop data to help prevent racial profiling. We’re joined by Sen. Rusty Glover of Semmes, who will discuss final passage of his legislation that would do away with special legislative elections if there are 13 months or less remaining in a term.

We have a complete recap of the legislative week. We’re joined by Rep. Will Ainsworth of Guntersville, who discusses the death of his bill to arm certain state teachers and his call for a special legislative session on school security. We’re also joined by Sen. Jabo Waggoner of Vestavia Hills, who talks about the governor signing into law his bill that authorizes a Jefferson County car lease tax to help fund a new Birmingham stadium. And we’re joined by Alabama EMA Director Brian Hastings, who discusses this week’s tornado and hail damage in north and east Alabama.

Gov. Ivey signs a bill authorizing execution by nitrogen gas; The House approves a constitutional amendment allowing public display of the Ten Commandments, and it now goes to the Alabama voters; The Senate delays a vote on extending the "Stand Your Ground" law to churches; and Rep. Barbara Drummond of Mobile joins us to discuss school security.



 Gun control measures don’t advance after House committee can’t muster a quorum; A bill to arm certain teachers may be dead for the session after it fails to come up for a House vote; The Senate today concurred with the House-passed General Fund budget, sending it to the governor; And we’re joined by Alabama Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington, who will discuss the state’s record low unemployment rate.


  Gov. Kay Ivey tours tornado damage in east Alabama; The House begins tackling a long agenda that was set to include arming certain teachers, a Birmingham "stadium tax," a new execution alternative, and expanding broadband service statewide. And we will be joined by Sen. Phil Williams of Rainbow City, who will discuss school security and his co-sponsoring of payday lending reform legislation.




 We report on the House tomorrow possibly taking up a bill that would arm certain state teachers. The House is also set to address expanding broadband service statewide and enacting a Jefferson County car lease tax to fund a new open-air stadium in downtown Birmingham. We will also report on the expectation that the Senate will concur this week on the House-passed General Fund budget. The education budget is likely headed to a conference committee. And we’re joined by Rep. April Weaver of Brierfield, who will discuss the "Alex Hoover Act" that’s she’s sponsoring. It would make it easier for terminally ill children to continue to attend school.





We report on a Senate committee today approving a new lottery bill, but its sponsor concedes that final passage is a long shot. A Senate committee today also okayed legislation that would allow fantasy sports in the state. We have a wrap-up of last night’s primary runoff races in Senate district 26 and House district 4. And we’re joined by Rep. Reed Ingram of Montgomery, who discusses the debate over school violence, as well as his bill that would increase tax deductions for lower income Alabamians. 

We report on the Senate today approving a bill that would give all state employees who fall under the General Fund budget a 3% cost of living raise.The Senate also approved one-time bonuses for both state and education retirees. We also report on the Senate approving a constitutional amendment that would allow for the public display of the Ten Commandments. And we're joined by Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville, who discusses the House Democratic Caucus‘ push for a bigger teacher pay raise than that allotted in the House-passed education budget.