The Alabama Senate is considering a bill that would change how members of the Alabama Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees are appointed, shifting that authority to the governor and legislative leaders. The legislation follows outrage from many Republican lawmakers over the department’s past programming decisions. RELATED: State Sen. Elliott: Archives shouldn’t be ‘pushing […]

The Alabama House and Senate have passed the Houston/Hunter Act, a bill allowing firearm owners to voluntarily and temporarily surrender their weapons to law enforcement during mental health crises. The legislation is aimed at reducing firearm-related suicides, particularly among veterans.  The bill permits firearm owners to enter into a voluntary agreement with a federal firearms […]

HB7, known as the Laken Riley Act, advanced closer to a full House vote on Wednesday after receiving a favorable report from the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough aims to enhance cooperation between state and local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.  “This is the same […]

The Alabama House of Representatives has passed HB188, a measure aimed at providing financial assistance for higher education to the families of long-term law enforcement officers. Sponsored by State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris), the bill is a part of a legislative package aimed to “Back the Blue” and establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers Family […]

A new bill introduced by State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) and backed by Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter seeks to bring greater accountability to law enforcement staffing and crime statistics across the state. HB287 would require municipalities to report the number of sworn law enforcement officers to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) and […]

State Rep. Barbara Drummond (D-Mobile) is pushing HB103, a legislative measure aimed at increasing gun safety in households with children. The bill, filed before the recent gun incident at Challenger Elementary School in Huntsville, has gained attention in light of a gun discharging in a second grader’s backpack.  RELATED: Laptop stops bullet from striking student […]

Speaking to the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Tuesday morning, newly-elected Pro Tem of the Alabama Senate, Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) addressed the importance of equipping all Alabamians with the necessary training to secure stable, high-paying jobs that align with the evolving demands of the 21st-century economy. He detailed an overarching agenda focused on workforce development, […]

The Alabama House of Representatives paid tribute to Randall Shedd (R-Fairview) on Thursday morning, who is set to resign his seat in the lower chamber to go work for Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, a fellow Cullman lawmaker.  “Randall Shedd has been a dear friend of mine from the first day I came into […]

Elon Musk took to X to praise U.S. Senator Katie Britt for her hard work getting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination as Secretary of Health and Human services across the finish line. “It’s a little after midnight in Washington, and I just finished my shift presiding on the Senate floor. We’re working through the night […]

Governor Kay Ivey and state lawmakers have introduced the “Safe Alabama” legislative package, a sweeping set of proposals aimed at curbing violent crime and providing law enforcement with stronger tools to prosecute offenders. Unveiled alongside legislative leaders and law enforcement officials, the package includes tougher penalties for gun-related crimes, increased restrictions on firearm possession for […]

In a special announcement by the Alabama Agribusiness council, state leaders revealed the economic impact of Alabama’s agriculture and forestry industries.  According to the newly released study, agriculture and forestry contribute a staggering $77.3 billion annually to Alabama’s economy, making it one of the top industries in the state. These industries account for 273,271 jobs, […]

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth spoke to the importance of supporting servicemembers, veterans, and their families during his address to the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Tuesday morning. Ainsworth promoted the creation of a new veterans resource center to concentrate that support — while further articulating his opposition to a separate proposal under consideration by […]

In an effort to reduce digital distractions in Alabama classrooms, Governor Kay Ivey has thrown her weight behind legislation that would ban smartphones in public school classrooms statewide. Announced during her State of the State address, the legislation has already been filed in both the House and Senate and is expected to generate a range […]

On Thursday, the Alabama Senate passed SB70, a proposal establishing the Alabama Veterans Resource Center (AVRC) to streamline services for the state’s more than 400,000 veterans.  If signed into law, a veterans resource center would be created as an umbrella to connect veterans with employment opportunities, healthcare services, education benefits, and mental health resources. A nine-member […]

State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) has introduced HB202, the Back the Blue Legal Protection Act to expand legal protections for law enforcement officers facing civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution related to their official duties.   The legislation would replace Alabama’s existing peace office officer immunity law with broader civil liability protections, shielding officers from lawsuits unless […]

Governor Kay Ivey is set to deliver her State of the State address tonight, where she’ll outline her key legislative priorities for the 2025 session, now officially underway.  Speaking to the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) earlier today, Ivey offered a preview of her agenda, touting the state’s recent economic and educational gains while emphasizing […]

When the “Cruel Kids Table” magazine cover photo from an Inauguration Day party in Washington, D.C. went viral, Mountain Brook native, Anna Claire Howland found herself at the center of a media firestorm. The cropped image, which appeared to show an all-white group of partygoers, quickly sparked outrage and accusations of racism. But for Howland, […]

A private gathering of young conservatives in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day has drawn national media attention. New York Magazine ran an article describing the event as overwhelmingly white, accompanied by a cover image featuring only white attendees and the title “The Cruel Kids’ Table.” Mountain Brook native Anna Claire Howland found herself at the […]

Homeschool students in Alabama may soon gain access to career and technical education (CTE) programs offered by public schools if a new bill introduced by State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) is enacted. HB61 would bridge the gap between homeschool education and workforce development by allowing homeschoolers to enroll in CTE classes within their local school […]

Alabama’s education funding model may be on the verge of its most significant overhaul in decades. Lawmakers on the education budget committees in the House and Senate have been discussing a proposed shift from the current Foundation program funding system to a student-based funding model during the upcoming legislative session.  The joint legislative committee met […]