Former President Donald J. Trump for the second time has been acquitted following a U.S. Senate impeachment trial, although this one came after his term of office. Trump, charged on a single article of impeachment with inciting an insurrection against the United States, was acquitted on Saturday afternoon, as 57 senators voted to convict and […]

Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) has appointed eight new members to serve on the Alabama Workforce Development Board, the body which oversees the state’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) initiatives. WIOA, a federal law passed in 2014, provides funding to help adults, youth and dislocated workers access assistance through Alabama Career Centers, adult education programs […]

While the first two weeks of the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session featured three priority, pro-jobs bills being enacted into law, there was also another major piece of news important to businesses that occurred outside of the legislative process — but still in Montgomery. Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R-AL) on Wednesday announced that he has […]

MONTGOMERY — Friday marked an important milestone in increasing Alabama’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving 21st-century economy. Governor Kay Ivey signed three priority bills into law, including HB 192 and HB 170. That latter bill, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook), contains a provision entitled the Business Tax Competitiveness […]

U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-AL) will continue to serve as the top Republican on both the Senate Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittee on Defense. With Democrats controlling the Senate, albeit with a 50-50 split, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is now chairman of Appropriations, taking the helm from Shelby. Alabama’s senior senator is now […]

MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey on Friday morning signed into law three priority bills passed this week by the Alabama Legislature: HB 170, HB 192 and SB 30. All three bills have been heralded by pro-business organizations, such as the Business Council of Alabama and National Federation of Independent Business, as important for economic growth […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday unanimously gave final passage to HB 231, sending the bill to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk. This comes after the bill unanimously passed the House last week. Ivey is expected to sign the legislation. Sponsored in their respective chambers by Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark) and Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), […]

Forbes this week named the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as America’s best large employer, topping an impressive list of more than 500 public and private corporations, hospitals, universities and more. Other companies with major Alabama presences named on the list included Lockheed Martin, Southern Company and Boeing. To compile the rankings, Forbes partnered with […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed SB 126 as amended, moving the measure one step away from the governor’s desk. The bill would allow the delivery of sealed beer, wine and liquor from grocery stores, restaurants, and other licensed retailers to residences across the Yellowhammer State. HB 229, the companion bill to SB […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate on Thursday discussed SB 214, a bill by Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) that would propose a constitutional amendment to legalize casino gaming and institute a state-run lottery benefiting education in the state of Alabama. The legislation was formally introduced on Tuesday and unanimously given a favorable report by the Senate […]

MONTGOMERY — The Business Council of Alabama (BCA) has expressed its appreciation to the Alabama Legislature following two priority pieces of legislation that will help the state’s economy bounce back from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislature on Wednesday gave final passage to HB 170 and HB 192. HB 170, among other tax reform […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Wednesday met for the fifth day of its 2021 regular session. The House convened at 1:00 p.m. and met for a brief time, mainly to open the journal for the introduction of bills and to receive committee reports. The Senate gaveled in at 4:00 p.m. and met for just […]

MONTGOMERY — Fireworks flew during the Senate Committee on Education Policy’s meeting on Wednesday afternoon during debate of SB 12, which would mandate the playing of the national anthem at least once per week in public school classrooms and at most school sporting contests. Sponsored by Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), SB 12 — if passed […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate Tourism Committee on Wednesday gave a favorable report to SB 214, the bill by Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) proposing a constitutional amendment that would legalize casino gaming and sports betting in the state of Alabama, in addition to creating a state-run lottery. SB 214 now heads to the full Senate […]

Attorney General Steve Marshall (R-AL) on Tuesday joined 13 other attorneys general in sending a letter to President Joe Biden and calling on him to reverse his decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline. On his first day in office, Biden last month revoked the 2019 Presidential Permit for the pipeline, effectively shuttering the under-construction project and […]

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature on Tuesday met for the fourth day of its 2021 regular session. The House convened at 1:00 p.m. and met for about four hours. The Senate convened at 2:00 p.m. and adjourned by 3:30 p.m. Both chambers worked through respective special order calendars. Here is a breakdown of the day’s […]

U.S. Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) on Tuesday voted against former President Donald J. Trump being the subject of a court of impeachment for alleged acts that occurred while he was president. The procedural vote came on the first day of Trump’s second impeachment trial, after he was impeached by the House […]

MONTGOMERY — State Senator Del Marsh (R-Anniston) on Tuesday evening introduced a bill to propose a constitutional amendment that would legalize casino-style gaming and sports betting and institute a lottery in the state of Alabama. SB 214 will be on the Senate Tourism Committee’s agenda Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. Marsh told reporters he envisions the […]

After U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) on Monday announced he would not seek reelection to a seventh term in 2022, candidates from both parties started circling the waters in the nascent race to succeed Alabama’s longest serving senator. However, U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), is already emphasizing […]

MONTGOMERY — Legislators return to the State House on Tuesday for the fourth day of the 2021 regular session. The third day of legislative business this past Thursday saw three major bills advance from their respective chambers of origin; HBs 170 and 192 passed the House and received a first reading in the Senate, while […]

Following the devastating EF-3 tornado that struck Fultondale and nearby areas in Northern Jefferson County recently, HomeTown Lenders’ (HTL) Birmingham branch wanted to not only give back to the community, but also bring local residents together in the trying time. The HTL Birmingham team did just that, cooking and serving 500 hotdogs and hamburgers to […]

Following a vote by its membership, the Alabama Coal Association on Monday announced its expansion and rebranding as the Alabama Mining Association (AMA). AMA’s formation includes a new digital identity and website, which can be accessed here. A release from the association advised that the mission of AMA “is to promote the safe and sustainable […]

Prominent Alabama leaders across the public and private sectors are reacting to U.S. Senator Richard Shelby’s (R-AL) Monday announcement that he will not seek reelection to a seventh term in 2022. Shelby made the announcement in a written statement, which can be read here. Reactions quickly poured in, including from the Yellowhammer State’s chief executive. […]

U.S. Senator Richard C. Shelby (R-AL) on Monday announced he will not seek reelection in 2022. His current term is set to expire on January 3, 2023. Shelby, already Alabama’s longest-serving senator in history, continues to have an unprecedented impact on his home state. He is now serving as vice chairman of the powerful Senate […]