May 20, 2021 Group Watch:
The 2021 regular session of the Alabama Legislature is over. The body met for its 30th and final legislative day this past Monday.
Every year, there are legislative winners and losers, and this year was no different. On the success side, the big news includes the passage of a medical marijuana bill that has now been signed into law and the passage of the biggest education budget in state history.
And at the beginning of the session, a series of gambling bills seemed to hold real promise. Then the issue stalled, then gained steam, only to stall out again and eventually die right at the end of session.
For this and all the bills pronounced dead, there’s always next year (or a special session)! Check out our summary on this and other political news below.
2021 Session Recap
WINNERS
- The governor signed into law the bill allowing medical marijuana in Alabama for certain conditions and illnesses.
- Lawmakers gave final approval to a bill to ban curbside voting
- The House gave final approval to a Senate-passed bill banning vaccine passports.
- Lawmakers approved legislation to lift the state’s decades-old ban on yoga in public schools.
- The House gave final approval to a Senate-passed bill to delay for two years certain provisions of the Alabama Literacy Act.
- Lawmakers gave final approval for the general fund budget for the next fiscal year, which include a 2-percent raise for public workers.
- The largest education budget in the history of the state, providing teachers with a 2-percent salary increase, expansion of the pre-K program, incentives to retain and attract math, science and technology instructors, and funding for expanded health and mental health services for school children.
- The governor signed into law legislation to allow restaurants and retailers to deliver limited amounts of beer, wine and liquor to private residences.
LOSERS
- A series of bills that would have allowed the people of the state to vote on the establishment of a state lottery and the creation of a gaming commission to oversee and regulate gaming and to allocate the proceeds. House members were unable to reach an agreement that would have the support needed to pass.
- A measure to ban certain treatments for transgender minors did not receive a vote in the House.
- Legislation to make it a crime for local police officers to enforce any new federal gun restrictions.
