February 13, 2024 Group Watch: Day-by-Day, Play-by-Play
Tuesday, 1st day: Governor’s Session Agenda (delivered in her State of the State speech):
- She is supporting legislation to prohibit ballot harvesting and closing loopholes that allow political operatives to pressure voters through the absentee voting process.
- She wants to let the issue of gaming in the state be decided by Alabamians at the ballot box. She called for a crackdown on illegal gambling and for responsible regulation of limited forms of legal gaming, including a statewide lottery.
- She asked the legislature to invest in school safety through a $100 million grant program. Lawmakers also being asked to approve a proposed Sound of Freedom Act that will mandate life in prison for those who traffic minors.
- Last year, the governor introduced the idea of the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences. After a year of planning, she is proposing to locate the school in Demopolis.
- She is supporting legislation entitled the CHOOSE Act, which would provide for a $7,000 education savings account to be used by parents for their children to attend the school of their choice.
- The governor reiterated her commitment to expanding quality mental health services, completing the construction of the two mega prisons, and continuing the success in foster care, adoptions and childcare.
Wednesday, 2nd day and a committee day:
- The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee approved bills to prevent ballot harvesting and to amend the dam safety and inspection process.
- The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee approved bills relating to the appointment of county and municipal library boards; to authorize local law enforcement to contract with a nonpublic K-12 school to provide school resource officers; and bills relating to retirees under the Employees Retirement System and the Teachers Retirement System.
Thursday, 3rd day:
- The Senate passed bills to provide for elective procedures for inspecting and maintaining state-owned dams; to require the State Textbook Review Committee to review periodicals; and to authorize the posting of school curricula on school websites and allow for parental review.
