September 2023 Group Watch: Senator Garlan Gudger Honored as “Tourism Advocate of the Year”

State Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) was recently named Alabama Tourism Advocate of the Year at the 2023 Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Gudger, owner of Southern Accents Architectural Antiques, one of the top five architectural salvage businesses in the country, is currently vice chair of the state’s Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee. Prior to being elected to the Senate, he served on Cullman’s City Council for 14 years. Read more here.

September 2023 Group Watch: Another Medical Cannabis Lawsuit Filed

Verano Alabama, which was initially awarded a license to grow and sell medical marijuana before the commission voided the decision, filed suit against the state in Montgomery Circuit Court. In the suit, Verano argues the commission lacked the statutory authority to void decisions and seeks reinstatement of the original awards. This latest lawsuit is part of a flurry of litigation against the commission, including one that alleges the commission violated the Alabama Open Meetings Act by deliberating in secret. That lawsuit, filed by Alabama Always, asks the court for a complete do-over, a move that would be at odds with the relief sought by Verano’s attorney.

September 2023 Group Watch: New Testing Standards Adopted for Alabama Third Graders

The Literacy Act, which became law in 2019, is focused on improving reading proficiency for K-3 students. One of its requirements is for third graders to demonstrate reading proficiency before entering the fourth grade. Last week, The Alabama State Board of Education voted to adopt a new testing standard for advancing third graders. This new benchmark could cause as many as 12,000 students to repeat third grade next year. Read more here.  

September 2023 Group Watch: Department of Ed Discusses Need for Increased Reading Funding

On the heels of new standards related to The Literacy Act and the loss of federal emergency relief funds, The Alabama State Department of Education recently discussed asking the Alabama Legislature for additional funding in the coming year to support students above third grade who need help with reading. Read more here.

September 2023 Group Watch: Bill To Require National Anthem in Schools Filed

A bill requiring Alabama’s K-12 public schools to play or allow for a performance of the National Anthem at least once a week has been filed for the 2024 session of the Alabama Legislature by Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa). Read more here.  

August 2023 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House

August 2023

As summer draws to a close, economic initiatives in Alabama are still heating up, with funding flowing from both the federal and state level to multiple projects, including expanded high-speed internet access, the installation of more electric car charging stations and support for military functions and families across Alabama.

In addition, economic development announcements keep coming, and a recently released report shows the role international investment in Alabama is playing in job growth.  Plus, the work on gambling legislation continues.

Find more details on all this and other key #alpolitics topics belo

August 2023 Group Watch: Tweet of the Month

@AL_League
Aug 16
This afternoon,@RepJerryCarl shared a federal update with League members and special guests at our second congressional luncheon. We appreciate Rep. Carl for taking the time to meet with our local leaders. #alpolitics

August 2023 Group Watch: “Be Linked Alabama” is Bringing Broadband to More Alabamians

Alabama currently ranks 24^th in the country for states with the best and worst internet. But Governor Kay Ivey and the Department of Economic and Community Affairs are working to improve that ranking, announcing more than $400 million in federal funding and $1.4 billion from the U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program (BEAD) will be used to expand access to high-speed internet across Alabama. The efforts to bring broadband connectivity to more Alabamians are being promoted under the name Be Linked Alabama and include the state’s new Anchor Institution/Middle Mile (AIMM) program, which will be funded with the second round of American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated during the 2023 Legislative Session. More than $200 million will support this effort, which will potentially serve 500 anchor facilities. These facilities  include institutions such as colleges and universities, rural hospitals and government facilities that are inadequately served. “Middle-mile” deployment that will provide the infrastructure to help facilitate last-mile deployment by internet service providers will also be funded.

August 2023 Group Watch: Alabama Funds More EV Charging Stations 

Governor Kay Ivey has awarded grants of more than $1.2 million to get the state ready as more electric vehicles are purchased and travel Alabama highways. Funds for the projects came from appropriations under the state Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Program. The grants target well-traveled highway systems away from the interstates or busy locations. Most of the latest awards are in locations along Alabama’s highway system on the state’s eastern corridor. The Montgomery County Commission was awarded $461,700 to install eight charging stations at the recently completed Whitewater Park on Maxwell Boulevard.

August 2023 Group Watch: Work on Gambling Legislation Continues

A small group of legislators is working to bring gambling legislation (again) in the next session of the Alabama Legislature. Noting that legal or not, gambling is already happening in multiple areas around the state, these lawmakers stress the importance of passing a bill (or bills) that will allow the state to regulate and tax the activity. The main goal is a lottery constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot. Read more here.