@ALEAprotects
April 18
News we love! After some unfortunate car trouble, ALEA Sr. Trooper Sheldon Estes assigned to the Gadsden Post, made sure this young lady and her date made it to their senior walkout at prom on time!
Tuesday, 22nd day:
Wednesday, a committee day:
Thursday, 23rd day:
The Alabama House of Representatives approved a $9.3 billion Education Trust Fund budget, an increase of $550 million (6.25%) from the previous year, with a 2% pay increase for education employees. The budget bill passed on 102-1 vote. The Education Trust Fund funds public K-12 schools, colleges and universities and some state agencies. The 2025 fiscal year funding bill included:
Most of the Department of Education increase will go to specific programs such as English Learning, the Alabama Math Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) and the Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI).
The Alabama Senate appointed members of a conference committee to consider a proposed gambling package, more than two weeks after the House did so. The Senate conferees are Senator Greg Albritton; Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton and Senator Garlan Gudger. Singleton and Albritton have both been longtime supporters of gambling legislation. The House and Senate have been at odds about the scope of the proposed legislation. The House approved a bill that created a lottery; authorized casino gambling and sports betting in the state; and directed the governor to enter into a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, who operate casinos in Atmore, Montgomery and Wetumpka. The Senate passed a stripped-down version that jettisoned everything except the lottery and the compact. Singleton said he was optimistic that something could be worked out, but it might not please all of the parties. He thinks that whatever passes will be approved by the voters.
With support from Governor Ivey and both Republican and Democrat legislative leaders, the House passed the “Working for Alabama” bill package, a group of legislation designed to raise the state’s low workforce participation rate using education programs and tax credits to encourage the expansion of housing and childcare, the lack of which could be contributing to low participation. All parts of the package passed without a dissenting vote. Read more here.
The Alabama Senate approved a bill that would loosen regulations for religious exemptions for vaccines in schools. The bill, sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr, passed 24-5. The bill would allow parents who have a religious objection to vaccination to declare that in a statement to the local board of education. The parent would not have to provide evidence or win the approval of the board. He said that employees at the Department of Health are not supposed to question people about their religious beliefs, though some do. Health officials have expressed concerns about declining vaccination rates in the state. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rate in Alabama hit 94% in 2022-23, down from 95% for the 2021-22 school year. The CDC says at least 95% of the population needs to be vaccinated against measles to create herd immunity. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated people become infected after being exposed to measles.
The Alabama Legislature worked last week to extend a deadline to ensure President Joe Biden will be able to appear on the state’s ballots come November. Due to the dates of the Democratic National Convention, without action from the legislature, the Democratic Party would have missed the deadline to submit its officially nominated presidential ticket. Read more here.
Governor Kay Ivey and State Rep. Kenneth Paschal came together to proclaim April 25 as “Parental Alienation Awareness Day” and April 21 through April 27 as “Parental Alienation Prevention Week.” The proclamation and its accompanying initiative are meant to help demonstrate the importance of allowing children to share love with both parents without any fear or guilt. The campaign also highlights the link between parental alienation and child abuse, emphasizing the mental harm children may experience as a result. An estimated 40,000 children in Alabama annually endure court-mandated visitation with one parent for only two to six days a month.
In the release of the national report, The 2023 State of Preschool, Alabama’s First-Class Pre-K program is once again recognized for the highest quality. Alabama is one of only five states in the country to meet 10 of 10 research-based quality standard benchmarks for 2023 and is the only state in the nation to have achieved this distinction for 18 consecutive years. The program has grown substantially over the last decade, increasing from serving 5,000 Alabama 4-year-olds in 2013 to serving more than 24,000 in 2023.
Innovate Alabama announced the recipients for the fourth round of the Innovate Alabama Supplemental Grant Program, awarding almost $4 million to 22 small businesses. For the first time, the Supplemental Grant Program has expanded beyond the borders of Alabama, bringing five new businesses to relocate into the state per the funding requirements, which state that grant recipients have a 12-month window after receiving grant funds to relocate their headquarters and the majority of their teams to Alabama. The five recipients are relocating from Delaware, Florida, Illinois and Wyoming. Innovate Alabama is the state’s first statewide public-private partnership focused on entrepreneurship, technology and innovation with a mission to help innovators grow roots in Alabama. The Supplemental Grant Program has awarded over $13 million to 68 entities since August, 2022.
