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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
Happy tax day to all who celebrate (which should be most of you unless you want to hear from the IRS). Some tax news came out of the legislature last week. Despite some education groups voicing concern about reduced revenues, a bill to cap property value increases (for property tax purposes)
@GovernorKayIveyApril 11From @ALDailyNews: “Committee approves plan for health care-focused high school in Demopolis” The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences is what our state needs to expand rural healthcare and its workforce. Let’s get this done for Alabama! #alpolitics
