PSC Bill & $12 Billion Education Budget Pass
April 6, 2026 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
As the Alabama Legislature’s 2026 regular session draws to a close this week, some major moves were made last week. Find more details on the #alpoltics action and some happy Bloom Group news below.
Public Service Commission Bill Awaits Ivey’s Signature
A bill changing the makeup and operation of Alabama’s Public Service Commission passed the House last week, concurring with Senate changes to the original bill and thus sending it to Governor Ivey for her signature to make it law. The Senate made significant changes to HB475, so many in fact that the bill’s sponsor, Representative Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, didn’t support its passage. He decided to vote “no” on his own bill and encouraged other House members to do the same. Despite his objections, it was approved, 72-26.
While Senate President Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, and House Speaker Nathanial Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, praised the measure, saying its reforms will protect Alabamians from rising power costs, Butler says the provisions removed from his original version of the legislation weakened it too much. The current version took out a mandate for regular and official rate hearings where utility companies must explain rate increases and do so under oath.
The bill headed to Ivey also gives the governor more control over the PSC’s regulation.
Read more here.
Education In Alabama Gets Big Funding
The Education Trust Fund easily cleared the Senate; the $12 billion budget was essentially the same as the one the House passed in March and showed bi-partisan support in both chambers for the funding levels and funding distribution for the state’s education endeavors.
Pay raises for public education employees and increased monies for The CHOOSE Act are included in the budget. Read more here.
Senate Rule Changes Lessen Lt. Governor’s Power
Changes made to the Alabama Senate’s rules shift the power structure in the chamber, giving its president pro tem more authority and taking some from the lieutenant governor. The changes passed unanimously last Thursday.
Senator Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, proposed the new rules and says the move was designed to ensure a better separation of powers by giving more control to senators instead of a member of the executive branch.
Several other rule changes also passed, including allowing any senator to have a bill read aloud once debate is over but before a vote is taken. Read more here.
Congratulations Harris & Leah!
Bloom Group Associate Harris Sanderson and his wife Leah recently welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl.
Mom, dad and little Jane Harris are doing well, and we hope y’all will join us in congratulating the Sanderson family on their joyous new addition.
Quick Hits
It took some time, and didn’t happen until late last Thursday night, but legislation mandating the state to recognize President Trump’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America passed the Senate on a 26-5 vote. Governor Ivey is expected to sign it into law.
Want to dig deeper? Track the status of every bill introduces in the 2026 legislative session, here.
X Post of the Week
Meet The Bloom Group: (left to right) John Guthrie Jr., Harris Sanderson, Stephanie Norrell, Hal Bloom (principal/founder), Allen Sanderson (principal), Sara Elizabeth Burnham (vice president), James Dupree Jr., John Floyd.