On a 77-24 vote, the Alabama House passed a bill that defines man, woman, girl, boy, mother and father, and these definitions are based on reproductive systems, not gender identity. The legislation also states that “there are only two sexes.” Opponents say it “attacks” transgender rights, while proponents say it will protect women’s rights. Read more here.
Legislation banning vaping inside public buildings made it through the Senate last week. The Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act already bans the smoking of cigarettes, pipes and other methods of tobacco-smoking from public buildings, including schools, police stations, city halls and courthouses. The current legislation expands the prohibition to include vapes and other electronic tobacco delivery systems. The bill passed 26-4 and was brought back up for reconsideration and renamed in honor of Senator Vivian Figures, who originally spearheaded the legislation to ban smoking in public places. The amended bill honoring Senator Figures passed 32-0. The use of e-cigarettes has been on continual rise, particularly among young people.
Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair joined a team from Innovate Alabama for a tour of Montgomery Whitewater, a world-class recreational facility that’s now hosting Olympic athletes. McNair, who is spearheading the creation of a new state economic development strategic plan, said outdoor recreation assets like Montgomery Whitewater can play an important role in the next-generation economic development strategies being developed by the state, as outdoor recreation offerings have proven powerful business-recruiting tools. Montgomery Whitewater opened in July 2023 at the Maxwell Capital Gateway to Montgomery, along the Interstate 65 corridor. The center is anchored by an Olympic-standard recirculating whitewater course, which allows users of all ages and skill sets to participate at difficulty levels ranging from beginner to expert.
Alabama has become the nation’s No. 1 auto-exporting state, with international vehicle shipments surging past $11.2 billion in 2023. The numbers put the state over long-time leader South Carolina. Alabama auto exports landed in 78 countries in 2023, with major trading partners Germany, China and Canada being the leading destinations. Overall, Alabama’s exports have been rising in recent years, hitting $27.4 billion in 2023, the second straight year for a record annual total. Since 2020, the value of Alabama’s exports has jumped almost 43 percent.
Differences between the House and the Senate on exactly how and how much gambling should be legalized in Alabama have put the brakes, at least temporarily, on gambling legislation introduced this session. Right now, the ball is in the House’s court, and representatives there say whether or not to pick up that ball and move it forward is up to the Speaker of the House. Stay tuned.
While gambling’s fate remains unknown, two other “headline” issues have been resolved. The bill banning ballot harvesting was signed into law by Governor Ivey last week. The new law was designed to combat voter fraud. Ivey also signed the bill banning DEI departments in state agencies and public higher education institutions.
Find more details and info on other important #alpolitics news below.
| @thebloomgroup March 24 The top-secret ‘Ghost Army’ unit, which used inflatable tanks and costumes to fool Nazi Germany in WWII, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal https://msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-top-secret-ghost-army-unit-which-used-inflatable-tanks-and-costumes-to-fool-nazi-germany-in-wwii-was-awarded-the-congressional-gold-medal/ar-BB1kkjWH?ocid=socialshare#image=BB1iMDY6|1 |
Tuesday, 16th day:
Wednesday, a committee day:
Thursday, 17th day:
Senator Greg Albritton, a longtime proponent of legalizing gambling, says the gambling package he carried in his chamber remains in the House basket, meaning the chamber has not taken action on changes made by the Senate. The House and Senate are sharply divided over the legislation, particularly over how much gambling each chamber is willing to accept. The House version includes a constitutional amendment authorizing gambling and enabling legislation, enforcement and distribution, as well as a state lottery and casino-style gambling and sports betting at seven locations around the state. Lastly, the enabling bill created a state commission to regulate gambling and allows the governor to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The Senate significantly altered the bills, eliminating sports betting and switching horse-race betting for casino gambling. House leaders say it’s up to the House Speaker to take up the Senate version from the House basket.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law a bill that aims to prevent fraud in absentee voting. The measure’s purpose is to prevent “ballot harvesting,” a term that generally means the mass distribution or collection of absentee ballot applications or ballots. (Opponents say the law criminalizes work that helps the elderly, disabled and incarcerated cast their ballots.) Under the new law, ballot harvesting is a Class C felony, punishable by one to 10 years in prison. The governor also signed into law a bill banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices, programming and training in public colleges and other state agencies. The new law bans any program that “advocates for a divisive concept.” It would also prohibit higher education institutions from allowing individuals to use a restroom that is different from their sex as assigned at birth.
Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville are working hard to protect the state’s farm-raised catfish industry, playing a key role in the U.S. Department of Commerce reversing a preliminary decision that would have slashed antidumping duties on imported catfish from companies controlled by the Vietnamese government. Britt called the reversal a victory for American catfish farmers and producers; it defends the nation’s domestic farm-raised catfish markets against unfair dumping practices. Alabama is home to more than 65 farm-raised catfish farms, predominantly across the Black Belt Region, which encompasses approximately 16,000 acres of surface water areas. The catfish industry employs more than 2,400 people and contributes nearly $92 million in economic value to the state.
