Transcript Highlights:

• Oh Lord our God, our creator and redeemer, we pause before this session of the Alabama House of Representatives
• of Alabama well this day in the business of our great state.
• the state of Alabama is going to be what?
• I don't know if I've ever heard of anyone cloning anyone in the state of Alabama.
• That's what we're saying today in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Bills: HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HCR 35 , SB 14 , HB 12 , HB 1522 , HB 422 , HB 675 , HB 204 , HB 748 , HB 912 , HJR 99 , HB 1399 , HB 1400 , HB 1094 , HB 365 , HB 1109 , HB 647 , HCR 35 , HCR 123 , HCR 124 , HR 57 , HR 87 , HR 111 , HR 228 , HR 230 , HR 322 , HR 624 , HR 625 , HR 626 , HR 627 , HR 628 , HR 630 , HR 631 , HR 634 , HR 635 , HR 636 , HR 637 , HR 638 , HR 639 , HR 640 , HR 645 , HR 646 , HR 648 , HR 649 , HR 651 , HR 652 , HR 653 , HR 654 , HR 664 , HR 665 , HR 668 , HR 675 , HR 676 , HR 678 , HR 679 , HR 680 , HR 683 , HR 686 , HR 688 , HR 689 , HR 694 , HR 695 , HR 697 , HR 698 , HR 699 , HR 472 , HR 622 , HR 632 , HR 633 , HR 643 , HR 655 , HR 657 , HR 660 , HR 661 , HR 662 , HR 663 , HR 667 , HR 670 , HR 674 , HR 681 , HR 682 , HR 696

Transcript Highlights:

• Virginia related to the Department of Education and public schools' use of school-issued devices for
• The Senate of Virginia related to the Department of Education and public schools' use of school-issued
• Senate Bill 220 is legislation that would direct the Department of Department of I would move the committee
• Senate Bell 220 is legislation under direct the Department of Department of The bill passes.
• , Department of Veterans Services, Annual Report.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Gary Westcott, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
• If the Louisiana Board of Regents and the Department of Education are developing programs, and LCTCS
• Up here is because I just don't want the appearance of DOC, Department of Public Safety and Corrections
• That's part of what we do—Department of Corrections, local sheriffs housing offenders—that's what it's
• There's a model within the Department of Corrections and outside of the Department of Corrections for

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee held an oversight discussion on Louisiana’s reentry landscape, with Chair Villio emphasizing that the hearing was informational only and that no bills were being considered. Department of Public Safety and Corrections officials outlined the state’s reentry mission and current programming in state facilities, local jails, regional reentry centers, and STEP facilities. They described services including literacy and GED preparation, career and technical education, industry certifications, postsecondary partnerships, mental health and substance abuse treatment, victim impact and trauma programming, and pre-release assistance such as state IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, Medicaid, SNAP, and driver’s licenses. Officials also discussed a new data-sharing MOU with DCFS for child support matters and a planned “return portal” with Louisiana Works to connect incarcerated people to jobs and training aligned with labor market needs. A major focus was the reentry court program at Angola for men and at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Assistant Secretary DeLouche and Assistant Warden Easley explained that the program is limited to nine judicial districts, requires judge and district attorney consent, and includes a two-year institutional phase followed by three years of intensive supervised probation. Participants must earn a HiSET if needed, complete multiple certifications and life-skills programs, and then petition for resentencing; officials said the program’s current recidivism rate is under 14 percent. They also highlighted specialized offerings such as vocational mentoring, a Braille transcription and repair program, and family-focused events like a father-daughter dance. Testimony from employers and local officials was broadly supportive. Eric Lane described hiring formerly incarcerated workers through the parole project and said the program solved problems he had seen with halfway-house placements by helping people secure housing, IDs, and licenses before release. Sheriff Kevin Cobb said sheriffs are active partners, with 51 of 64 parishes offering some form of programming and more than 75 percent of local facilities providing services; he stressed that local jail programming has grown over time and that data collection is improving. Members repeatedly asked for more data on recidivism, employment outcomes, and what programs are available by parish, and several praised the department and sheriffs for the work already being done. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> member of the Alabama Ethics Commission. member of the Alabama Ethics Commission.
• of Insurance through the Department of Treasury.
• of Insurance through the Department of Treasury.
• of Insurance through the Department of Treasury.
• </c> our governor and all the people of our governor and all the people of Alabama, Alabama, Alabama,

Transcript Highlights:

• That established the Department of Workforce, and so in the establishment of...
• Workforce, and so in the establishment of the Department of Workforce, in the legislation you had two
• We are working hard at the Department of Workforce.
• Today, we are working hard at the Department of Workforce.
• So all of that is going to be a focus of the leadership of this department, and your recognition of that

Committee: Senate Confirmations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:28:11.440><c> of</c> were passed for the Department of were passed for the Department of Constit
• , the State Department of Education, and the Department of Human Resources.
• </c> of Alabama. of Alabama. &gt;&gt; Thank<02:11:12.800><c> you.</c> &gt;&gt; Thank you.
• Alabama Department of Public Health, I'm sorry if I didn't think. What did you say? Public health.
• Alabama Department of Public Health. Public health. Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• County Department of Social Services.
• of Commerce and and the Department of Commerce and oversees<03:41:00.239><c> cutting</c><03:41:00.560
• c><05:08:38.798><c> prevent</c> Department of the Interior to prevent Department of the Interior to prevent
• We will diminish the Department of Education.
• </c><08:33:38.958><c> of</c> We will diminish the Department of We will diminish the Department of Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget provides additional funding of $20 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs for various
• Regarding the Department of State approved grant list, my budget recommendation includes a total of $24.3
• In the data collection from the districts with the Department of Education and all of that, there was
• In fact, this bill was stopped last year because of concerns with IVF out of Alabama, and here we are
• It directs the Department of Children and Families to adopt rules for a priority review of applications

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then adopted the special order report and moved into a series of budget-related bills. The chamber first took up HB 5011/SB 2506 on environmental resource management and natural resources funding, where Democrats argued the bill would reduce recurring support for the Resilient Florida program, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. Supporters said the change would shift money from recurring to nonrecurring funding so the Legislature could reassess priorities each year and rely more on private-sector stewardship. After a strike-all amendment and conference posture change, SB 2506 passed 97-12. HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves, passed 108-0, and HB 5501, redirecting documentary stamp tax distributions from housing and transportation trust funds into general revenue, passed 82-26 after extended debate over its impact on affordable housing and transportation funding. The House also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, which requires DMS to develop a formulary management system and was described as producing significant savings; members raised concerns about prescription access and implementation, but the bill passed 109-0. HB 5201 on state financial accounting and HB 5203 on the Capitol Center both passed unanimously, as did HB 5009, which creates a Florida Accountability Office and reorganizes audit functions. The chamber then passed HB 7031, a major sales tax reduction bill lowering the state sales tax rate and several related rates; supporters framed it as permanent relief for all Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more meaningful and that the sales tax cut would also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. HB 7031 passed 112-0. The House then began consideration of HB 501, the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget, totaling $112.9 billion and emphasizing reduced recurring spending and large reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined their budget silos: K-12 education at $20.6 billion with teacher raises, school hardening, literacy, transportation stipends, and security funding for Jewish day schools; health care at $47 billion with full Medicaid and KidCare funding, opioid settlement spending, mental health beds, and senior services; transportation/economic development at $18.5 billion; agriculture and natural resources at $5.8 billion with reduced Everglades spending but continued water, resiliency, and land management funding; higher education at $8.7 billion; state administration at $2.9 billion; justice at $7.3 billion; and IT at $529 million for Florida PALM, FX, and other systems. Members then began questioning the K-12 budget, focusing on FEFP funding, proration, voucher growth, stabilization dollars, mental health and school safety funding, and whether districts would be held harmless under the proposed allocations.

Transcript Highlights:

• a</c><00:33:46.440><c> new</c> University of Alabama to have a new University of Alabama to have a new
• Alabama on its the University of Alabama on its upcoming<00:34:20.240><c> Reserve</c><00:34:20.600><c
• continued</c> University of Alabama for its continued University of Alabama for its continued long-standing
• Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the University of Alabama as a
• Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the University of Alabama as a

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with a prayer, pledge, and roll call establishing a quorum of 30 senators. The chamber approved excusing absent senators, dispensed with reading the prior journal, and agreed to allow bill introductions and committee reports throughout the day. Several guests were recognized in the gallery, including local officials, construction representatives for the new statehouse, and advocacy groups. A series of House messages were received and referred to committees, including local bills and constitutional amendments for Macon, Winston, Perry, Montgomery, Mobile, Jefferson, Marengo, Covington, Tuscaloosa, and Madison counties, along with measures on campaign finance, title fraud, public health, workforce, income tax, legal tender, consumer protection, seafood products, carbon dioxide injection wells, and boards of registrars. Committee reports included favorable reports on Senate Bill 374 and House Bill 432 from the Committee on Local Legislation. The Senate also adopted Senate Joint Resolution 97 commending the University of Alabama on its planned ROTC facility and Student Veteran Center, and Senate Joint Resolution 98 naming a portion of Highway 9 in Elmore County the Lamar S. "Bubba" Woodham Jr. Highway. During personal privilege, Senator Smitherman urged attention to the lack of septic systems in parts of the state and suggested the Senate may need to study the issue, possibly through a resolution or task force. Senator Orr submitted a notice in writing regarding proposed Senate rules changes. The Senate then took up local legislation, adopting budget isolation resolutions and passing multiple local bills and constitutional amendments, including House Bill 569 (Autauga County), House Bill 337 and Senate Bill 371 (Madison County), House Bill 576 (Mobile County), House Bill 529 (Class 2 municipalities), Senate Bill 369 (Lauderdale County), House Bill 612 (Covington County), and House Bill 514 (Tuscaloosa County), with votes largely unanimous or near-unanimous. The Senate recessed until 1:00 p.m. after completing the local calendar items.

Transcript Highlights:

• She is the great niece of House member Stafford and also a guest of Representative Jacqueline Times.
• Additionally, the Alabama Education Partnership, Teach for America Alabama, the Alabama Expanded Learning
• So we want to give special kudos to one of our own, President Ross of the great Alabama State University
• So let's go back to your certification under the Department of Mental Health.
• But if an individual needs mental health counseling, the Department of Mental Health needs to have certified

Transcript Highlights:

• Boyd to the Alabama Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees, is referred to the Committee
• Senate confirmation number 72, appointing Mella Tube Hamilton to the Alabama Department of Archives and
• </c> with business in the state of Alabama. with business in the state of Alabama.
• </c><02:49:02.640><c> of</c> have to have uh Department of have to have uh Department of Construction
• </c><03:16:18.560><c> of</c> So, in the past, the Department of So, in the past, the Department of Insurance

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber also recognized guests, including members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and employees of the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative. A senator then delivered a Black History Month-style presentation highlighting James Weldon Johnson, A. Philip Randolph, Jan E. Matzeliger, and Percy Lavon Julian for their contributions to civil rights, labor, industry, and science. The Senate received House messages referring two Archives and History board appointments to the Committee on Confirmations, then took up numerous committee reports. Several bills from Finance and Taxation, Judiciary, Education Policy, Agriculture, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Healthcare, Tourism, Veterans and Military Affairs, State Government Affairs, and Local Legislation received favorable reports, some with amendments or substitutes, and were advanced to second reading and placement on the next legislative day’s calendar. The chamber also recommitted Senate Bill 266 to the Tourism Committee. The Senate confirmed multiple appointments, including Llaya McNair to the Alabama Trust Fund Board, several members to the Credit Union Administration Board, and Elizabeth Smithart, Leslie Sanders, and Wayne Sers to the Alabama State Board of Human Resources. It then adopted several resolutions, including commendations and memorials, such as resolutions honoring Mary Francis Holland, the Stanhope Elmore boys bowling team, and Alicia Cannon for more than 50 years of service to the Alabama judicial system. The Senate also adopted a resolution creating the Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Children’s Internet Safety, after discussion about its purpose, membership, and duties; an amendment to the commission resolution was adopted before the resolution itself was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alabama, and she is truly... entire state of Alabama, and she is truly deserving of the significant
• Leader of the Alabama Senate.
• Majority Leader of the Alabama Senate.
• University of Alabama and John Michael, a graduate of the University of Montevallo.
• Therefore be it resolved by the legislature of Alabama, both houses. legislature of Alabama, both houses

Bills: SB 2 , SJR 36 , SB 2 , SR 19 , SR 27 , SR 30 , SR 32 , SCR 11

Transcript Highlights:

• privilege of serving the people of Alabama.
• Resolved by the Senate of the Legislature of Alabama that immediately upon the adoption of this resolution
• He applied to the University of Alabama with the hopes of entering... of Alabama with the hopes of entering
• Now, therefore, be it resolved by the legislature of Alabama, both houses, legislature of Alabama, both
• Now therefore, be it resolved by the Senate of the Legislature of Alabama, that the death of Lieutenant

Bills: SJR 2 , SB 4 , SJR 36 , SJR 2 , SB 4 , SR 42 , SR 74 , SR 76 , HCR 5 , SB 710 , SB 710

Transcript Highlights:

• Dario Gil, nominated to be Undersecretary of the Department of Energy for Science.
• the Department of the Interior.
• , all of which threaten the important work of the department.
• this committee to execute the mission of the Department of Energy.
• I think a lot of the techniques and research that came out of the Department of Energy in support of

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Keywords: nominations, Undersecretary of Energy, Undersecretary of Science, Preston Griffith, Dario Gil, energy policy, scientific innovation

Summary: The meeting was convened to discuss several significant nominations, particularly focusing on Preston Wills Griffith III for Undersecretary of Energy and Dr. Dario Gil for Undersecretary of Science. The committee underscored the importance of these roles in shaping American energy policy and scientific innovation. The discussion highlighted the nominees' backgrounds, with Griffith having extensive experience at the Department of Energy and the White House, and Gil bringing expertise in quantum technology and energy research. Members expressed a strong desire to understand the nominees' perspectives on current challenges facing the energy sector, including regulatory mandates and national security concerns. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensuring thorough evaluations of the candidates and their proposed approaches to pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• children from a school of their choice to a school not of their choice due to logistical and transportation
• children from a school of their choice to a school not of their choice due to logistical and transportation
• the Department of Education, and the great state of Louisiana to provide quality education for our children
• operates within the Department of Health.
• And we are asking that you appropriate $200,000 to the Department of Health for operation of the Domestic

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I rise today in response to the recent interim rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Speaker, I rise today in response to the recent interim rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs
• Speaker, I rise today in response to the recent interim rule from the Department of Veterans Affairs
• The Department of War just released the following statement regarding the bill: "As currently drafted
• The Department of War is requesting these changes be made before the Rotor Act is signed into law.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Alabama at Birmingham.
• </c> of Alabama at Birmingham. of Alabama at Birmingham.
• The Alabama Department of Public Health and its agencies shall provide all tests to a licensed midwife
• The Alabama Department of Public Health and its agencies shall provide all tests to a licensed midwife
• The Alabama Department of Public Health and its agencies shall provide all tests to a licensed midwife

Transcript Highlights:

• The department of insurance as opposed to the department of revenue, and then the department of insurance
• Section 12, the Department of Insurance shall enforce this act.
• This is a self-funded plan and the Alabama Department of Insurance does not regulate self-insured plans
• I mean, this is all self-funded and our Alabama Department Self-funded and our Alabama Department of
• Um, I believe we have plenty of oversight in here from the Department of Insurance on what they do.

Bills: HB445 , HB477 , SB274 , HB441

Committee: House Health

Keywords: hemp-derived cannabinoids, CBD, THC, delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, consumable hemp products, psychoactive cannabinoids, cannabinoid regulation, hemp licensing, ABC Board, Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, retail hemp sales, wholesale hemp distribution, hemp tax, excise tax, age verification, underage sales, product testing, certificate of analysis

Transcript Highlights:

• of insurance as opposed to... the department of insurance as opposed to the department of revenue, and
• Section 12, the Department of Insurance shall enforce this act.
• This is a self-funded plan and the Alabama Department of Insurance does not regulate self-insured plans
• Self-funded and our Alabama Department of Insurance does not regulate self-funded insurance plans.
• Um, I believe we have plenty of oversight in here from the Department of Insurance on what they do.

Bills: HB441

Committee: House Health

Transcript Highlights:

• Alabama and... ...coming over the state of Alabama and you've now got a website that these individuals
• I'm the director of Health Freedom Alabama.
• It is not just an issue that Alabama and Tennessee consider, but large amounts of our country are also
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of Energy have also acknowledged
• HB248 bans the intentional release of weather modifying chemicals for Alabama.

Bills: HB248 , HB311

Committees: House Tourism , House Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: weather modification, atmospheric pollution, chemical dispersion, environmental law, public health, improvement districts, assessment collection, property taxes, local governance, foreclosure procedures