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Alabama House Rules Chair: Legislators to look at gambling, vouchers, workforce

Guest Author December 1, 2023

Ralph Chapoco, Alabama Reflector The chair of the powerful Alabama House Rules Committee Wednesday said legislators would look at gambling, charter and voucher programs and the labor shortage in the legislative session scheduled to begin in February. Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, the chair of the House Rules Committee, told county commissioners and directors at the Association of County Commissions of Alabama conference in Auburn Wednesday that the state lacked a uniform approach to gambling. “Anybody had any conversations or thoughts on gambling — we all do,” he said. “Each of your counties have different aspects. Every county in the state has different thoughts of what is legal and

Republican Executive Committee will decide presidential delegates, not GOP voters

Brandon Moseley August 10, 2023

The Republican National Convention will be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, next year to select the Republican nominee for President. On Saturday, the Alabama Republican Party State Executive Committee passed its Presidential Preference Primary Resolution – which details how Alabama’s presidential delegates will be allocated for the 2024 Republican Presidential Primary. Much of that remains the same. The major change is that Alabama’s Republican primary voters will still pick the candidates for President of the United States but will not get to pick the delegates pledged to that candidate. In past presidential elections, there were dozens of names on the ballot for voters to select from pledged to each presidential primary candidate. The winning

Wes Allen addresses the Republican Women of Trussville

Brandon Moseley August 4, 2023

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen spoke on Thursday to the Republican Women of Trussville (RWOT) at the Trussville Civic Center. Allen said that he was sworn in as Alabama’s Secretary of State in January and that both of his two children are now in college. “It has been a big year,” Allen said. “We have got both kids out of the house. It is an adjustment when the kids move out.” “I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa County at the end of a dirt road,” Allen said. From 2018 to 2022, Allen represented Pike County in the Alabama House of Representatives. The group applauded him for sponsoring legislation forbidding doctors from performing gender-altering procedures and treatments

Legislature passes legislation making it a crime to chemically endanger a first responder

Brandon Moseley June 7, 2023

On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate sent legislation to Gov. Kay Ivey to make it a felony if someone chemically endangers a first responder. Sponsors say that this has become necessary due to the fentanyl crisis. Fentanyl is very potent and can be absorbed through the skin. A police officer or paramedic who comes into contact with even tiny quantities of fentanyl while interacting with a person can become extremely sick. The legislation passed the Senate on Tuesday. It had already passed the House of Representatives. House Bill 230 (HB230) is sponsored by State Representative Matt Simpson (R-Daphne). It was carried in the Senate by State Senator April Weaver (R-Briarfield). “This bill creates the crime of

Alabama House to consider ambitious special-order calendar on Wednesday

Brandon Moseley May 31, 2023

The Alabama House of Representatives will meet on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. to consider a very ambitious proposed special-order calendar. Senate Bill 206 (SB206) is sponsored by State Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville). It is being carried on the floor by State Representative Allen Treadaway (R-Morris). SB206 creates the crime of organized retail theft and turns what used to be misdemeanor shoplifting into a felony. Senate Bill 261 (SB261) is sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook). It is carried in the House by Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island). The anti-ESG legislation would prohibit state and local governments from entering into certain contracts that boycott businesses in certain sectors or based on certain environmental or corporate governance criteria. Senate

Alabama House votes to align Alabama gun law with federal law

Brandon Moseley May 18, 2023

On Wednesday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass controversial legislation that would largely align Alabama’s criminal possession of a firearm with its federal law equivalent. House Bill 392 (HB392) is sponsored by Cynthia Almond. “This adopts the federal law on gun possession as it is currently,” Rep. Almond explained. Rep. Mary Moore asked, “I don’t understand why we need this bill. Why do you think we need to be redundant passing this law?” Almond explained, “Federal law says that if you have ever been convicted of a felony, you can’t carry a gun. Alabama law says that if you have ever been convicted of a crime of violence, you

House committee advances legislation to allow some habitual offenders relief from life sentences

Brandon Moseley May 11, 2023

In the past, Alabama has had a strict habitual offender law where people convicted of three felonies received life without parole. Sentencing reform in the decades past has largely done away with that 1980s sentencing standard. On Wednesday, the Alabama House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation that would allow some offenders serving life sentences under that old statute to be given a possible pathway for release. House Bill 229 (HB229) is sponsored by State Representative Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa). HB29 had been carried over in committee due to concerns that some members of the Judiciary Committee had about the legislation. “It has been on the agenda for weeks in order to do work

Alabama House passes bill to make it a crime to chemically endanger a first responder

Brandon Moseley May 3, 2023

Fentanyl has been a deadly scourge in the state killing thousands of drug users. It has also become dangerous for first responders who have to deal with drug dealers and drug users who are suffering from drug overdoses. House Bill 230 (HB230) is sponsored by State Representative Matt Simpson (R-Daphne). “This bill would create the offense of a criminal endangerment of a first responder,” Rep. Simpson explained, “With escalating penalties depending on the degree of the injuries to the first responder.” “If he knowingly, negligently, or intentionally injures a first responder with a scheduled one controlled substance,” Simpson said. “If it is just physical injury, it is a Class C felony.

House passed legislation banning employers from requiring that employers be microchipped

Brandon Moseley May 2, 2023

On Thursday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation that would prohibit employers from requiring that their employees have microchips inserted in their bodies. House Bill 4 (HB4) is sponsored by State Representative Prince Chestnut. Chestnut said that this bill’s purpose is “preventing the microchipping of employees by employers.” State Rep. Kenneth Paschal said, “I love your original bill as written, but I have a problem with an amendment in the committee substitute.” Chestnut said, “My plan is to table the committee substitute and pass the original bill.” “What are we doing?” Rep. Laura Hall (D-Huntsville) asked. “What is the intent?” “I read a lot, and one of the things that concerned me is a

House passes bill to extend domestic violence protections to grandparents, grandchildren, and step grandparents

Brandon Moseley May 1, 2023

On February 22, 21-year-old Jared Smith-Bracy was charged with murdering his grandparents, 80-year-old Leonard Smith and 72-year-old Barbara Smith; his brother, 27-year-old Jeremy Smith; and 71-year-old family friend Shelia Glover in Daphne. Tragically, Smith-Bracy had been arrested earlier after an altercation at the home. He was released. On Thursday, State Representative Matt Simpson explained to the Alabama House of Representatives that if similar events had occurred with parents or a girlfriend, Smith-Bracy would likely have been charged with domestic violence rather than assault and would have been held overnight for a cooling-off period – rather than immediately getting out and returning to the home for his murderous rampage. House Bill 76 (HB76) was

Steve Flowers: Alabama has a host of outstanding political leaders under 45

Steve Flowers April 26, 2023

It may appear to you and most casual observers of Alabama politics that our Alabama elected officials are old. That observation is accurate when you observe our current leaders in the highest offices. The governor’s office has been held by mature folks in recent years. Our current Governor, Kay Ivey, is 78 and has been the object of national media humor for appearing to be a pistol-toting great-grandmother. Dr. Robert Bentley, her predecessor, was in his 70’s, but he may have been sprier than he appeared. Bob Riley was no spring chicken while governor at age 65, although he looked younger. Our iconic senator, Richard Shelby, retired in

835 Alabamians killed by fentanyl in 2022

Brandon Moseley April 10, 2023

The surge of fentanyl in the state has resulted in increased deaths from the deadly drug. Alabama State Public Health Officer Scott Harris reports that fentanyl deaths have gone from 121 in 2018 to 835 in 2022. “Fentanyl abuse is a crisis nationwide, and the state of Alabama is no exception,” Harris reported in his recent column. “Alabama has experienced an alarming increase in the number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in recent years—from 121 in 2018 to 193 in 2019, and to 428 in 2020. Preliminary numbers show 830 Alabama resident deaths in 2021 and 835 deaths in 2022 related to this powerful drug.” Fentanyl deaths were up in 2022

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