Wes Allen addresses the Republican Women of Trussville
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 on children. “I introduced the House legislation, but the man in the back of the room, (State Senator) Shay Shelnutt, was the man in the Senate,” Allen said. “It took us three years to get it passed.” Shelnutt said, “It should not have taken that long.” “Those procedures, no matter what they tell you, is not reversible,” Allen continued. “It is tied up in federal court,” Allen said. “We will see how that progresses.” RWOT President Terri LaPoint praised the group for their door-knocking to help elect Mike Bolin to the Jefferson County Commission in a recent special election, thus maintaining a 3 to 2 Republican control of the Commission. “Mile Bolin’s win – that was a huge race,” Allen said. “Door knocking makes a big difference. “The best thing we can do is elect conservative people at the local level,” Allen said. “Mike Bolin – it is important to elect conservatives at the county commission level, at the city council level, at the school board level. We have seen how important it is to have conservatives on the library board. Prior to his service in the legislature, Allen was the Probate Judge of Pike County. Allen said his experience as a probate judge helped prepare him to be Secretary of State. “They are our customers,” Allen said of persons coming to their office. “We may not have the government service they want, but they are looking for help. It is our duty as public officials to help them with their problem.” Sometimes the people who came to the Pike County Probate Judge’s office were not in the right office. “Whether or not we could help their problem, we wanted to get them to the right place,” Allen explained. “I take that philosophy with me to the Secretary of State’s office.” “The Secretary of State’s office has 40 employees,” Allen explained. “35 are merit-based. They are here from administration to administration. We have some that are political appointees – the executive staff: Chief of staff, legal counsel, deputy legal counsel, director of legislative affairs, that sort of things.” “We have had a lot of speaking requests,” Allen said. His focus has been on doing the job and “getting things done” in his first six months on the job. “We are now moving around a little more. It is a pleasure to be here.” Allen said that his office recently became aware of a scam using the name of the Alabama Secretary of State’s office. “We are working closely with the Securities Exchange Commission to make sure they don’t get any kind of money, no matter how small,” Allen said. Allen said that he does not court attention and just does his job. “I shouldn’t be running over people to get in front of a camera,” Allen said. Allen said it is important for him to get out into communities and explained that he schedules two or three meetings in towns that he visits to get the pulse of that community. “We want to make sure that we are not so connected in Montgomery that we forget what is happening in Trussville or what is happening in Moulton,” Allen said. “We are fighting fraud in the election side as well,” Allen said. “As a former probate judge, I know what it is like to be at the courthouse at 5:30 on election day, and I know what it is to be the last person to walk out of the courthouse and lock the doors.” “There will be a lot of eyeballs on these secretary of states offices next year,” Allen said. “We are already making preparation for 2024.” “We had illegal immigrants who were stealing IDs in North Alabama,” Allen said. “They were even voting in local elections.” “We removed a board of registrar for registering people who did not live at the location where she registered them,” Allen said. “We removed her. We are not a prosecuting agency, so we turned it over to the local DA in Houston County.” “It all starts in the Board of Registrars offices,” Allen said. “They do a wonderful job, but we had this one person we needed to remove.” “The more I learned about ERIC and studied it, it was really a data mining operation,” Allen said of his controversial decision to withdraw from the ERIC system for managing the voter rolls. “It has been like eight states that have followed our lead,” Allen said. “I cannot talk about the Alabama whole plan that we are putting out yet, but I think you will be proud of what we come up with.” Allen said that in his legislative agenda, “We wanted to solidify our election process.” “It doesn’t take Alabama weeks to count ballots like you have seen across the country,” Allen said. “With the help of Shay Shelnutt, we are always going to have a paper ballot to vote on even after I am gone. Matt Simpson carried it in the house.” “You will always vote on paper ballots in Alabama,” Allen said. “A great piece of legislation. It is common sense.” Allen said that Sen. Clyde Chamblis and Simpson carried his legislation “to make sure that our tabulators cannot be connected to the internet.” The legislature also passed his legislation for a poll worker pay increase. That bill was carried by Rep. James Lomax and Sen. Sam Givhan. “We have partnered with the Alabama State Bar so that
Alabama Legislature passes retail theft bill
The Alabama House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to pass legislation creating the crime of organized retail theft. The new bill will levy heavy criminal penalties on people engaged in organized retail theft. The Senate concurred with the House changes to the bill. Senate Bill 206 (SB206) is sponsored by State Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville). SB206 is being carried in the House of State by Representative Allen Treadaway (R-Morris). Treadaway explained that cracking down on organized retail theft is necessary to protect the retail industry. “We are trying to keep these stores in the community,” Treadaway said in the House floor debate. “This is a $100 billion problem in America.” Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham) was concerned that people might accidentally be charged with this crime. “When the store is having a sale and goes through and marks through the price with a pen, a shopper could be accused of having marked through the price themselves,” Moore argued. “You have to show intent,” Treadaway said. “That applies right now.” “This bill is trying to put the whole neighborhood in jail,” Moore said. “In my community, if we just walk through the store, people think we are trying to steal something.” “I don’t want us passing bills that may cause harm to innocent people accused of stealing something,” Moore said. Treadaway is a retired deputy chief of police for the City of Birmingham. “Mainly, what we are seeing is the organized crime that has infiltrated this kind of activity,” Treadaway said. Treadaway said this legislation “allows the law to reach out and hold the folks accountable when they are working together in this kind of activity.” Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) said, “In the urban area, we are losing a lot of businesses. We are seeing where those storefronts are now abandoned.” “How do we identify the theft? How are we identifying the thief?” Givan asked. Treadaway explained, “The organized retail theft you are getting into now involves people working together.” Treadaway explained that organized crime then sells the stolen merchandise online or in a brick and mortar businesses that they operate. “It is happening everywhere,” Treadaway said. “We have seen a tenfold increase.” Rep. Prince Chestnut (D-Selma)asked, “Is legislation alone going to make the difference?” Treadway answered, “No, but it is a part of it.” Chestnut offered an amendment to the bill. “This is a (Judiciary) committee amendment,” Chestnut said. The House voted to adopt the first amendment in a 102 to 0 vote. Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika) brought a second amendment that was adopted by the House. This legislation is supported by the Alabama Retail Association. The Retail Theft Crime Prevention Act provides for the crime of retail theft in various degrees, provides for the crime of organized retail theft, and provides criminal penalties for a violation. Retail theft in the first degree would be a Class B felony. Retail theft in the second degree is a Class C felony. Retail theft in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor. A fourth or subsequent conviction for an offense under this article is a Class C felony. Organized retail theft is a Class B felony. The House of Representatives voted 76 to 27 to pass the legislation. It had already passed the Senate. Late on Wednesday afternoon, the Alabama Senate voted 34 to 0 to concur with the House changes to the legislation. SB206 now goes to the governor for her consideration. Thursday will be day 29 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama House to consider ambitious special-order calendar on Wednesday
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 Bill 279 (SB279) is sponsored by Sen. Randy Price (R-Opelika) and carried in the House by Rep. Matt Woods (R-Jasper). SB279 deals with elected county superintendents of education. Under existing law, the salary for an elected county superintendent of education is required to be set by the county board of education before the beginning of the term of office. This bill would remove that requirement retroactive to July 1, 2021. Senate Bill 94 (SB94) is sponsored by Sen. April Weaver (R-Briarfield) and is carried in the House by Rep. Corley Ellis (R-Columbiana). SB94 would move the Shelby County juvenile probation services and probation officers into the state court system. Senate Bill 99 (SB99) is sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) and carried in the House by Rep. Prince Chestnut (D-Selma). SB99 would increase the mileage reimbursement rate received by jurors Senate Bill 56 (SB56) is sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and carried in the House by Rep. Allen Baker (R-Brewton). SB56 would require the use of video cameras in certain special education classrooms. Allen is bringing a substitute version of the bill. Senate Bill 292 (SB292) is sponsored by Sen. Roberts and carried by Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn). SB292 would provide for the Department of Revenue to grant certificates of exemption from sales and use taxes to contractors and subcontractors licensed by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors for the purchase of building materials and construction materials to be used in the construction of a project for an entity that is exempt by law from paying sales and use taxes. Senate Bill 223 (SB223) is sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) and carried in the House by Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) would include a child witness in the definition of “a physical offense, sexual offense, or violent offense” for the purpose of the Child Physical and Sexual Abuse Victim Protection Act. Senate Bill 309 (SB309) is sponsored by Sen. Chambliss and carried by Rep. Wood in the House. SB309 is related to contracts for professional services to provide for the procurement of certain professional service contracts based on competitive, qualification-based policies and procedures, as well as to provide for the advertisement of such contracts; and to subject such contracts to a fee schedule established by the Division of Construction Management of the Department of Finance. Senate Bill 198 (SB198) is sponsored by Sen. Orr and carried in the House by Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa). It would add additional offenses that would be subject to the presumptive sentencing guidelines; to modify the criminal penalties for criminal solicitation, attempt, and criminal conspiracy; to give a judge discretion when sentencing a person convicted of a Class C or Class D felony offense. Senate Bill 184 (SB184) is sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) and carried in the House by Rep. Kyle South (R-Fayette). SB184 would authorize the Department of Corrections to expend funds for the recruitment and training of law enforcement officers and to further the mission of the department. South will introduce a substitute version of the bill. Senate Bill 224 (SB224) is sponsored by Sen. Figures and carried in the House by Rep. Simpson. It provides for the age of a child for the crime of transmitting obscene material to a child by computer, to establish jurisdiction for a violation of distributing a private image, and further provides for the crime of incest. Senate Bill 281 (SB281) is sponsored by Sen. Albritton and carried by Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile). SB281 creates a new distinctive license plate to benefit the USS Alabama Battleship Commission. Senate Bill 285 (SB285) is sponsored by Sen. Jones and carried in the House by Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur).SB285 will allow nonprofit organizations to host wine festivals. Senate Bill 176 (SB176) is sponsored by Sen Orr and carried by Rep. Collins. SB176 is the Student Right to Know Act of 2023. It requires the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to collect and make available online data for students to plan for their educational and professional futures; and for the Workforce Division of the Department of Commerce to share data and information with ACHE. Senate Bill 192 (SB192) is sponsored by Sen. Albritton and is carried in the House by Rep. Donna Givens (R-Loxley). SB192 would allow private corporations to limit access to industrial facilities and that industrial access roads to continue to be maintained as a public corporation. Senate Bill 263 (SB263) is sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Dothan) and carried in the House by Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur). SB263 makes changes to the Alabama Accountability Act of 2013. It revises the law to change the term failing school to priority school and nonfailing to qualifying school to make other changes. Senate Bill 258 (SB258) is sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre). It deals with nonprofit corporations that provide water services to the public authorizing a one-time audit by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts. There is a substitute version of this bill. Senate Bill 103 (SB103) is sponsored by Sen. Orr: and carried by Rep. Almond. It would require the Alabama Ethics Commission to provide exonerating evidence to persons accused of ethics wrongdoing. Almond will introduce a substitute. Senate Bill 76 (SB76) is sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road). It is carried in the House by Rep. Lovvorn. SB76 establishes the Rural Logging Support Act, funding supporting rural economic Development. Wednesday will be Day 28 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
House to address organized retail theft Wednesday
The Alabama House of Representatives will meet on Wednesday. The first item on the special-order calendar is legislation levying heavy criminal penalties on persons engaged in organized retail theft. Senate Bill 206 (SB206) is sponsored by State Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville). SB206 is being carried in the House of State by Representative Allen Treadaway (R-Morris). Rep. Treadaway is the sponsor of the House of Representatives version of the bill. Treadway warned in committee that without stiffer penalties on organized retail theft, more stores, including Wal-Mart and Target, will close. Treadaway said that organized teams of thieves are systematically preying on the state’s retailers. This legislation is supported by the Alabama Retail Association. The Alabama Retail Association released a statement saying, “Bills introduced this week will help put retail thieves behind bars while also punishing them financially. The Alabama Retail Association appreciates the Alabama District Attorneys Association for pursuing the legislation and the bill’s sponsors for introducing them. The retail theft/organized retail theft legislation makes it so retailers can sign out warrants for arrests without leaving their stores, gives convicted thieves and their organizers real jail time plus monetary consequences, and provides for training for prosecutors and law enforcement agencies. View video of retail crime expert talking about the need for the legislation.” The Retail Theft Crime Prevention Act provides for the crime of retail theft in various degrees, provides for the crime of organized retail theft, and provides criminal penalties for a violation. The bill defines organized retail theft as: “Obtaining or exerting unauthorized control over retail merchandise from a retail merchant, retail establishment, or premises of a retail establishment with the intent to deprive the owner or retail merchant of his or her property or reselling, distributing, or otherwise reentering the retail merchandise in commerce, including the transfer of the stolen retail merchandise to another retail merchant or to any other person, whether in person, through the mail, or through any electronic medium, including the Internet, in exchange for anything of value.” Retail theft that exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in retail value constitutes retail theft in the first degree. Retail theft of one or more items of retail merchandise during a 180-day period, the aggregate value of which is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more constitutes retail theft in the first degree. Theft of a firearm, rifle, or shotgun, regardless of its value, from a retail merchant constitutes retail theft in the first degree. Retail theft in the first degree is a Class B felony. Retail theft that exceeds five hundred dollars ($500) in retail value, but does not exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) in retail value, constitutes retail theft in the second degree. Retail theft in the second degree is a Class C felony. Retail theft that does not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) in retail value constitutes retail theft in the third degree. Retail theft in the third degree is a Class A misdemeanor. A fourth or subsequent conviction for an offense under this article is a Class C felony. A person commits the crime of organized retail theft when the person, in association with one or more other persons, knowingly does any of the following (1) Organizes, supervises, finances, participates, directs, solicits, or otherwise manages or assists another person in committing organized retail theft. (2) Removes, destroys, deactivates, or knowingly evades any component of an antishoplifting or inventory control device to prevent the activation of that device or to facilitate another person in committing organized retail theft. (3) Attempts, solicits, or conspires with another person to commit organized retail theft. (4) Receives, purchases, or possesses retail merchandise for sale or resale knowing or believing the retail merchandise to be stolen is from a retail merchant. (5) Uses any fraud, artifice, instrument, container, device, or other article to facilitate the commission of organized retail theft. (6) Remains unlawfully inside a retail establishment after business hours, with the intent to commit a retail theft therein. (7) Uses a wireless telecommunication device or other digital or electronic device to facilitate the theft of retail merchandise. (8) Uses a rental or stolen motor vehicle or vehicle of another in the course of committing retail theft for the purposes of the concealment of his or her identity. (9) Receives, retains, or disposes of retail merchandise knowing that it has been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe it has been stolen. Additionally, it shall be prima facie evidence that a person who violates this section acts knowingly when any of the following apply: (1) On two or more separate occasions within a year prior to the commission of the instant offense of organized retail theft, the person is found in possession or control of stolen retail merchandise. (2) The person possesses retail merchandise which has been recently stolen. (3) The person regularly buys, sells, uses, or handles in the course of business retail merchandise of the sort received, and acquired the retail merchandise without making reasonable inquiry whether the individual selling or delivering the retail merchandise to him or her had a legal right to do so. (c) The fact that the person or persons who acted in association with the person charged under this article have not been charged, convicted, apprehended, or identified is not a defense to a charge of organized retail theft. (d) Organized retail theft is a Class B felony. Any proceeds, property obtained by proceeds, or instruments of the crimes of organized retail theft or retail theft may be subject to forfeiture pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 20-2-93. When a person is convicted of organized retail theft or retail theft, upon request of the district attorney, the court shall order the defendant to make restitution as follows: (1) To the retail merchant victim, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 15-18-67. (2) To the primary investigative law enforcement and prosecutorial entities for any legitimate cost incurred in the course of the investigation or prosecution, pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 20-2-190(j), or an amount agreed upon by
State Senate approves allowing state police to retire at age 52 or after 25 years of service
On Thursday, the Alabama Senate passed legislation allowing Tier II state police officers to retire at age 52 with at least ten years of service or at any age with just 25 years of service. Senate Bill 68 (SB68) is sponsored by State Sen. Clyde Chambliss. According to the synopsis, SB68 “would reopen the State Police Tier II Plan to any employee of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) who is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission and performs law enforcement duties and would modify the Tier II benefits received by State Police Tier II members to allow 25-year retirement and hazardous duty time, and would clarify that an employee of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency who is certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission is a state policeman.” According to the fiscal note, SB68 would “allow Tier II state policemen to (1) withdraw from service at the age of 52, with at least ten years of creditable service; (2) withdraw from service after completion of at least 25 years of creditable service, regardless of age; and (3) provide one-year of hazardous duty time for every five years of creditable service.” “According to the actuary for the Retirement Systems of Alabama, this act would increase the unfunded liability of Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) by an estimated $13.3 million,” the fiscal note reports. “This liability may be offset by increasing the ERS employer contribution rate paid by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) in FY 2024 for State Police Tier II by 6.26% and by decreasing the ERS employer contribution rate for State Police Tier I by 0.43%. The net estimated increase in employer contributions for State Police in FY 2024 is an estimated $2.8 million annually (based upon current payroll data). However, this increase in the employer contributions paid by ALEA would be offset partly by the decrease in ALEA’s employer contributions to the ERS plan for the legacy FLC employees of approximately $537,000.” The fiscal note was written by analyst Peter Grogan. Tier II retirement was created as a budgetary reform during the budget crisis eight years ago. Those legislators were facing a scenario where the state was paying the healthcare and retirement needs of retirees – some as young as in their forties – and their elderly predecessors. Under the budget reforms then, Tier II employees (i.e., newer employees) could not collect retirement until they were 62 years old. At the time, law enforcement officers and firefighters claimed this would be a burden. Now that the state is in economic boom times, the problem is in recruiting and retaining workers, such as ALEA officers, rather than the budget crisis that dominated the legislature in the years following the Great Recession. Senate Bill 68 passed the Alabama Senate 31 to 0. The bill now goes to the Alabama House of Representatives, where it has been referred to the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. Tuesday will be day 8 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
State Senate Committee advances election integrity bills
On Wednesday, the Alabama Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee advanced two bills designed to protect the integrity of Alabama elections. Both bills are sponsored by State Sen. Clyde Chambliss. Senate Bill 9 (SB9) would require that the state’s electronic voting counting system must require the use of a paper ballot that is marked and inspected by the voter prior to being cast and counted. The second bill, SB 10, prohibits the use of electronic vote counting systems that are capable of connecting to the Internet or cell phone networks or that possess modem technology. The State Government Affairs Committee is chaired by State Sen. Tom Butler. “We had both of these two bills last session,” Butler said. “They simply put into law things that we already do,” Chambliss said. “Paper ballots for voting. We do that, but it is not currently in the law.” State Sen. Dan Roberts motioned to give SB9 a favorable report. The Committee voted unanimously to give SB9 a favorable report. “This deals with internet modems on voting machines,” Chambliss said of SB10. “Obviously, if they have those connections, people can hack into the system and possibly influence the vote count.” “This puts our current practice into law,” Chambliss said. “Do we have problems with electronic voting in Alabama?” asked Sen. Merika Coleman. “I don’t know,” answered Chambliss. “This is trying to be proactive.” “We want to make it illegal for anybody to connect the electronic vote counting machines to the internet,” Chambliss explained. “If we had problems with voting, it is with the absentee ballot process,” Coleman said. “I was on the Electronic Voting Machines Task Force, and I started asking questions,” Chambliss said. “It is not policy to have modems on the counting machines. Policy is not strong enough for me. I want to put this into law. This is a bill that is looking forward. I don’t want to be reactionary.” “We have electronic vote counting machines. We do not have electronic voting,” Chambliss explained. “You have a point,” said Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison. “This is a trust issue. I have some trust issues myself. This is a good bill.” Sen. Robert Stewart asked if this legislation would prevent the state from adopting new technology. “It does not prevent changing to new technology, but it would prohibit a modem being in that machine,” Chambliss said. SB10 was given a favorable report on an 11 to 0 vote. Both bills are supported by Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who was present to show his support and answer any questions the committee members might have. The legislation can be considered by the full Senate as soon as Tuesday, April 4, when the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session resumes. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Senate passes legislation to pay off debt to Alabama Trust Fund
On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed legislation that would authorize a supplemental appropriation to pay off the remaining balance the state owes to the Alabama Trust Fund, which was raided almost a decade ago by the Legislature to make up for what was then a significant shortfall in the State General Fund (SGF). Senate Bill 1 (SB1) is sponsored by State Senator Greg Albritton. Albritton is the Chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. “This is not even one page,” Albritton said. “This is one paragraph, as we are paying off the Alabama Trust fund.” Sen. Clyde Chambliss said, “I grew up in Prattville. My father taught me that you take care of your debts. You pay off your debts and try not to accumulate debts. Sometimes though, you need a helping hand, and we had that situation during the Great Recession.” “This is part of the historical process to pay off that debt,” Albritton said. “Fortunately, we owe it to ourselves. Thanks to the people that went before us and set up the trust fund. Then we were $250 million in the hole and trying to find money.” “I didn’t want us to gloss over and pass this without pointing out what we have achieved,” Chambliss said. “Frankly, there were ways we could have gotten around this and not pay this.” Albritton said, “It was thought about.” Sen. Rodger Smitherman said, “I am with you 100% for what you are trying to do with this bill.” “We got all this money in the general fund,” said Smitherman. “We got plenty of money. It is about time for us to come up with 10 or 12 million to fund all of our needs for judges. We have got a real-life need for the state of Alabama.” Smitherman said that the judges would pay for themselves by completing the backlog of cases and generating court costs and fines. “We are going to make four times that off the court system if we have the judges in place to hear those cases,” Smitherman said. “I am with you 100% on paying the money back.” “I look forward to all of us seriously addressing that to try to solve the needs problem that exists in all of our circuits,” Smitherman said. “I look forward to voting with you on this bill.” The funds to pay off the debts will be paid with a supplemental appropriation from surplus funds from the 2022 fiscal year that ended on September 30. SB1 passes the Senate by a vote of 33 to 0. The Alabama House passed similar legislation earlier in the day. House Bill 2 (HB2) is sponsored by State Representative Rex Reynolds, who chairs the powerful House Ways and Means General Fund Committee. The bill appropriates $59,997,772 to pay off the remaining debt owed to the Alabama Trust Fund. “This is a good bill. This body knew that this was the time to pay those bills,” Reynolds said. The House passed HB2 104 to 0. Ninety-four members cosponsored the bill. HB2 passed the House 103 to 0. The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. to consider an appropriations bill, HB1, to appropriate $1,060,000,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds. The full State Senate will meet at 1:00 p.m. The Legislature is currently in a special session called by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey to deal with appropriating the ARPA funds. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
The 2023 Alabama Legislative Session has begun
Tuesday, the Alabama State Legislature returned to Montgomery for the start of the 2024 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. The Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate gaveled in at noon for the first legislative day and then joined the governor that night for a joint session where she presented her state of the state address. Senate Pro Tem. Greg Reed told members of the Senate, “I appreciate you being willing to serve the people of Alabama.” “The sacrifices made by the family of those who serve is not insignificant,” Reed added, thanking the families of the 35 Senators for their sacrifices. The Senate opened the journal to introduce bills, selected a committee to inform the governor that the Senate was now in session, and passed a resolution in honor of March being Women’s History Month. The resolution “celebrates the contribution that Alabama women have made to American history.” The resolution honors a number of Alabama women, including Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, and Condoleezza Rice, for their contributions to the state as well as the governor. “Current governor Kay Ivey is the longest serving woman governor in history and the second after Lurleen Wallace.” State Sen. Rodger Smitherman said, “This resolution inspired me. That resolution is a cosmic picture of the state of Alabama. It does not matter whether you are Black or White. It was a cosmic picture of all the people of Alabama.” “That’s our state,” Smitherman said. “All of us, we represent the state. Look around this room. This is what our state looks like. I am looking forward to voting for this resolution with a smile on my face.” Senate Joint Resolution 4 passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 5 honoring former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby for his decades of service to the state passed. State Sen. Gerald Allen sponsored this. A second resolution supporting the oil and gas exploration by Allen was held over and referred to the Rules Committee after State Sen. Bobby Singleton asked for more time to study it. Reed announced that the Senate needed to address statutory requirements at the start of the session. The Senate held a Legislative Council election and selected Sens. Clyde Chambliss, Steve Livingston, and Vivian Figures to represent the Senate on the Council. For the Committee on Public Accounts, the Senate elected Sens. Arthur Orr, Clay Scofield, and Jabo Waggoner. On the Sunset Committee, Sens. Garlan Gudger, Keith Kelley, and Figures were elected. Sens. Orr, Scofield, Waggoner, Figures, and Singleton were elected to the Senate Ethics and Conduct Committee. Ivey called a special session beginning on Wednesday for the Legislature to focus on appropriating over one billion dollars in American Rescue Plan Act funds that the federal government sent to the state of Alabama. “This evening, I am calling a Special Session of the Alabama Legislature to begin tomorrow so that we can urgently address these endeavors,” Ivey said. “We are, once again, tasked with allocating our taxpayers’ dollars that are part of the second round of the American Rescue Plan Act from Congress.” “This is not free money,” Ivey warned legislators. “And we must invest these one-time funds wisely. Last year, thanks to you, members of the Alabama Legislature, we put these dollars to work, meeting some of Alabama’s biggest challenges. I commit to the people of Alabama we will once again take a smart approach and put it towards major and needed endeavors like expanding broadband access, improving our water and sewer infrastructure, and investing in our health care – including telemedicine.” Tuesday was the first day of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session, but since Ivey has called a special session, the second legislative day of the regular session will not begin until Tuesday, March 21. The Alabama Constitution of 1901 limits the Legislature to just thirty legislative days in a regular session. Members worked on Tuesday, introducing their bills for the regular session. At the close of the day on Monday, 98 bills had been pre-filed ahead of the session. By the end of the day on Tuesday, that had grown to 174 bills. Reed explained to reporters that it takes a minimum of five legislative days for a bill to pass both Houses of the Legislature, so it will take the rest of this legislative week and next week for the ARPA appropriations bill to pass and go to Gov. Ivey for her signature. Once that is done, the special session can end, and the Legislature will be poised to remove the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Clyde Chambliss pre-files bills aimed at improving Alabama’s election integrity
State Senator Clyde Chambliss has pre-filed two bills ahead of the 2023 Alabama regular session, which he claims will improve the integrity of future Alabama elections. The Alabama legislature will return for the regular session on March 7. Both pieces of legislation seek to place existing administrative rules into statute, meaning that the election regulations could not be changed without legislative approval. There would be no discernible changes in how Alabama voters of poll workers. Instead, these two bills would simply codify the rules that are already in place. Senate Bill 9 (SB9) would require that the state’s electronic voting counting system must require the use of a paper ballot that is marked and inspected by the voter prior to being cast and counted. “All Alabama elections currently use paper ballots,” Chambliss explained. “This bill would codify the current process to ensure that Alabama’s voters will always use paper ballots and that they will always mark those ballots in order to cast a vote in any election held in this state. This bill protects the process that we have in place now.” The second bill, SB 10, prohibits the use of electronic vote counting systems that are capable of connecting to the Internet or cell phone networks or that possess modem technology. “It is essential that voters have faith in the integrity of our elections process,” Chambliss said. “This bill would ensure that no voter ever has to be concerned about the internet connectivity of voting machines. By banning any form of connective technology in our vote counting machines, we are ensuring that our elections remain free of any technological interference.” Chambliss noted that the state of Alabama is widely recognized as having the most secure elections in the country. He said that he is committed to keeping elections as safe and secure as possible. “Every voter in every election in this state – municipal, county or state – should leave the polling place with the assurance that every vote is counted fairly and securely. These bills do just that,” he said. The disputed results of the 2020 Presidential election and controversial election year changes in election processes in swing states like Georgia, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Wisconsin have led many conservatives to question election integrity across the country. Alabama already has some of the tightest voter laws in the nation. Every voter is required to present a valid photo ID at the polls. There is no early voting, no electronic voting, no curbside voting, no internet voting, no same-day registration, and every voter must vote only at the polling place to which they are assigned. Alabama allows absentee voting, but only with a valid excuse, and absentee ballots must be witnessed. Chambliss serves as the Alabama Senate’s Majority Whip. He is currently serving his third term in the State Senate representing District 30, which covers Autauga, Elmore, Chilton, Coosa, and Tallapoosa counties. Republicans hold a 27 to 8 supermajority in the Alabama Senate. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Legislature organizes for Quadrennium
The legislature had their every four-year organizational session earlier this month. It is exactly what the title states. They are organizing for the next quadrennium of lawmaking. They officially chose their leadership and adopted the rules for the two chambers. The 105-member House of Representatives and 35-member State Senate are elected for four-year terms, the same as the governor and other constitutional offices. However, unlike the governor, who was sworn in on Monday, January 16, as set out in the state constitution, the legislature takes office the day after they are elected in November. The state House of Representatives will have 77 Republicans and 28 Democrats. That is a veto-proof, bulldozer-shoving, anything-you-want supermajority. The Democrats have very little say with those overwhelming numbers. Two days after they were elected in November, the 77-member Republican majority met in a private caucus meeting in Montgomery and selected their leadership. Therefore, the vote for Speaker of the House two weeks ago was simply a formality. The House has chosen Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter to be the Speaker of the House. Speaker Ledbetter hails from Rainsville in DeKalb County. He is a former Mayor of Rainsville. He has only been in the House of Representatives for eight years, having been first elected in 2014. He was chosen to be the majority leader in the House in his freshman year. He was close to the former Speaker Mac McCutcheon, and he served on both the powerful agenda-setting Rules Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Education Budget Writing Committee. Representative Chris Pringle of Mobile has been chosen to be Speaker Pro Tem of the House, which is the second highest position within the body. He has served previously for 16 years in the House from the Port City. He succeeds fellow Mobilian Victor Gaston in this post. There are two young stalwarts who will be serving in Republican Party positions within the House. Representative Scott Stadthagen of Decatur will be the new House Majority Leader. Representative Wes Kitchens of Arab will serve as the Republican Leadership Caucus Vice Chair. Representative Debbie Wood from the Valley will serve as the Republican Caucus Secretary/Treasurer. The three most powerful posts in the House are the chairmanships of the two money committees and the agenda-setting Rules Committee. Representative Danny Garrett of Trussville in Jefferson County will continue to Chair the Ways and Means Education Budget Committee. Representative Rex Reynolds of Huntsville will be the General Fund Ways and Means Chairman. Reynolds replaces longtime Ways and Means Chairman Steve Clouse of Ozark. Representative Joe Lovvorn of Auburn will be the new Rules Committee Chairman. Representative Jim Hill of St. Clair will chair Judiciary. He is a former circuit Judge and a veteran of the House. All of these House leadership positions are held by Republicans. To the victor goes the spoils. The Democrats have a veteran and sterling team heading their Caucus Leadership in the House. Anthony Daniels of Huntsville will be the Democratic Minority Leader. Barbara Drummond of Mobile will be the Caucus Chair. Mary Moore of Birmingham will be the Vice Chair, and Kelvin Lawrence of Hayneville will be Secretary/Treasurer of the Democratic Caucus. The 35-member Alabama State Senate returns almost intact with their continuity and quality leadership. They will dominate and provide a stable State of Ship to help lead the state. Republicans control this upper chamber to the same degree that the GOP members do in the House. Republicans outnumber Democrats 28 to 7 in the Senate. State Senator Jabo Waggoner of Jefferson County begins his 50th year in the legislature. This is a state record. He is definitely destined for the state history books. Jabo will continue to Chair the powerful Rules Committee. Greg Reed of Walker County will be Pro Tem of the Senate again. The Majority Leader will again be Clay Scofield of Marshall County. The two money committee chairmen will continue to be in charge of how the state revenues are spent. Senator Arthur Orr of Decatur will chair Finance and Taxation/Education. Senator Greg Albritton of Escambia will chair Finance and Taxation/General Fund. These two men will be very powerful. Popular state Senator Will Barfoot of Pike Road will chair Judiciary in the Senate. Senator Clyde Chambliss of Prattville has become a stalwart leader in the Senate. He will be Majority Whip. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth presides over the Senate. The Regular Session begins in early March. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Autauga County Sheriff Joe Sedinger has died
Autauga County Sheriff Joe Sedinger died late on Monday. The Autauga County Sheriff’s Department announced the news on social media: “It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved Autauga County Sheriff Joe Sedinger. Please continue to pray for not only his family but his blue family as well. He will be greatly missed by all.” Sedinger had just entered his third term as Sheriff after being re-elected in the Republican primary in May. Sedinger worked with the Sheriff’s office for decades and was a beloved fixture in the community. “It is a solemn day among the entire law enforcement community within Alabama as we all mourn the tragic and heartbreaking loss of Sheriff Sedinger,” said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor. “On behalf of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sheriff Sedinger. He was a true professional and his dedication to serve the public will always be remembered. We recognize this is a devastating time for the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office as well as the entire community, which Sheriff Sedinger so faithfully served. As we continue to mourn alongside the law enforcement community, we also pray for Sheriff Sedinger’s family as they attempt to manage and cope with this terrible loss. Sheriff Sedinger’s courage, resolve, and never-ending bravery will continue to live on and provide us all with an example of a courageous servant’s heart. Along with sharing our sincerest condolences, we pledge to make all resources available to the Autauga County Sheriff’s Office as well as the surrounding community as they grieve this unfortunate and heartbreaking situation.” The county coroner takes over the role of Sheriff on an interim basis until the position can be filled. State Sen. Clyde Chambliss said on Facebook, “I am saddened by the passing of my friend and colleague Sheriff Joe Sedinger. I first met Joe in the early 90’s when we were both working on replacing the fuel tanks at the Sheriff’s office. He rose to be the top lawman in Autauga County. He was a Godly man, and I look forward to seeing him again in Heaven, worshiping our Lord and Savior. Well done Sheriff. Well done.” Covington County Sheriff Blake Turman said on Facebook, “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Autauga County Sheriff Joe Sedinger has passed away. Sheriff Sedinger is a good friend and a mentor of mine. He will be greatly missed. Please keep his family and the Autauga County Sheriffs Office in your prayers.” Sedinger said in his last Sheriff’s report on the official website, “As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to serve Autauga County with such an outstanding group of people. The deputies and administrative support staff at Autauga County Sheriff’s Office are dedicated, hard-working, and committed to serving our County’s citizens. To show them that you value them as much as I do, I encourage you to give them a friendly smile or a kind word to let them know you appreciate them as much as I do. I am truly fortunate to have them by my side.” “I would especially like to extend my sincerest appreciation to the citizens of Autauga County,” Sedinger wrote. “Your efforts to enhance safety and cooperation with our office help make our County a great place to live and work. I am grateful for your assistance through the crime tips hotline, website, and in person. I sincerely appreciate your commitment to the safety of our community. My commitment to the citizens of this County has never been more substantial. I will continue to work with you to improve the quality of life for each resident we serve. The support you’ve shown the Sheriff’s Office during 2022 has been overwhelming. I am very thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!” The cause of death has not been released, and funeral arrangements are still being finalized. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Seven State Senate seat races to watch
All 35 State Senate seats are up for grabs in the November 8 general election. Republicans hold a 27 to 8 margin over Democrats in the current makeup of the Alabama Senate. The Alabama Republican Party is running candidates in 29 seats. The GOP is defending all of the 27 seats they currently hold and are running candidates in two districts currently held by Democrats. Alabama Democrats are defending the eight seats they currently hold and are challenging the GOP in six districts currently held by Republicans. Libertarians currently hold no seats in the Alabama Senate but are running twelve candidates in State Senate races. There are a number of contested State Senate races on the November ballot. These are the seven races with the most chance of becoming interesting. Democrat Lisa Ward is challenging Republican incumbent State Sen. Gerald Allen in Senate District 21. Both of these candidates are well known in the Tuscaloosa area. Allen has represented the district for three terms and served in the Alabama House of Representatives before that. Ward is a former city councilwoman who is very active in the community. According to filings with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, Allen has a $204,872.68 campaign account balance entering September, which includes August contributions of $8,250. Ward, the challenger, meanwhile raised $23,149.76 in August and has a cash balance of $31,968.94 entering September. Neither faced a primary opponent. Democrat Kim Lewis versus Republican incumbent State Sen. Tom Butler in Senate District 2. Butler has represented Madison County in the legislature for parts of five decades, but this is one of the fastest growing areas in the state, and there are thousands of new people that bring different politics with them to the area. Lewis is hoping that an increasingly purple Madison County will result in a win. Butler was pushed hard in the Republican primary by former State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw. Butler raised $44,500 in the month of August and enters September with $38,166.63. Lewis raised $7,830 in August and comes into September with $27,859.70. In Senate District 33, incumbent Democratic Sen. Vivian Figures faces Republican challenger Pete Riehm. This has been a very safe Democratic district consisting of the poorest parts of Mobile as well as Mobile County suburbs like Prichard, but redistricting meant that the new district now goes deep into Baldwin County and picked up the very prosperous and heavily Republican community of Spanish Fort. This district went from very blue to purple thanks to the legislature’s redistricting and efforts to “unpack” Black voters from majority-minority districts. Is it purple enough for a Republican to take it away from the Democrats? That is for the voters to decide on November 8. Sen. Figures raised $31,500 in the month of August to enter September with $110,497.02. Riehm had contributions of $19,577.54 in August and enters September with $60,911.31. Democrat Sherri Lewis versus Republican Jay Hovey in Senate District 27. Hovey, an Auburn City Councilman, just narrowly defeated incumbent Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) in a heavily contested GOP primary. Hovey, who has the challenge of unifying Republicans, raised $85,500 in contributions in August to enter September with a cash balance of $70,074.17. Reese meanwhile raised $1,806.20 in August to bring a total of $2,703.33 into the month of September. Senate District 23 – here, there are three candidates vying for the open seat formerly held by State Sen. Malika Sanders-Fortier, who vacated the seat in an unsuccessful bid for governor. Democrat Robert Lee Stewart narrowly defeated former State Sen. Hank Sanders in a hard-fought Democratic primary runoff in June. Stewart faces both a Republican in Michael Nimmer and a Libertarian in Portia Stephens. Stewart raised $16,987 in August to bring $17,872.84 into September. The Libertarian, Stephens, reported raising $2,060 in August to finish the month with $6,285 in cash on hand. The Republican, Nimmer, has not filed a campaign finance report. Alabama does not have general election runoffs, so when there are multiple candidates, the candidate with the most votes wins even if they got less than half of the votes. There is another three-way contest in Senate District 29. There, incumbent Republican Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Dothan) faces both Democrat Nathan “Nate” Mathis and Libertarian Floyd “Pete” McBroom. Matthis reported raising no money in August, but he has $5,719.36 in cash on hand. McBroom has not filed a campaign finance report with the Secretary of State’s office yet. The incumbent, Chesteen, raised $25,500 in August to enter September with $327,660.86. In Senate District 12, Republican Keith Kelley is battling Democrat David McCullars for the open seat currently held by Sen. Del Marsh. Kelley raised $29,658.24 in August and has $65,102.13 in cash on hand. McCullars only raised $265 in the month of August and entered the month of September with $4,377.15 in cash on hand. Kelley had a hard-fought Republican primary. This is a district that has given Marsh a close call in the 2014 general election. In other contested Alabama Senate races · SD3 incumbent Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) faces Libertarian Rick Chandler · SD4 incumbent Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) faces Libertarian Jacob Marlow · SD6 incumbent Larry Stutts (R-Sheffield) faces Libertarian Kyle Richard-Garrison · SD7 incumbent Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) faces Democrat Korey Wilson · SD15 incumbent Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) faces Libertarian Michael Crump · SD17 incumbent Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) faces Libertarian John Fortenberry · SD24 incumbent Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) faces Libertarian Richard Benderson · SD25 incumbent Will Barfoot (R-Montgomery) versus Libertarian Louie Woolbright · SD28 incumbent Billy Beasley (D-Clayton) faces Libertarian David Boatwright · SD35 incumbent David Sessions (R-Grand Bay) faces Libertarian Clifton Hudson Republican incumbents Tim Melson, Greg Reed, Steve Livingston, Clay Scofield, Andrew Jones, Randy Price, April Weaver, Jabo Waggoner, Greg Albritton, Clyde Chambliss, Chris Elliott, and Jack Williams are all running unopposed. Republican newcomers Lance Bell in SD11 and Josh Carnley in SD31 are also unopposed in the general election. Democratic incumbents Rodger Smitherman, Linda Coleman-Madison, and Kirk Hatcher are all also unopposed in the general election. State Rep. Merika Coleman is unopposed in SD19, which is being vacated by the retirement of Priscilla Dunn (D-Bessemer). In 2022 Republican candidates in Alabama have received $44,321,108.97 in contributions. Political Action Committees have received $17,846,761.05. Democratic candidates have received $6,629,199.43, and all other candidates have received just $111,950.87. The general
