This Information Pertains To The 2024 Alabama Legislative Session
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- Find Your Legislators
- Watch Live-Stream AL Legislative Committee Meetings and Floor Debates
- Watch Archived Legislative Committee Meetings and Floor Debates
- View EFA’s 2024 Legislative Priorities
WEEK 5 (March 5-7)
The AL Senate Passed new versions of Gambling Bills Which Allow For State Lottery and Open Door Vegas-Style Casinos
HB151/HB152 passed the House and a substitute version passed the Senate.
HERE’S WHERE WE ARE:
- On Feb 15th the House passed 2 gambling bills: HB151/HB152. The AL Constitution does not allow gambling. HB151 is a Constitutional Amendment (CA) that would allow Alabamians to vote on whether to change the constitution. HB152 contains the “enabling legislation” that describes the type of gambling that would be allowed. It also creates a gambling commission and special law enforcement agency to oversee gambling.
- Both bills moved to the Senate. But the Senate substituted the House version for one that just allowed for a statewide lottery and an expansion of the Poarch Creek Band of Indians (PCI) casinos.
- The Senate passed the new versions.
- Those will now go back to the House for an expected vote on Tues. March 19th.
- If the House does not concur, then the House and Senate versions will go to a 6-member conference committee where they will hammer out an agreement between the versions.
- Then that conference committee version of HB151 and HB152 will go back to each chamber for all members will vote.
- If the House and Senate pass the conference committee versions, then the people will vote on Sept 10th.
- If either chamber fails to pass the conference committee version, then the issue is dead for this legislative session.
Governor Signed Universal School Choice Bill
HB129 (Rep. Garrett) The CHOOSE Act a universal school choice bill was signed into law on March 7th.
WHAT DOES THIS LAW DO?
- Parents who want to educate their child outside of the public school system will be able to apply for a refundable tax credit for $7,000/student enrolling in a participating school or $2,000 for a homeschooling student (Only 2 homeschoolers are permitted per family-$4,000 total.)
- Tax credit would go into an education savings account (ESA) for a student.
- ESA funds can be used to pay for educational expenses that have been approved by the Dept of Revenue. Expenses included are tuition, books, curriculum, extracurricular activities, art, music lessons, etc.
- This program will start in the fall of 2026. There is a 2-year phase in which would allow the following students to apply:
- Families falling within the 300% of the Federal Poverty level. (Approx $93,000 for a family of four)
- Children with disabilities
- Active-duty military families
Risk Avoidance Sex Ed vs. Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE)
HB195 Rep. DuBose
DESCRIPTION: Under existing law, public K-12 sex ed programs must emphasize abstinence as the only effective protection against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Yet this law is not being followed. Some schools may be teaching explicit “comprehensive sex ed”. See picture above. Is this what you want your kids learning? This bill would remove Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) programs in Alabama public schools. Read HB195 fact sheet here.
STATUS: The House Education Policy Committee held a public hearing on this bill. Watch entire hearing on HB195: 25:13-57:17. Two members of Eagle Forum testified in favor of HB195. Watch Pat Ellis, Egle Forum Education Chairwoman from 49:36-52:02 and Executive Director Becky Gerritson from 54:18-56:33. The opposition forces included the Alabama Campaign For Adolescent Sexual Health (ACASH), Planned Parenthood, Human Rights Campaign and the LGBTQ community. On Wednesday, March 20th, the committee will vote whether to let this bill proceed to the floor.
In Vitro Fertilization
SB159 (Sen. Melson)
Governor Ivey signed SB159 into law. Please read this link to understand how UAB conned the AL legislature into giving them immunity from killing embryos.
We urge the legislature to set up a study committee with members from the IVF community, pro-life community, religious community, doctors, lawyers, and others to study laws in other states and nations which have safeguards in place to protect the unborn. These good policy ideas should be included in legislation for the next session.
DEI Defunding Passed Both Chambers
SB129 (Sen. Barfoot) Finally after 3 years, a law to ban funding of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs in state colleges and government agencies has passed both houses.
DEI IN A NUTSHELL: Concepts of DEI are based on these traits: Race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, gender identity. These traits do not speak to a person’s character, work ethic or academic merit.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are 3 words have been hijacked and are being used to tear down our public institutions, state agencies and corporations.
- Diversity used to mean that people of different backgrounds were free to join a group or association.
- Equity used to mean enforcing equal standards for all individuals and groups.
- Inclusion used to mean allowing people of every background and identity to participate in a group or association.
But now, in their DEI context, these words all mean one thing: using unequal standards to guarantee favored outcomes for people based on traits like race, sex, ethnicity, religion.
BILL STATUS: The House and Senate bills were slightly different so they will go to a conference committee when the legislature resumes next week. Read bill fact sheet here.
Childrens' Device Protection Bill
HB167 (Rep. Sells)
DESCRIPTION: This bill would require that new cell phones or tablets that are activated in Alabama, have their explicit content (porn filter) app be toggled to “on”. See fact sheet here.
STATUS: This bill has 59 co-sponsors. There was a public hearing on Wednesday in the House Commerce and Small Business Committee. Eagle Forum’s Lori Herring and Becky Gerritson both testified in support. The bill received a favorable report and is headed to the House floor.
We Are Your Voice at the State House
While you are working hard to provide for and care for your families, we are working for YOU!
This week, Eagle Forum staff and volunteers advocated for your values. We had several members who testified in favor of legislation in three different public hearings including:
- Defunding DEI programs from public universities and state agencies (SB129)
- Ensuring that Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) programs that are abstinence-focused, age-appropriate, and medically accurate are taught in AL public schools while removing Comprehensive Sex Ed (CSE) programs that sexualize and groom children. (HB195)
- Protecting children from accidental exposure to hard-core pornography on cell phones and tablets. (HB167)
