Alabama top stories in brief

• In early 2023, Anthony Mitchel died while incarcerated by the Walker County Sheriff Department. His mother filed a lawsuit soon after his death, which accused the department of exposing him to freezing temperatures. The complaint says that Mitchel was kept in the “drunk tank” and was either completely or mostly naked while correction officers used the building’s climate control to lower the temperature of the cell. Last week, the coroner for Walker County told USA Today that a death certificate posted on Facebook that listed Mitchel’s death as a homicide caused by hypothermia and sepsis was the certificate signed by their office.

• On March 7, the Alabama House of Representatives approved SB129, a bill targeting DEI programs and initiatives in K-12 and higher education. The bill passed along party lines with House Democrats questioning the bill’s ability to stand up in court. If passed in the senate, and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey, the legislation would prohibit teachers and state employees from directing or compelling any student to conform to “divisive topics.” Divisive topics in the bill are generally defined around race, ethnicity, religion and sexuality. The bill also prohibits sponsoring diversity, equity and inclusion programs within public institutions. However, the bill contains almost three pages of exceptions to the previous actions. SB 129 will move back to the Senate, and if passed without amendments, will go to Ivey’s desk. If passed into law, the bill would go into effect as early as Oct. 1, 2024. 

• Advocates for the American Cancer Society gathered in Montgomery to push legislators to expand Medicaid as part of their annual Cancer Action Day. The group met with over 40 lawmakers, a representative told Alabama Daily News. While Republicans in Alabama have been resistant to the idea of expanding Medicaid in the past, a recent private-public partnership proposed by the Alabama Hospital Association received positive feedback from several legislators. The plan would provide coverage to up to 260,000 Alabamians. Currently, Alabamians can only qualify for Medicaid if they make 18% of the federal poverty line, which is $2,673 a year for an individual and $4,475 for a family of three. 

• After a rare hour-long filibuster, debates over funding distribution and gambling monopolies, the Senate passed stripped down versions of HB151 and HB152. HB151 and HB152 passed the House earlier this legislative session. The House versions of the bill would have created a lottery, a state gambling commission, casino-style gambling — including table games and sports wagering — and would have allowed Gov. Kay Ivey to negotiate a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. After passing the Senate, the bills changed drastically. The Senate version removed casino gambling and sports wagering, but allows historic horse racing machines and pool betting. The House bill would have directed funds brought in by the lottery to education programs and funds from casinos and sports betting to healthcare programs. Members of the senate wanted to direct funds to help pay for a new prison in Escambia County until March 30, 2029, after which money would be split evenly between education, the General Fund, and infrastructure. However, an amendment passed that to remove the delay and instead immediately direct funding towards the three sources and allowing the legislature to appropriate the funds in more detail. Another passed amendment changed the tax rate for casinos to shift from anywhere between 24 and 32% to 20 and 28%. The gambling commission can still alter tax rates from casino to casino dependent on external and local factors. Finally, the Senate version of the bills would require voters to vote on the amendment on Sept. 10, two months prior to the presidential election.

Alabama legislative update

As of March 8, there have been 533 bills filed by members of the Alabama legislature. Of these, four have been signed into law. 

• SB39 allows public dams to be part of a program for voluntary dam inspections. It was an amendment to a bill passed last year which allowed private dam owners to opt into dam inspections. 

• SB28 amended the constitution to give the Houston County Commission the authority to appoint members to the Board of Houston County Health Care Authority.

• SB159 provides criminal and civil immunity to in vitro fertilization clinics and states that “no action, suit, or criminal prosecution for the damage to or death of an embryo shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization.”

• HB129 created the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students Education act, which created an education savings account to provide funds for parents to use on certain education expenses for eligible students. The program will come into effect in 2025 and will initially be restricted to family’s that make less than 300% of the federal poverty rate, which is around $75,000 for a family of three. After 2027, the program will be opened up to all Alabama students. The legislature will appropriate $100 million to fund the program. 

One bill has been sent to Gov. Kay Ivey for approval. 

• SB63 would limit the liability of county commissions in lawsuits where a single official was given control over the use of public funds. According to the Alabama Legislature’s website, it is pending an executive amendment from Ivey. The bill will have to be reconsidered by both the house and senate in order to pass. 

Alabama Super Tuesday results

1st Congressional District 

• Barry Moore was nominated as the Republican candidate. 

• There were no Democratic candidates. 

2nd Congressional District

• Both Democratic and Republican competitions will require runoff elections on April 16 to determine their candidate. 

• For Republicans, Dick Brewbaker and Caroleene Dobson will participate in the runoff. 

• For Democrats, Shomari Figures and Anthony Daniels will participate in the runoff. 

3rd Congressional District

• Mike Rogers was nominated as the Republican candidate.

• There were no Democratic candidates. 

4th Congressional District

• Robert B. Aderholt was nominated as the Republican candidate. 

• There were no Democratic candidates. 

5th Congressional District

• Rep. Dale Strong was nominated as the Republican candidate.

• There were no Democratic candidates

6th Congressional District

• Gary Palmer was nominated as the Republican candidate.

• There were no Democratic candidates

7th Congressional District

• Christian Horn was nominated as the Republican candidate

• Terri Sewell was nominated as the Democratic candidate. 

Our articles you might have missed

• In case you missed it, The Longleaf Hiker came out March 1. In this first issue of The Longleaf Hiker, Xander Swain travels to the Kathy Stiles Freeland Bibb County Glades Preserve, home to many rare and unique species of plants. Xander gives readers advice on traveling to the glades, describes some of the unique sites he found and shares his love for identifying species while hiking. 

• In her latest edition of The Breathing Room, Hannah Irvin writes about the importance of finding your strength when you don’t have a large community to lean upon for help and how we can all choose to be the positive change we want to see in the world.