Senate Approves Measure to Make State Parks Free for Military Vets
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – As Governor Kay Ivey designated Thursday “Military Appreciation Day,” the Alabama Senate passed five bills to support military veterans, including the Parks for Patriots Act which will give Alabama military veterans free access to state parks. The Legislature also held a joint session of the House and Senate this morning to honor […]
By Greg Reed By Del Marsh
Stutts Introduces Bill to Establish Scholarships for Medical Students Who Will Practice in Rural Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Senator Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) has introduced a bill in the Alabama Senate that seeks to establish a scholarship program for medical students who will practice medicine in rural Alabama. If approved, the Alabama Physician Initiative (Senate Bill 210) would authorize the Alabama Medical Education Consortium to administer up to 25 scholarships annually […]
By Larry Stutts
Senator Melson’s Bill Levels Playing Field Between County and City Superintendents
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Senate committee on Education and Youth Affairs has approved Senate Bill 153, sponsored by Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence), which would allow county superintendents of education the option to have additional employment outside of their duties as superintendent, an opportunity that city superintendents already possess. Melson’s proposal also removes limits on […]
By Tim Melson
Shining a Light on the Darkness of Human Trafficking
This week, the Alabama Senate passed Senate Bill 179, which establishes severe penalties for those found guilty of obstructing an investigation into child trafficking. This legislation enhances the penalties already in place, increasing the offense to a Class A felony, with a minimum jail sentence of ten years. Under current law, the obstruction of an […]
By Cam Ward
Scofield’s Proposal to Expand Broadband in Rural Alabama Passes the State Senate
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – This afternoon the Alabama State Senate took a major step toward broadband expansion in rural Alabama by passing Senator Clay Scofield’s (R-Guntersville) Alabama Rural Broadband Act. Senate Bill 149 is a free-market approach to increasing private investment to expand high-speed internet access across the state. “In the 1930s the infrastructure challenge was […]
By Clay Scofield
Alabama Senate Increases Penalties for Child Sex Traffickers
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama State Senate passed SB179 today, a bill that establishes severe penalties for those found guilty of obstructing an investigation into child trafficking. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) received bipartisan support, passing unanimously, and is part of the Senate Republicans’ “Fighting for Alabama” 2018 agenda. Ward’s proposal would […]
By Cam Ward
Senate Republicans Announce “Fighting for Alabama” 2018 Legislative Agenda
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Senate Republican Caucus announced their legislative priorities for the 2018 legislative session at a press conference on Thursday morning at the Statehouse. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh (R-Anniston), Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper), and other Republican state senators presented four legislative priorities, in addition to their primary […]
By Del Marsh By Greg Reed
Career Technical Education is a Strength of Alabama’s School System
What kind of K-12 education model does Alabama need to prepare our young people for the jobs of the twenty-first century? Like you, I have read story after story in the media of how the global economy increasingly relies on automated jobs. There is no doubt that the digital economy is causing a shift […]
By Clyde Chambliss
Sen. Cam Ward Elected Chairman of National Energy Research Group
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research (CLEER) installed Alabama State Senator Cam Ward as its new chairman for 2017-2018 at its annual meeting on Sunday, September 17. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson was on hand in Little Rock for the event with Sen. Ward. CLEER is an affiliate of The […]
By Cam Ward
Gerald Dial Leads Relief Effort for Texas Communities Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
MONTGOMERY, AL – State Senator Gerald Dial (R-Lineville) is leading an effort among Alabama’s State Senators to raise money for communities in Texas devastated by Hurricane Harvey. Dial is asking each of the thirty-five Senators to contribute at least $100 to the “Harvey Relief Fund,” which will be managed by Alabama Senate Secretary Pat […]