Alabama House panel passes bill to mandate that some teens are prosecuted as adults in murder cases
Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, discusses a bill to cap property tax increases on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on April 9, 2024 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. He sponsored a bill that requires minors who commit murder or capital murder to be tried as adults. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
An Alabama House committee Wednesday approved legislation that requires the court to prosecute people age 16 and older as adults when they are charged with murder.
The House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee approved HB 146 — sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen — which would prohibit a judge from granting youthful offender status to minors who are at least 16-years-old at the time of the offense if they are charged with murder. The current statute states that individuals who are younger than 19 may be tried as youthful offenders.
'If they are charged with murder, under this bill they would not be eligible to be a youthful offender,' Pettus told members of the committee during the meeting. 'This only has to do if they are charged. They have to be charged with murder for this to kick in.'
Pettus said his legislation leaves the court process largely untouched. Defendants would still proceed through a trial if they choose.
Democrats on the committee were united against the legislation and voted against it.
Some raised concerns with separation of powers, because typically, the judge has the discretion to determine eligibility for youthful offender status.
'Now we are making it where we are taking it all out of the judge's hand about making the decision,' said Rep. Tashina Morris, D-Montgomery.
Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville had the same concerns.
'You are really talking about the judicial branch, what they can and cannot do,' he said. 'You are legislating this.'
The legislation shifts the decision away from the judge to prosecutors who determine charges.
Some lawmakers asked how the bill would affect those who became entangled in the actions of another person.
'One person murdered someone, but there were four people in the car,' said Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika. 'Usually when that happens, they all get charged with murder, right? I have seen it plenty of times.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
17 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Marjorie Taylor Greene Partially Agrees With Elon Musk on Trump-Backed Bill
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene partially backed Elon Musk Tuesday in his criticism of President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful bill" that recently passed the House of Representatives and is under debate in the Senate. The Context The Trump-backed reconciliation package passed the House last month following weeks of negotiations in which House Speaker Mike Johnson wrangled votes from the ultraconservative and more centrist factions of the GOP. While Trump praised the measure in its current form, Senate Republicans have made it clear that they plan to make significant changes to it before it passes the upper chamber. Musk, meanwhile, has repeatedly criticized the bill, most recently calling it a "disgusting abomination," saying it was filled with "outrageous pork" that would balloon the federal deficit and undo the work by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is pictured arriving for a House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 20 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene is pictured arriving for a House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol on May 20 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) What To Know "Congresswoman, what do you make of Elon Musk criticizing the 'One Big Beautiful Bill?'" a reporter asked Greene in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. "Well, you know, I have to agree with him on one hand," the Republican firebrand responded. "I always love it when Americans are angry at the federal government and express it. I think that should've been happening for years now. I mean, we're $36 trillion in debt for a reason." Greene, one of Trump's staunchest supporters in Congress, went on to criticize the Biden administration's initiatives on renewable energy, its handling of the economy and more. "Unfortunately, in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' we had to spend some money to right the ship and pass President Trump's campaign promises" on issues including border security and immigration enforcement, tax cuts and "America First energy." Greene is among three House Republicans who have voiced their agreement with Musk's criticisms. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie re-shared Musk's post on X, formerly Twitter, ripping into the bill, writing, "He's right." Representative Warren Davidson of Ohio also appeared to agree, sharing another post from Musk that said, "Congress is making America bankrupt." Massie and Davidson voted against the bill in the House. Greene voted in favor of it but said she did not read through a portion of the measure related to artificial intelligence (AI) when it was initially up for vote. Greene said the provision violates states' rights, writing on X on Tuesday: "Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278-279 of the OBBB that strips states of the right to make laws or regulate AI for 10 years. I am adamantly OPPOSED to this and it is a violation of state rights and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there." "We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years and giving it free rein and tying states hands is potentially dangerous," she added. Greene said that if the Senate doesn't strip the provision from the version of the bill that's sent back to the House for final approval, she won't back it, which could complicate House GOP leadership's effort to pass the Trump-backed package. The White House responded to Musk's X posts during Tuesday's press briefing. "Look, the president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill. It doesn't change the president's opinion," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters. "This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it." What People Are Saying Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters: "We obviously respect everything that Elon did with DOGE. On this particular issue, we have a difference of opinion ... he's entitled to that opinion. We're going to proceed full speed ahead." Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said of Musk's criticisms: "He's entitled to his opinion." Asked by Politico whether Musk's criticism would affect amendments to the bill, Tillis said: "No." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer waved around a printout of Musk's post and told reporters: "I agree with Elon Musk!" What Happens Next Trump recently gave Senate Republicans a July 4 deadline to pass the bill and get it to his desk.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Memo: Musk drops bomb on Trump's ‘big, beautiful bill'
Elon Musk dropped a rhetorical bomb on President Trump's plans to pass a massive budget bill on Tuesday. Musk, the world's richest man, excoriated legislation that Trump calls big and beautiful as 'a disgusting abomination.' He also called the legislation 'outrageous' and 'pork-filled.' Referring to members of the House who had passed the bill and sent it along to the Senate, Musk added, 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.' The remarks were all the more striking for coming just days after Musk departed from his role with the quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His departure was marked by a joint appearance with Trump in the Oval Office, at which they paid tribute to one another. Musk had expressed misgivings about the spending legislation in an interview broadcast on 'CBS Sunday Morning' this past weekend, musing that while such a bill could indeed be either big or beautiful, 'I don't know if it can be both.' GOP leaders on Capitol Hill thought they had been able to assuage Musk's concerns. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday that he had spoken to Musk for 20 minutes the previous day. Johnson, who had to go through arduous efforts to get the bill passed in the House, said that in his Monday conversation, 'I extolled all the virtues of the bill, and he seemed to understand that. We had a very friendly conversation about it.' That left Johnson blindsided by the billionaire's rhetorical barrage on Tuesday. Musk's latest remarks were 'very disappointing' and 'terribly wrong,' Johnson lamented. But Musk's characteristically combative intervention raises two bigger questions. One is whether it will land so hard among Republican senators that it could capsize the bill itself. The other is whether it presages a larger willingness on Musk's behalf to go against the wishes of Trump, the president whom Musk spent more than $250 million getting elected — and who gave him enormous power at the heart of government. The Trump-backed budget bill, which also includes a $4 trillion increase in the debt ceiling, already faced uncertain prospects in the Senate. Republicans hold 53 seats in the 100-member body, but fiscal hawks and more moderate members alike have yet to signal they are willing to back the legislation. Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Ron Johnson (Wis.) and Mike Lee (Utah) are all in the first category, expressing concern that the bill fails to curb the long stretch of budget deficits that have created an astronomical national debt. The debt currently stands at around $36 trillion. At the other end of the GOP ideological spectrum, many insiders are watching Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) for signs of how hard they will resist proposed changes to Medicaid that are projected to cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance. Musk is aligned with the first camp. After Musk's initial blast on Tuesday, Paul took to social media to write, 'I agree with Elon. We have both seen the massive waste in government spending and we know another $5 trillion in debt is a huge mistake.' Musk, in turn, amplified Paul's message to his 220 million followers on the social platform X, which he owns. Musk also reposted critiques of the legislation from Lee, who said the Senate 'must' make the bill better, and from Rep. Thomas Massie (Ky.), one of two House Republicans to vote against the legislation in the lower chamber. Musk's alignment with Paul was especially notable on a day when Trump had lambasted the Kentucky senator for his reluctance to back the legislation. Trump had written on social media Tuesday morning that Paul had 'very little understanding' of what was in the spending bill, adding, 'He loves voting 'NO' on everything, he thinks it's good politics, but it's not.' In a second post, Trump complained that Paul 'never has any practical or constructive ideas. His ideas are actually crazy (losers!). The people of Kentucky can't stand him.' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sought to swat aside Musk's criticisms during Tuesday's media briefing. 'The president already knows where Elon Musk stood on this bill,' Leavitt said. 'It doesn't change the president's opinion. This is one big, beautiful bill, and he's sticking to it.' But GOP senators are not quite so nonchalant. Johnson, the Wisconsin senator and fiscal hawk, told Politico that Musk's social media blasts 'got spread around pretty quickly' within the Republican conference. GOP senators will also not have missed the implicit threat in a later social media post from Musk. 'In November next year, we fire all politicians who betrayed the American people,' he wrote. Such a message raises the specter of Musk using some of his enormous wealth to finance primary challenges to incumbents — despite a recent statement that he was likely to curb his political spending. For Trump, the danger is that Musk will grow increasingly willing to voice his discontent. Trump, of course, has no more elections to run. But Musk's enormous X megaphone and his influential position near the apex of the online right makes him a highly dangerous potential critic. Relations between Trump and Musk have not fully degraded yet, of course. But Tuesday's messages from Musk will disconcert the White House as much as GOP leaders on Capitol Hill. The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dem who wanted Elon Musk 'taken down' launches bid for House Oversight leadership position
Rising Democratic Party star Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who sparked controversy earlier this year with remarks about Elon Musk and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, formally launched her bid for ranking member of the House Oversight Committee Tuesday. "These are not normal times — and this cannot be a business-as-usual moment," Crockett said in a post on X. The House Oversight Committee is responsible for holding the executive branch of the federal government and President Donald Trump accountable in Congress. The committee's last ranking member, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., died May 21 after battling cancer. He was elected to the position in 2023. "Since the start of the 119th Congress, the late ranking member, Gerry Connolly, led Oversight Democrats in the fight to hold the Trump Administration accountable and it was my distinct privilege and absolute honor to serve alongside him as the Vice Ranking Member," Crockett said in a letter to her Democratic colleagues. Jasmine Crockett Agrees During Town Hall That 'Republicans Want Poor People To Die' Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Tuesday a special election to replace Connolly in the House. His death May 21 also left a leadership gap on the House Oversight Committee, and House Democrats are now tasked with electing a new leader to challenge Trump. Read On The Fox News App Connolly designated Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., as interim ranking member, and the race is on among House Democrats for the open leadership position. Democratic representatives Robert Garcia of California and Kweisi Mfume of Maryland have announced their own bids to lead the committee. Crockett had signaled her intention to run for ranking member, and the Texas congresswoman's letter to Democrats Tuesday made her bid official. Jasmine Crockett Shares Bizarre Song Clip Calling Herself 'Leader Of The Future' "In this moment, Americans are demanding a more strategic, aggressive, and energetic fight," Crockett said. "Understanding that fierce urgency, I formally announce my candidacy for Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform — with a focus on standing up for American families, defending the Constitution and the rule of law, and ensuring the government serves the people, not the privileged few." Crockett has risen to the national stage for her viral moments in the House, building name recognition among Democrats and a reputation among Republicans. Earlier this year, Attorney General Pam Bondi accused Crockett of "threatening lives" and said she should apologize for her rhetoric against Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) for saying, "All I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down." Crockett said she was referring to "nonviolent" resistance. Crockett was also criticized this year for calling Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, who is in a wheelchair, "Governor Hot Wheels." She walked back the comments after her remarks went viral, calling the outrage a "distraction." And the Texas congresswoman dominated headlines last year when her campaign trademarked the phrase "bleach blonde, bad built, butch body" after a verbal dispute with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Her viral moments have even caught the attention of Trump, who called Crockett a "low I.Q. person." "Our country is in an existential crisis driven by an out-of-control Executive with a flagrant disregard for our Constitution, our way of governance, and our very way of life as citizens of a democratic republic," Crockett said in her letter to House Democrats. "The Administration has refused to respect congressional authority, abide by lawful judicial orders, or respond to public outrage." "The magnitude of these unprecedented times warrants a resistance and tactics never before seen. We must pull back the curtain on the unmitigated chaos under Trump 2.0 and translate our findings to the American people in a way they can digest," Crockett added. In the letter, Crockett praised President Joe Biden, touted her own achievements during her first two terms in the House and asked for her colleagues' support. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., another rising Democratic Party star, said earlier this year she would not seek the top Democratic position on the House Oversight Committee. "It's actually clear to me that the underlying dynamics in the caucus have not shifted with respect to seniority as much as I think would be necessary, and so I believe I'll be staying put at Energy and Commerce," Ocasio-Cortez's spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital in a statement first reported by NBC. Ocasio-Cortez lost her House Oversight bid to Connolly late last year. Connolly had announced his plan to step back as ranking member of the Oversight Committee after just four months on the job due to the resurgence of his esophageal article source: Dem who wanted Elon Musk 'taken down' launches bid for House Oversight leadership position
