Latest news with #ShomariFigures
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mobile veterans host ceremony to honor fallen heroes on Memorial Day
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Fallen heroes who died in combat were honored Monday in Mobile at a ceremony hosted by local veterans. Severe T-Storm Watch in Place, More Severe Storms Possible Tuesday Local veterans felt it was necessary to pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. Veterans killed in the line of duty were all honored. 'It's always important to be here to recognize those men and women who paid that price for this country,' Alabama District 2 Rep. Shomari Figures said. 'You have to come out and recognize those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this nation to be what it is to create the opportunities that we have and create the lifestyle that we have.' The South Alabama Veterans Council put on the event at the Mobile National Cemetery. Dozens were on hand to celebrate including elected officials and civic leaders from around the state. 'Those men and women who raise their right hand and pay honor and tribute and give a creed and take an oath, they understand what that means,' retired Marine James T. Averhart Jr. said. 'And at any given moment, a service member, despite what branch of service, they are ready to give their life when the time is called.' Family members of U.S. military veterans in attendance said it's a day for all of Americans to be proud. McGregor Avenue at Dauphin Street to close soon — what to know 'My mom is a veteran, and she was in Iraq,' a family member of veteran Finley Gartman said. 'And I think it's important to honor the people who've laid down their lives to serve our country so that we can live the life we live today in the U.S.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Politico
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
The next step for Alabama's congressional maps
TOP LINE When a federal court in Alabama last week ruled that the state's 2023 congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act because it diluted the voices of Black voters, groups that were challenging the map hailed the decision as 'triumph for voting rights.' Where the case goes next could be hugely consequential. While some voting rights advocates fear what the Supreme Court could do if the case is appealed, others see a review by the nation's highest court as a chance to impose federal bounds on Alabama's future maps. In many ways, the three-judge district court panel from Alabama ruled precisely how the groups had hoped. In the 571-page ruling, the panel said it was 'not a close call' that Alabama had drawn a congressional map that is an illegal racial gerrymander, violating section two of the Voting Rights Act. 'It would be remarkable — indeed, unprecedented — for us to hold that a state legislature that purposefully ignored a federal court order acted in good faith,' the judges wrote in their ruling, which was released on Thursday. That map was never actually used in an election, after earlier court decisions blocked it. Instead, a court-drawn map was used last year, and now-Rep. Shomari Figures won in the redrawn 2nd Congressional District, giving Alabama two Black Democrats in its delegation. But there are likely more fights ahead. Legal challenges related to congressional maps have a direct line of appeal to the Supreme Court, and some voting rights advocates worry the court could use the case to further weaken the Voting Rights Act. The Alabama attorney general's office has said that 'all options remain on the table,' and Secretary of State Wes Allen told NPR that he 'can't comment on ongoing litigation in which I'm a named defendant.' Washington University in St. Louis law professor Travis Crum, an expert on voting rights, said an appeal — which he called a matter of 'when, not if' — could provide Alabama 'another bite of the apple' to go after parts of the VRA, specifically issues related to race-based redistricting. The Supreme Court has so far agreed that Alabama's earlier map was racially biased, ruling in 2023 that it had to redraw the 2021 map. The legislature then drew the 2023 map — the one currently being challenged — that still did not include a second majority-Black district. That then prompted a federal court to reject that map and impose the one used last year. But the Supreme Court could rule the same way again, continuing to find the legislature's 2023 map proposal racially discriminatory. After all, Crum noted, the state legislature had refused the court mandate to draw a second majority-Black district: 'Alabama's response was essentially the jurisprudential equivalent of a middle finger.' So even with a Supreme Court that has narrowed the power of the VRA in the past, Crum is optimistic. He thinks that last week's lower-court court ruling has actually opened the door for the justices to do something else instead: use the VRA to require Alabama to have future congressional maps pre-approved by the federal government before they can go into effect. 'This is an ideal case for a bail-in to go to the Supreme Court,' Crum argued in a recent blog post. Happy Monday. Get in touch: @andrewjfhoward or ahoward@ Days until the New Jersey primary: 29 Days until the Virginia primary: 36 Days until the New York City primary: 43 Days until the 2025 election: 176 Days until the midterms: 539 A NEW ERA FOR PLAYBOOK: Big news from POLITICO's flagship morning newsletter in Washington: Today we launch The Playbook Podcast, hosted by Author and Managing Editor Jack Blanchard and newly named Playbook Chief Correspondent Dasha Burns. Jack has already been skillfully decoding politics, policy and power in Washington, and now with Dasha, a proven force on the Trump beat, will deliver across platforms what makes Playbook essential: a clear, aggressively nonpartisan and deeply reported distillation of what matters now and why. Also joining the team: Adam Wren as Contributing Author for Playbook's Friday and Saturday editions, adding insight and sharp political reporting to your weekend reads. Sign up now to get Playbook delivered straight to your inbox. Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. CAMPAIGN INTEL AT THE DNC — DNC Chair Ken Martin on Saturday doubled down on his ultimatum for rogue Vice Chair David Hogg: Take a neutrality pledge or step down, my colleague Ben Johansen reports. The statement comes hours after it was reported by POLITICO that Hogg privately pitched a compromise to his party in recent days. OVER THE WEEKEND — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced Friday evening that she was ruling out a Senate bid, following the same decision from Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. The moves 'were some of the first dominoes to fall ahead of the 2026 midterms — and come the week the starting gun for those races sounded,' my colleague Adam Wren reported in Saturday's Playbook. … 'Trump Is Already Obsessed With the Midterms,' POLITICO's Rachael Bade reported over the weekend. … Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins told CNN's Manu Raju and Sarah Ferris 'it's certainly my inclination to run and I'm preparing to do so,' when asked if she will be on the ballot in 2026. Democrats have yet to recruit a high-profile challenger to run against the incumbent senator. … 'GOP Senate Campaign Drama Heats Up, but Trump Is Staying Out of It,' by the Wall Street Journal's Josh Dawsey and Lindsay Wise. 'As the 2026 races start to shape up, Trump has largely rebuffed efforts from Senate Republicans to endorse favored primary candidates and influence competitive contests, according to lawmakers, strategists and others familiar with the discussions.' SUNDAY RECAP — Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar told 'Meet the Press' that Democrats would have been 'better served by a primary' in 2024. 'You know, everything we look at in a rearview mirror after you lose an election. Yes, we would have been served better by a primary. But we are where we are,' she told NBC's Kristen Welker. BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE — '18 months out, these are the 10 most vulnerable House members of 2026,' by Roll Call's Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire. OFF TO THE RACES — State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who recently proclaimed the Florida Democratic Party 'dead' before leaving it, said he will run for governor as an independent in 2026, my colleague Gary Fineout reports. 'Everyone else already in the gubernatorial mix has severe and prohibitive baggage, or vast limitations, in leading this state,' Pizzo told Fineout in a text. … Democratic Michigan state Rep. Joe Tate is jumping into the crowded primary for the state's open Senate seat, per the Associated Press' Isabella Volmert. CASH DASH — 'Trump, Raking In Cash, Expands His Power in the G.O.P. Money World,' by The New York Times' Theodore Schleifer and Shane Goldmacher. Two of the largest Republican super PACs — the Congressional Leadership Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund — 'are working closer than ever with the White House, overhauling their boards of directors and installing veteran Trump strategists in senior positions.' BIDEN WORLD — Following Joe Biden's return to the spotlight last week, some Democrats are hoping the former president doesn't stay in the limelight for long. 'It's time for Joe Biden to go away with all due respect and let the next generation of Democrats take the mantle,' Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha told POLITICO's Brakkton Booker. … ''Pod Save America' host Jon Favreau advised Democrats who aspire to run for president in 2028 to 'rip the f‑‑‑ing Band-Aid off' and say that former President Biden shouldn't have run last year,' the Hill's Filip Timotija reports. TAKING A LOOK — Oklahoma Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters is considering running for governor in 2026, he told a local ABC affiliate. LEGAL CORNER — 'Riggs won NC's Supreme Court battle, but elections will face long-term consequences,' by the News & Observer's Kyle Ingram. FIRST IN SCORE — STAFFING UP: The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced seven additions to its board on Monday. They are California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Colorado Senate President James Coleman, Illinois Speaker Pro Temp Kambium Buckner, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Oregon House Speaker Julie Fahey, Virginia House Speaker Don Scott and Wisconsin Assembly Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer. CODA — HEADLINE OF THE DAY: 'Judges say unsolicited pizza deliveries are meant to intimidate them,' by the Washington Post's Derek Hawkins.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Congress members request 6 month STAR ID enforcement deadline extension
ALABAMA (WHNT) — Several members of Alabama's Congress have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to extend the STAR ID enforcement deadline. Rep. Shomari Figures, Rep. Ro Khanna, Rep. Terri A. Sewell, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove all signed a formal request on May 2 for the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend the REAL ID (known as STAR ID in Alabama) enforcement date. The enforcement date, as it stands now, is May 7. The members of Alabama's Congress are requesting a six-month delay in the enforcement deadline, stating that DMVs are struggling and staffing is constrained, lines are astronomically long and appointments are limited. 'These difficulties are compounded by the cost burdens facing working families, many of whom cannot afford to take time off work or travel long distances to complete the required in-person process,' the letter says. The members say that in addition to these constraints on getting the REAL ID, DMVs have limited capacity systems that pose a 'disproportionate barrier for elderly individuals, people with disabilities and those without consistent access to transportation.' Without leniency, the members say that not allowing an enforcement extension puts strain on airport security. 'With the summer travel season approaching, TSA is already preparing for record passenger volumes, with projections exceeding pre-pandemic levels. Imposing the May 7 REAL ID deadline during this peak travel period threatens to further strain an already overextended system. Without flexibility, we risk creating longer lines at security checkpoints, avoidable delays at airports, and considerable confusion among travelers, many of whom may be unaware that their licenses will no longer meet federal identification requirements for boarding flights,' the letter says. Given all these reasons, the enforcement is requested to be extended until November 7. This would then give state and local agencies time to catch up with demand and help TSA prepare for a smoother implementation process. You can read the full letter Rep. Figures and other members sent to DHS below. Other questions associated with the STAR or REAL ID include: How much does it cost, and Can I get my STAR ID online? 'The fee for a STAR ID is $36.25, the same as for a regular Alabama driver's license or non-driver ID card. If citizens choose to wait and obtain their STAR ID at the same time they are renewing their regular license, there is no additional fee from the standard $36.25 renewal fee,' The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said. The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama is warning people against scammers offering an easy 'order online option.' 'It is federally required that you show up in person to get a star ID, and that comes back to just simply so we can identify, we can lay hands on those documents and we can scan them in and so we can certify them,' ALEA Trooper Brandon Bailey said. ALEA's website has all the required documents to get your Star ID, including where you can make an appointment. You can click here to go to the ALEA website. What if I can't get my REAL ID before the enforcement deadline? If you cannot get your REAL (STAR) ID in time for the May 7 deadline, given that the Alabama extension isn't granted, make sure to have another TSA-approved form of identification if you choose to fly domestically. TSA lists several options on its website, including: U.S. passport or passport card Foreign government-issued passport Veteran Health Identification Card DHS trusted traveler cards Department of Defense ID (including those issued to dependents) Permanent resident card and several other options If this extension is granted, it would not be the first time the Department of Homeland Security offered this for the REAL ID. The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 following the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. At the time, the 9/11 Commission found that it was too easy for people to obtain driver's licenses. This being said, the law was scheduled to be enforced in 2008, but because some states were not compliant with it, the deadline was pushed back until 2021. Following the global COVID-19 pandemic, DHS said all 50 states and four territories became more compliant with the rule. Because of this, the deadline was extended to 2023. 'Many state licensing agencies have extended the deadline for renewing expiring licenses due to a widespread shift to appointment-only scheduling protocols during the pandemic that has significantly limited states' capacity to issue REAL ID-compliant driver's licenses and identification cards. As a result, only 43% of all state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards are currently REAL ID-compliant. DHS and various states also need time to implement requirements mandated by the REAL ID Modernization Act, including changes that will streamline processing by allowing the electronic submission of certain documents,' DHS said. 'As our country continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the REAL ID full enforcement deadline will give states needed time to reopen their driver's licensing operations and ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card,' DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas said. Then again, on December 5, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend the original enforcement deadline from May 3, 2023, to May 7, 2025. This extension came due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. 'The extension is necessary, in part, to address the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability to obtain a REAL ID driver's license or identification card. REAL ID progress over the past two years has been significantly hindered by state driver's licensing agencies having to work through the backlogs created by the pandemic. Many of these agencies took various steps in response to the pandemic, including automatically extending the expiration dates of driver's licenses and identification cards and shifting operations to appointment only.' DHS To learn more about the REAL ID and its history, you can visit the DHS website here. For more information on the Alabama STAR ID and how to obtain one, visit ALEA's website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
2020 Prichard mayoral candidate announces run for mayor again
PRICHARD, Ala. (WKRG) — A former city of Prichard mayoral candidate has announced his campaign for the 2025 elections. Rep. Shomari Figures remembers Alexis Herman on House floor Lorenzo Martin will make his official announcement on May 8 at Prichard City Hall. Martin said he will run his campaign on these guiding principles: Accountability in city finance Public safety, police & fire Senior care & services Capital projects, roads and infrastructure Healthy & affordable city water City services, garbage & trash Economic and business development Four teams to compete in 10th Annual Alabama Seafood Cook-Off at The Wharf Martin was the runner-up in the 2020 mayoral election. He and current Prichard Mayor Jimmie Gardner faced a runoff after Gardner received 1,493 votes and Martin received 875 votes. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: March 18-20, 2025
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile (center) embraces his mother, Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, on the floor of the Alabama Senate on March 19, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. The first-term congressman spoke briefly to the chamber during a recess on Wednesday. To the Figures' left is Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma; to the right is Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector) Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. House HB 299, sponsored by Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, adds a $50 court fee for civil and criminal cases in Choctaw County circuit or district courts and a $25 fee for civil cases in small courts. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 300, sponsored by Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, allows the Choctaw County probate judge to collect a $10 fee for each document subject to deed and mortgage taxes. The bill passed 9-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 325, sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, allows the Lawrence County commission to form and fund fire districts. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the Senate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX HB 343, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham, makes membership of the General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County mandatory for eligible full-time employees effective Oct. 1. The bill passed 20-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 345, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Birmingham, allows the Jefferson County sheriff to appoint special reserve deputies when the county has fewer than 250 deputies. The bill passed 24-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 351, sponsored by Rep. Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, allows the Choctaw County Commission to increase property taxes by 5 mills to fund county road and bridge projects. The bill passed 8-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 369, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, allows the revenue commissioner of Elmore County to levy a sales and use tax, to fund local infrastructure projects and economic development. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 371, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Matthews, levies a $25 annual motor vehicle registration fee in Elmore County to be allocated to infrastructure and economic development. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 378, sponsored by Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, allows the Pickens County Commission to levy a $10 vehicle registration fee to fund ambulance services. The bill passed 7-0. It goes to the Senate SB 162, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, revises the distribution of Tennessee Valley Authority in-lieu-of-taxes payments in Marshall County, allocating funds to education, economic development, emergency services, mental health programs and local organizations. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 386, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, reduces the state's sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2%. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 387, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, allows local governments to reduce their local sales taxes on groceries. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 388, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, increases the amount of untaxable retirement income for Alabamians older than 65 from $12,000 to $24,000 for couples and from $6,000 to $12,000 for individuals. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 389, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, increases the threshold for optional income tax deductions. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 30, sponsored by Rep. Debbie Wood, R-Valley, requires county probate offices to conduct election audits for every county and state election in randomly selected precincts. The bill passed 63-30. It goes to the Senate. HB 320, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, allows public notice requirements for public works contracts to be advertised on a centralized Department of Finance website or direct mailing to interested parties if a print newspaper publication is insufficient. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 319, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, establishes the Imagination Library of Alabama Program to provide free monthly age-appropriate books to children under five. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 281, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, revises the appeals process for municipal zoning board decisions by setting deadlines for filing appeals, requiring boards to submit records to the court and establishing criteria for staying decisions during appeals. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 253, sponsored by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville, provides a state sales tax exemption for aircraft parts and maintenance services used by certified air carriers. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 322, sponsored by Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, R-Foley, requires education and screening for postpartum depression for mothers with Medicaid coverage. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 307, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, authorizes the chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court to appoint visiting judges for specific violent criminal cases. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 264, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, adjusts the registration of boats to include a staggered renewal process and directs a portion of proceeds to the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund. The bill passed 101-1. It goes to the Senate. HB 232, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, requires written notification to a school's superintendent or principal if a student is charged with or adjudicated delinquent for certain serious crimes, including capital offenses. The bill passed 79-8. It goes to the Senate. HB 356, sponsored by Rep. Matt Woods, R-Anniston, increases punishments for making terrorist threats, like school shooting threats, and requires students charged with such crimes to be suspended for a year. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 333, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Rainbow City, allows law enforcement to build indoor firing ranges for training. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 207, sponsored by Rep. Mike Shaw, R-Hoover, expands the role of the Office of Information Technology in Alabama by adding cybersecurity and other tasks related to data management and telecommunications. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 338, sponsored by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, expands the exceptions for key duplication services that do not fall under the definition of a locksmith. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. Senate SB 116, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would make it a state crime to possess or distribute firearm conversion devices, commonly referred to as 'Glock switches,' which enable semi-automatic pistols to fire as fully automatic weapons. The Senate concurred 24-2 with House changes. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation into law Wednesday. HB 243, sponsored by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, removes part of the property and construction taxes from private use industrial property, tangible property and taxable services after June 1, 2026, and requires the local tax collecting official and Department of Revenue to collect the money and deposit it into the Alabama Development Fund. The bill passed 27-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 93, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would exempt the personal property of members of the Alabama State Port Authority from being audited. The bill passed 28-0 and goes to the House. SB 156, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, would give some people sentenced to life in prison under the state's Habitual Offender Law before May 26, 2000 to have their sentences reviewed. The bill passed 17-8 and goes to the House. SB 177, sponsored by Sen. Lance Bell, R-Pell City, would rename the Alabama Film Office the Alabama Entertainment Office and allow up to $3 million in unspent incentives to be carried forward each year. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 200, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, would change the name of 'drug courts' to 'accountability courts' and to include offenders with mental illness and offenders who are veterans. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. HB 159, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, renames the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 106, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, would raise the Small Estates Act distribution threshold to the combined maximum amount allowed for homestead allowance, exempt property, and family allowance. It passed 33-0. It goes to the House. SB 133, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, would require juvenile courts to notify the local school superintendent or private school principal in writing when a student is charged with or found guilty of a serious crime that would be a Class A or B felony if committed by an adult. It passed 29-0. It goes to the House. House HB 347, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, would abolish the office of constable in Russell County on June 1. The bill passed 18-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 348, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, allows the Russell County Commission to increase the probate recording fee from $5 to $10. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 349, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, increases the annual salary of the sheriff of Russell County from $120,000 to $135,000, effective June 1. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 413, sponsored by Rep. Chad Robertson, R-Heflin, sets the salary for the sheriff and revenue commissioner of Cleburne County at $72,000, effective January 2027, and enrolls them in cost-of-living increases effective October 2028. The bill passed 16-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 417, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, alters the boundaries and corporate limits of the city of Eclectic in Elmore County. The bill passed 17-1. It goes to the Senate. SB 127, sponsored by Rep. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, allows the Calhoun County Commission to increase daily compensation for members of the Calhoun County Board of Registrars on days the board meets and conducts business. The bill passed 18-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 352, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, increases the assessment levy on the sale of cotton bales from $1 to $1.30 per bale. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 346, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, removes 100-hour practice requirement for certification of retired physicians who volunteer in hospitals. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 47, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, provides civil liability protections for members of community emergency response teams who have completed FEMA-recognized training. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 54, sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts, R-Mountain Brook, criminalizes unauthorized interference with critical infrastructure facilities, including damage or use of drones, and increases penalties for tampering with sectors like energy and transportation. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to Gov. Ivey. SB 78, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, criminalizes the possession, use or sale of inhalants such as butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide and amyl nitrite for people under 21 years old. The bill passed 102-0. The Senate concurred in House changes and sent the bill to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 336, sponsored by Rep. Kenyatté Hassell, D-Montgomery, allows Alabama to join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, enabling licensed respiratory therapists to practice in multiple states. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 360, sponsored by Rep. Chad Robertson, R-Heflin, changes 'drug courts' to 'accountability courts' and expands their scope to include offenders with mental illnesses or those who are veterans. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 359, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Birmingham, adds Parkinson's disease to the list of occupational diseases for firefighters. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 141, sponsored by Rep. Kenyatté Hassell, D-Montgomery, allows state employees to use pre-tax salary deductions to purchase household items like washing machines. The House voted 103-0 to concur with a Senate amendment that said deductions could not be used for political donations. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Senate SB 65, sponsored by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, would change the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Paint Rock in Jackson County. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. SB 44, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, would propose a local constitutional amendment to prohibit any additional sales and use tax in the county except when approved by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the area where the proposed tax will be paid. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House. HB 193, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R- Sylacauga, removes certain property from the corporate limits of the town of Bon Air and adds it to the city of Childersburg. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 87, sponsored by Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden, increases the expense allowance of the Marengo County coroner from $400 to $1,000 a month; authorizes the Marengo County Commission to approve future increases and authorizes the commission to hire a deputy coroner. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 211, sponsored by Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, would allow the Calhoun County Commission to regulate halfway houses and similar facilities. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 210, sponsored by Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston, would increase Calhoun County's coroner's base salary to $54,570 starting in 2027 and raise the salaries of assistant coroners from $4,800 to $6,100. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 104, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, allows the governing body of a Class 2 municipality to determine whether debris is a public nuisance and remove it. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 101, sponsored by Rep. Mark Shirey, R-Mobile, allows the Mobile County sheriff to create guidelines for using the Sheriff's Office credit or debit card. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. SB 221, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, would create a $49,000 expense allowance for the Mobile County Probate Judge beginning June 1, then increase the judge's base salary by $49,000 in 2031, at which point the allowance will be ended. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 224, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, would direct the Mobile County sheriff to administer and supervise all electronic monitoring of pretrial defendants in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Alabama. The bill passed 30-0. It goes the House. SB 219, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, would authorize the Clay County sheriff to sell certain abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed property at public auction. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. SB 220, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, would authorize the Clay County sheriff to conduct fundraising events. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House. HB 110, sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, continues the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission through October 1, 2027, and makes employees and board members subject to the state ethics laws. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the governor. HB 111, sponsored by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, continues the Home Builders Licensure Board through Oct. 1, 2029. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the governor. HB 118, sponsored by Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, continues the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners through Oct. 1, 2029. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the governor. HB 122, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, continues the Board of Physical Therapy through Oct. 1, 2029. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the governor. House HB 422, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, repeals a 1969 law on the distribution of state gas excise tax revenues to incorporated municipalities in Russell County. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 41, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, allows the Calhoun County Commission to regulate halfway houses and similar facilities, including setting permit, size, location and occupancy requirements. The bill passed with a House committee substitute that removed the bill's expiration date 13-0. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. HB 258, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R-Birmingham, changes the primary election date in off-presidential years from the fourth Tuesday in May to the second Tuesday in May. The bill passed 98-1. It goes to the Senate. HB 363, sponsored by Rep. James Lomax, R-Huntsville, prohibits people without legal status from contributing to campaigns, political parties or political action committees. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 95, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, requires that when a residential property with an HVAC system is sold, the manufacturer's warranty on the system automatically transfers to the new owner, without any transfer fee, as long as the warranty is still valid. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 198, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, establishes the Alabama National Guard Legal Services Office and Legal Assistance Program, defining positions and duties for judge advocates and paralegals, and allowing them to perform notary acts. The bill was substituted for HB 328, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, and passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 361, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hammett, R-Dozier, grants the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe the authority to hire certified police officers to maintain security on tribal property. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 152, sponsored by Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, exempts baby formula, maternity clothing and menstrual hygiene products from the state sales tax. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate. HB 234, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, requires schools by 2030 to have designated employees carrying emergency response system to be used for medical emergencies and security. The bill passed 58-30. It goes to the Senate. HB 148, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Greenhill, ensures that vehicles registered in other states comply with the insurance requirements of their home state. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate. SB 222, sponsored by Rep. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, authorizes medical clinic boards leasing property to health care providers in bankruptcy to adjust their debts under federal law. The bill passed 102-0. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence or a conference committee. SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile gives paid parental leave to all state employees and educators. It was substituted for HB 327, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg. The bill passed 94-2. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. HB 285, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, requires law enforcement to notify the emergency contact of a minor for traffic infractions. The bill passed 99-1. It goes to the Senate. HB 384, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, defines corn masa and requires corn masa products sold in Alabama to be enriched with folic acid. The bill passed 91-7. It goes to the Senate. SB 25, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Garland Gudger, R-Cullman, directs proceeds from alcoholic beverage sales tax in community development districts to a special fund for grants supporting local education, community and tourism activities. The House concurred with an executive amendment from Gov. Kay Ivey that only applies the legislation to Cullman County. Senate SB 252, sponsored by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, would create new regulations and restrictions on reimbursements and fees pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) charge to pharmacies. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to the House. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
