Friday Five: March 1, 2024
The Alabama Legislature is in session, and Peritus PR is back with our fan-favorite #FridayFive legislative highlights series.
Every Friday, we’ll delve into the legislative “specials” of the week to help you digest the issues legislators have been chewing on at the Alabama State House. Grab your fork and knife, and dig into some of the bills that were introduced, debated, passed, failed or signed this week.
If you’re hungry for more, get the full course with our 2024 Alabama Legislative Guide.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
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The Alabama legislature has passed a bill designed to shield in vitro fertilization (IVF) providers and patients from legal consequences if embryos are damaged or destroyed during the IVF process, responding to a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that categorized frozen embryos as children under Alabama law. The bill aims to alleviate distress for IVF patients, following the suspension of IVF services by some Alabama clinics.
Read more: Alabama lawmakers pass legislation to protect IVF treatment (Washington Post)
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The CHOOSE Act passed this week in the Alabama House of Representatives, establishing a voucher-like program aimed at improving educational opportunities for students, particularly those in struggling schools. The bill allows households with school-age children to claim tax credits of up to $7,000 for certain education expenses, such as private school tuition or tutoring. Initially, the program is limited to families below a certain income threshold, with priority given to lower-income households and special needs students. However, there are concerns about how it may impact public school funding and accountability, with opponents fearing it could lead to segregation and harm public education.
Read more: Alabama House passes school voucher-like program (Alabama Reflector)
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A gambling package recently passed by the Alabama House, including a constitutional amendment for a lottery, authorization for casinos, and provisions for sports betting, is encountering strong resistance in the Senate. Alabama Senators are seeking amendments to the bill's content, but Democrats and Republicans remain divided on what these amendments should entail. As negotiations continue, the fate of gambling remains uncertain.
Read more: Waiting on alternative legislation, Senate committee delays gambling vote (AL Daily News)
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A bill in the Alabama Senate that proposes criminalizing the public display of most flags — outside of specific exceptions including the American flag, the Alabama flag and a 9/11 memorial flag — has stalled in committee. The bill, SB4, has faced opposition from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers over concerns about freedom of speech infringement and potential business impacts. Public comments during a hearing raised questions about its application, including whether displaying non-American flags like an LGBTQ+ Pride flag would result in misdemeanor charges.
Read more: Legislative Briefs: Freedom Flag bill stalls, What is a Woman Act advances and more (AL Daily News)
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Governor Kay Ivey announced the allocation of $148.3 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to expand high-speed internet access in underserved areas across Alabama. This funding, distributed to 16 internet providers, will support the expansion of services in 48 counties, benefiting approximately 54,000 households, businesses, and institutions. The initiative, administered by the Alabama Department of Economics and Community Affairs, aims to achieve full broadband access for the state.
Read more: Ivey announces $148.3M in ARPA funding for local broadband projects (AL Daily News)
OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY
Like curating your perfect plate at Nana’s Thanksgiving, we all have the right to saddle up to the table with our idea of what’s right for Alabama. With this legislative menu in hand, it’s time to decide what is going to hit the spot for our communities, our organizations and our lives.
Our team has brewed the perfect pairing with our #ALPolitics Guide, helping you identify and contact the representatives serving as head chefs in your communities’ kitchens, explore media resources to keep you informed throughout the session and bridge the gap between policymakers and your community’s table.
Whet your appetite for a better Alabama — we will see ya here next Friday!
At Peritus Public Relations, we know you want to make an impact. To do that you need confidence and clarity to take action. Tell us what’s keeping you up at night and stop letting fear of a misstep get in the way of driving your mission forward. We believe you deserve to get it right. For over a decade, organizations like yours have trusted us to navigate the best path forward.
Peritus specializes in issue advocacy, stakeholder engagement, government affairs and strategic consulting. Let’s connect if you want to learn more about how state policy affects your mission and bottom line.
Check out the 2024 Peritus PR Alabama Legislative Guide here.