Thank you for supporting Arise's vision for a better Alabama for all. We will send weekly news updates throughout the Legislature's 2026 regular session. Arise members will receive a more robust version of these emails, including weekly video recaps and updates on key bills. If you aren't an Arise member yet, please join us today to ensure you stay in the loop!

Action alerts, events and resources:

Alabama Arise Action: Alabama Arise Action Legislative Day 

Your voice matters! Make plans now to speak up for a better Alabama for all at our Legislative Day on Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Alabama State House in Montgomery. Please register by this Thursday, Feb. 12.

Legislative Day is an annual opportunity for Arise members and friends to meet their lawmakers and make the case for policy changes to improve the lives of everyday Alabamians.

We will gather at the State House in Room 200 for a briefing, news conference and lunch. Folks also will meet with their legislators. We will end the day with a debrief of the legislative visits and a membership meeting.

Alabama Arise Action: Senators, don’t take away our right to vote for PSC members!

Alabamians should have a direct voice in who represents us in public office. Right now, Alabama voters are able to elect members of the Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the electrical rates that most people in our state pay. But SB 268 by Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would take away Alabamians’ right to choose those public officials by changing the PSC to an appointed body.

Email your state senator now and ask them to oppose SB 268.

Alabama Arise Action: Representatives, don’t take away our right to vote for PSC members!

Alabamians should have a direct voice in who represents us in public office. Right now, Alabama voters are able to elect members of the Public Service Commission (PSC), which regulates the electrical rates that most people in our state pay. But HB 392 by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger's Island, would take away Alabamians’ right to choose those public officials by changing the PSC to an appointed body.

This bill passed a House committee and awaits a vote in the full House. Email your state representative and ask them to oppose HB 392.

Alabama Arise: Alabama Arise testimony in opposition to ending Public Service Commission elections

Arise's Robyn Hyden testified before a House committee today in opposition to HB 392 by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger's Island, which would change the Public Service Commission from an elected board to an appointed one. Read her prepared remarks for more.

Alabama Arise Action: Improve Alabama’s parole process

Parole decisions should be based on the available and relevant evidence of a person’s readiness to reintegrate into society. HB 86 by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would take a good step in this direction for Alabama.

Email your state House member now and ask them to support HB 86.

Alabama Arise Action: Protect food choice for SNAP participants in Alabama

Alabama should not be in the business of telling people who are living in poverty what to eat. Unfortunately, Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, has introduced SB 57, a bill that would go directly against that principle. This bill would restrict which foods can be bought in Alabama with food assistance benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Please take a moment to urge your senator to vote NO on SB 57.

Alabama Arise Action: Make it easier for mothers to keep their babies fed

Newborn babies need to eat, as they are quick to remind us. HB 290 by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, would help nursing mothers ensure that their babies are fed in a timely way.

This bill would provide state-level protections to help ensure mothers have both time and a clean, private space at work to express milk comfortably. And it would make state law more consistent with federal PUMP Act protections for nursing mothers at work.

Email your state House member now and urge them to vote YES on HB 290.

Alabama Arise Action: Oppose HB 13, a harmful anti-immigrant bill

HB 13 by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would undermine civil liberties, increase the potential for racial profiling and wrongful detention of immigrants, and undermine trust in law enforcement, especially among immigrant communities.

HB 13 has passed in the House Judiciary Committee and awaits a vote in the full House. Ask your state representative to vote NO on HB 13.

Alabama Arise Action: Keep babies and new mothers out of jail

Alabama needs to do more to address the urgent issue of improving maternal and infant health across our state. HB 54 by Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, would take an important step toward advancing that goal in the state’s criminal justice system.

The House Judiciary Committee needs to hear from you that they should vote YES on HB 54.

Low Income Housing Coalition of Alabama: LIHCA Advocacy Day

Join the Low Income Housing Coalition of Alabama (LIHCA) for its annual Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 3, at 10 a.m. at the Alabama State House in Montgomery. This is your opportunity to stand with advocates, community partners and housing champions from across the state as we work together to advance policies that support safe, affordable and accessible housing for all Alabamians.

Cover Alabama: Cover Alabama 2026 Advocacy Day

Join us for Cover Alabama Advocacy Day on Tuesday, March 10, at 10 a.m. at the Alabama State House in Montgomery. Together, we will continue pushing the Legislature to find a real solution to close Alabama’s health coverage gap and uplift the voices and stories of people impacted by the lack of affordable health care.

Alabama Arise: We're hiring a state policy fellow 

Alabama Arise seeks a State Policy Fellow to research and analyze tax and budget equity. The fellow will focus on our state’s education budget, including the impacts of recent tax credits and tax expenditures. This role will support Arise’s multi-issue, member-driven agenda, which spans multiple budget issues and areas. This position will report to the senior policy analyst and work on the policy team. This is a two-year position beginning in summer 2026. The deadline to apply is Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.

Arise in the news:

Alabama Political Reporter: SNAP candy and soda ban clears Alabama Senate committee

“ I just think it makes a lot more sense to help people eat healthy, then it does to prohibit specific foods,” Arise's Carol Gundlach told the Alabama Political Reporter.

AL.com: Don’t have health insurance? Here are places in Alabama you can get care

“We’ve heard many heartbreaking stories of Alabamians who saw their health insurance costs soar to an amount they simply can’t afford after losing their premium tax credits,” Arise's Debbie Smith told AL.com's Savannah Tryens-Fernandes. 

AL.com: Alabama school choice debate collides with football: How popular is the CHOOSE Act?

“The CHOOSE Act is set to redirect hundreds of millions of dollars away from Alabama’s public schools and toward private schools and homeschooling in the coming years,” Arise's Robyn Hyden tells AL.com's John Sharp.

Alabama Channel: Live and recorded legislative meetings

The Alabama Channel is a searchable library of live and recorded videos of floor debates and committee meetings at the Alabama Legislature. It is a project of the League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund.

Alabama Arise

P.O. Box 1188, Montgomery, Alabama 36101

(334) 832-9060  ·  [email protected]

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