Alabama Arise: Federal relief package will reduce Alabamians’ unmet health needs, hunger, housing instability and other hardships

President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law on Thursday. The new relief package increases aid for housing, health care, hunger and more. Arise has details on how the plan will save and improve lives across Alabama.

Arise invites you to Membership Mondays

Membership Mondays are an opportunity for Alabama Arise members to network and get more energized in our work together. In these online sessions, members will get the latest updates on the legislative session. Then they will break into groups to talk to other Arise members around the state. The first of these events is today, Monday, March 15, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. If you aren’t yet an Arise member, please join our movement for as little as $15 today.

Speak out for Medicaid expansion in Alabama!

The new federal relief package has created a clear financial path to expand Medicaid in Alabama. That would ensure health coverage for more than 340,000 Alabamians who are uninsured or struggling to afford coverage. Please join our Cover Alabama campaign for Medicaid expansion. We invite business leaders and faith leaders to sign the petitions below. And we invite everyone to click “Read More” to sign the statewide petition.

Business Leaders

Faith Leaders

Sign our petition to Gov. Ivey here.

Alabama Political Reporter: Advocates say at-risk people receiving at-home care need vaccines, too

Bills we're watching this week

House Judiciary Committee (Tuesday, March 16)

• HB 445, by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, is an anti-protest bill disguised as an “anti-riot” public safety bill. It would enhance penalties for people accused of the crime of riot, deny bail to people accused under its provisions for up to 48 hours, and institute a mandatory minimum of three months’ imprisonment for actions as minor as obstructing a police dog. The bill also would hold local government officials civilly liable in some circumstances for violent crimes committed by others. Arise opposes HB 445.

 Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee (Tuesday, March 16)

• SB 189, by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is the budget that funds all K-12 and higher education services in Alabama.

 House Judiciary Committee (Wednesday, March 17)

• SB 117, by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, and HB 226 by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, are companion bills that expand the convictions that can be expunged from a criminal record. Arise supports the expungement sections in SB 117 and HB 226 but does not support the increase in the filing fee for expungements.

• HB 499, by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa. HB 499 would establish an Alabama Court Cost Commission to study court costs and make recommendations to the Legislature. HB 499 also would prohibit new or modified court courts unless submitted to the commission for review. Arise supports HB 499.

 House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee (Wednesday, March 17)

• HB 399, by Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy. HB 399 would prohibit mail-in voting and prohibit the Secretary of State from revising the absentee voting process during a state of emergency. Arise opposes HB 399.

Alabama Arise tracks legislation related to our members' interests. You can find our Bills of Interest here.