Alabama Arise Action 2021 annual meeting

The Arise policy and campaign teams gave updates on criminal justice reform, voting rights, Medicaid expansion and other issue priorities during Alabama Arise Action's annual meeting last week. Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, also called in to provide insight from the legislative side of the 2021 regular session.

Alabama Arise: Needed changes still possible as Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session winds down

Opportunities to enact positive change remain as the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session winds down. On our blog, Arise’s Dev Wakeley highlights a few of these bills, including investments in community corrections and limits on civil asset forfeiture.

Alabamians for Fair Justice: Power Hour webinars

We’re proud to stand with Alabamians for Fair Justice in working to end overincarceration and racial disparities in the justice system. Join AFJ’s series of hourlong meetings each Monday for the rest of the legislative session to learn how you can help.

Alabama Daily News: Civil asset forfeiture compromise clears Senate

Under Alabama’s civil forfeiture policies, law enforcement can seize property from people who weren’t convicted of a crime — or even charged with one. Alabama Daily News explains how a new bill would help increase due process and rein in abuses of the practice.

Montgomery Advertiser: Put grocery tax cuts back on the table in the Alabama Legislature

The state grocery tax makes life harder for families who already struggle to make ends meet. In this Montgomery Advertiser op-ed, former Arise intern Seton Parsons urges Alabama to untax groceries while protecting school funding.

Bills we're watching

HB 499 by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would establish a Court Fee Commission to review court costs and fees and would pause all new court costs until the commission has finished its work. HB 499 will be considered on the House floor on Tuesday, April 27. Arise supports HB 499.
SB 189 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is the Education Trust Fund budget that funds all education services in the state. SB 189 has passed the Senate and will be considered on the House floor on Tuesday, April 27. Arise is tracking the budget appropriations in SB 189.
HB 308 by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, is the General Fund budget that funds Medicaid, corrections and other non-education services. HB 308 has passed the House and will be considered in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee on Wednesday, April 28. Arise is tracking the budget appropriations in HB 308.
SB 97 by Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, would restrict the authority of the governor and state health officer during a pandemic. SB 97 has passed the Senate and will be considered in the House Health Committee on Wednesday, April 28. Arise opposes SB 97.
SB 210 by Orr would place new restrictions on civil asset forfeiture of property seized by law enforcement. SB 210 has passed the Senate and will be considered in the House State Government Committee on Wednesday, April 28. Arise supports SB 210.

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

Read Bills of Interest

Alabama Arise

P.O. Box 1188, Montgomery, Alabama 36101

(334) 832-9060 · [email protected]

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