We hope you enjoy this preview of Alabama Arise’s weekly legislative update! Every week during the Alabama Legislature’s regular session, we send members like you an up-to-the-minute summary of what you need to know from the past week at the State House – and what to expect in the week ahead.

We are proud to offer this as a members-only benefit of Arise. If you enjoy this recap but aren’t yet a member, join us today with a gift of any amount by April 1 and you will continue receiving this recap throughout the session. Memberships renew annually.

To help cover the cost of our membership program, we suggest a gift of at least $50, or a gift of $5 a month. We hope you will consider sustaining our work year-round by becoming a monthly donor. Just click “make this donation recurring” below your gift amount. Thank you for your support of our movement for a better Alabama!

If you cannot afford a membership but would like to join Arise, email development associate McKenzie Burton at [email protected].

Cover Alabama: Register now: Cover Alabama 2023 Lobby Day

Join Cover Alabama in Montgomery on Tuesday, March 21, to hear personal stories from people in the coverage gap, health care experts, faith leaders and more. Resources will be available to help you speak directly with your lawmakers about the need to close the coverage gap in Alabama.

Please register by this Friday, March 17.

Alabama Arise: You're invited: Arise Legislative Day 2023

Your voice matters! Make plans to speak up for a better Alabama by attending Arise's 2023 Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 11, in Montgomery. Legislative Day is an annual opportunity for Arise supporters to meet their lawmakers and make the case for policy changes to improve life for everyday Alabamians. 

Please register by Monday, April 3.

Alabamians for Fair Justice: 2023 Lobby Day

Alabamians for Fair Justice (AFJ) will gather in Montgomery on Tuesday, April 4, to advocate for numerous reforms of the criminal justice system in our state. Alabama Arise is a member of the AFJ coalition.

Alabama Arise: Alabama Arise toolkit on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Alabama Arise: Budget priorities for the people

After years of scarcity, both Alabama budgets are starting out with a revenue surplus. There’s $351 million in “excess” revenue for the General Fund, and $2.7 billion for the Education Trust Fund. That’s not even counting the remaining $1.1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds still awaiting allocation.

What we heard at this year’s budget hearings was not surprising. Public services like education, health care, mental health and supportive services need more resources after years of underinvestment. State agencies are struggling with worker shortages and the consequences of underfunding – and understaffing – critical programs. It’s no surprise that lawmakers heard a long, detailed list of opportunities to meet these needs. Most agency heads were clear that new funding can’t fix all of the problems – but it’s a start.

Alabama Arise: Fresh opportunities to push for a better Alabama

The Alabama Legislature welcomed 37 new lawmakers to its halls when its 2023 regular session began Tuesday. Alabama Arise sees this as an opportunity to educate new legislators and identify new allies on issues of importance to our members. We urge folks to join us in calling for change.

Learn more about our priorities for this year, including untaxing groceries, expanding Medicaid, reining in fines and fees, and funding public transportation.

Alabama Reflector: Alabama legislators told to be cautious with record-breaking budget revenues 

"Wages are not keeping up with the cost of inflation, and we've got to address that if we want our state to be healthy," Arise's Robyn Hyden told the Alabama Reflector. Lawmakers can and should untax groceries and expand Medicaid to make life better for every Alabamian.

Alabama Daily News: Alabama Medicaid will soon begin sifting rolls

About 61,000 Alabamians could lose health coverage by June 2024 due to the upcoming expiration of federal Medicaid protections activated early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Unless our state expands Medicaid, "these people will be in the coverage gap, and a number of them will not have affordable insurance coverage options," Arise's Jennifer Harris told Alabama Daily News.

Tri-City Ledger: Doctors say it's very critical to expand Medicaid

Medicaid expansion would mean healthier workers and healthier families across Alabama, pediatrician Dr. Marsha Raulerson said at a recent public forum that Arise co-hosted in Brewton. "I've seen a lot of families come through, and I've seen a lot of things happen over the years," Raulerson said. "I noted that if parents have health care, their children did better, so I want my parents to have health care."

Fox 6, Birmingham: Local advocacy groups pushing for policy change with Alabama's death penalty after ADOC's internal review

Making the state's ban on judicial override retroactive is a crucial step toward reducing injustices in Alabama's death penalty system, Arise's Mike Nicholson tells Fox 6 in Birmingham. Though lawmakers ended the practice in 2017, "there are still over 30 folks that are on death row who are sent there by a judge and not a jury," Nicholson said.

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.

Bills we're watching

• HB 1, by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would appropriate more than $1 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. HB 1 would provide $200 million for hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities; $80 million for pandemic-related costs for state employee and public education employee insurance; $25 million for mental health services; $260 million for broadband internet expansion; $400 million for improved access to clean water; and $55 million for human services including food assistance, services for abused women and children, and housing assistance. The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee approved HB 1 on Thursday, and the House will consider it on Tuesday. Arise is monitoring HB 1.
• SB 1, by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, would appropriate $60 million from the General Fund to make the final rainy day fund repayment owed to the Alabama Trust Fund. The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved SB 1 on Thursday, and the Senate will consider it on Tuesday. Arise is monitoring SB 1.

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