T he first year of the new quadrennium — and all the formalities associated with a new group of lawmakers adjusting to the rough and tumble of Montgomery — is in the history books .
This year ’ s session had its share of positives . It held the first successful effort to rein in Alabama ’ s regressive grocery tax . The practitioners of so-called Environmental , Social , and Governance ( ESG ) social engineering policy took a shot across the bow from lawmakers . State Health Officer Dr . Scott Harris was put on defense by Republican legislators after advocating for Medicaid expansion and questioning Alabama ’ s youth transgender therapy ban enacted by the body a year earlier . School choice got an obligatory nod , assuming it would be back again later down the road .
However , there is still much left to be desired from a chamber dominated by Republican supermajorities .
The people of Alabama overwhelmingly voted for conservativedominated governance from its legislative branch . It may be time for those elected to respond accordingly .
School Choice
After sine die , Gov . Kay Ivey unexpectedly voiced her support for a school choice effort in Alabama .
“ My goal is for Alabama to be the most school choice-friendly state in the nation ,” she said in a July appearance on Alabama Public Television ’ s Capitol Journal . “ I want us to have lots of school choices for our parents to choose from . We are working now , already , now , on a bill , an ESA bill , an Education Savings Account bill , to present to the legislature in the next session and I ’ m very optimistic that will pass .”
“ But , it is very important for our parents to have choices of where to send their children for school ,” Ivey added . “ Whether it ’ s public , private , home-schooled or whatever , but the goal is to get our children a quality education .”
If Ivey means what she says and is willing to part ways with some political capital and the alleged goodwill from the Alabama Education Association teachers ’ union , a true conservative ’ s version of school choice in Alabama will have its best shot of passage in the state ’ s history .
Gambling
After a 2023 hiatus , the gambling issue is set to make its annual appearance in the Alabama State House . Will this be the year it passes ?
Historically , gambling measures have passed the Alabama Senate but have gone to die downstairs in the Alabama House .
In 2024 , under the new leadership of House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter ( R-Rainsville ), the House will take the first crack with hope for a different outcome .
The difficulty with gambling is unlike many of the hot-button issues of the day ; a three-fifths supermajority is required to meet the threshold for a constitutional amendment .
Gambling , or so-called games of chance , is prohibited in Alabama in accordance with the Alabama Constitution of 1901 . That provision would have to be repealed to legalize gambling .
Despite a supermajority in both chambers , many Republicans will never vote to legalize gambling , forcing pro-gambling Republicans to seek affirmative votes from their Democrat counterparts .
Although Democrats have shown a willingness to support gaming measures , such support comes with a price . What will Republican leadership have to cede to win enough votes for gambling in 2024 ?
Ethics Reform
The third rail of the legislative branch has been any effort to tinker with Alabama ’ s ethics law .
The current law was passed in 2010 to clean up Montgomery after decades of Democratic Party rule fraught with elements of corruption .
However , the prosecution and conviction of former House Speaker Mike Hubbard left many with more questions than answers , and lawmakers have sought to establish clarity in the law .
State Rep . Matt Simpson ( R-Daphne ), the chairman of the House Ethics Committee , is spearheading the latest effort .
While there is merit in any proposal to clarify a sometimes confusing law , the attempt has its detractors . Some , especially those who stand to lose power by narrowing a broadly interpreted existing law , will cry foul , insisting the legislature is acting in a selfserving capacity . That has worked in the past to stymy efforts . It will almost certainly be tried again .
Miscellaneous
There are always outstanding items from year to year . However , one the Alabama Legislature cannot allow to remain is State Rep . Jamie Kiel ’ s ( R-Russellville ) ballot-harvesting legislation .
For the first time in nearly 20 years , Alabama will have at least one competitive Republican versus Democrat election on the ballot .
If history is any indicator , Democrats will pull out all stops to win the seat , including the use and possible abuse of the absentee ballot process .
Kiel ’ s bill would raise penalties for those engaging in so-called absentee ballot harvesting . Federal law mandates that any changes to election law must come six months before the general election . Thus , this bill must first be out of the gate to comply with federal law .
Democrats have also successfully thwarted the passage of a critical race theory ban . State Rep . Ed Oliver ( R-Dadeville ) should finally be able to secure passage of a ban on so-called divisive concepts implemented in the name of Diversity , Equity , and Inclusion .
The legislation has the support of Republicans but continues to be hamstrung by the Democrat minority in the Alabama Senate — State Sens . Bobby Singleton ( D-Greensboro ) and Rodger Smitherman ( D-Birmingham ), in particular .
Even with a GOP supermajority , Democrats Singleton and Smitherman commandeered nearly 80 % of the floor time in the 2023 Alabama Senate , tying up the chamber and not allowing conservative bills to pass in the Senate .
Will 2024 be any different ?
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