The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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May 16, 2025 – the 2025 Alabama regular legislative session is over and pundits and citizens alike are left to contemplate what just changed here in the state of Alabama. Some pundits have recently said that the legislators did not accomplish much of anything this session. That take could not be more wrong, as this session yielded several pieces of legislation that will be felt if you are a parent, student, or operate a business in this state. Whether you agree with everything the Legislature d...
May 17, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Yesterday we looked back at the ten most consequential bills that did pass. Dozens of bills did not pass. A lot of conversations are being had right now about what went wrong on those last two legislative days that resulted in bills dying by the dozen for "lack of time." Democrats and the Senate rules are getting blamed for "killing" the bills; but there are only 8 Democrats in the 35 member body so if Republican Senators did their jobs there SHOULD be nothing tha...
May 17, 2025 – VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV will lead his inaugural mass Sunday. Vice President J.D. Vance – himself a Catholic convert – will lead a substantial United States delegation that includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) and other members of Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the King and Queen of Spain – Felipe and Letizia will also be there as well as Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, German Chancello...
May 7, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama Legislature sent a powerful message to Alabama's public-school parents when they passed landmark legislation banning students bringing their cell phones to school. House Bill 166 (HB166) is sponsored by State Representative Leigh Hulsey (R-Pelham). It was carried in the Senate by State Senator Donnie Chesteen (R-Dothan). Students wasting time playing games, cruising social media sites, and texting their friends has become an enormous distraction for...
May 8, 2025 – VATICAN CITY – The cardinals finally elected a new Pope. Late on Thursday evening white smoke began bellowing out of the building where the 133 cardinals were gathered to select the new Pope. This notified the faithful gathered in Vatican Square than an announcement of the selection would be coming. The cardinals shocked many Vatican watchers by selecting an America - Robert Francis Prevost as the Successor to St. Peter. The 69-year-old pontiff chose the papal name of Leo the XIV...
May 9, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R), on the Friday ahead of Mother's Day weekend, signed House Bill 152 to provide sales tax exemptions on certain purchases of diapers, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing and feminine products. House Bill 152 was sponsored by Rep. Neil Rafferty (D-Birmingham). "Alabama is proudly the most pro-life state in America, and we remain committed to doing all we can to support our moms," said Governor Kay Ivey in a statement. "As...
May 9, 2025 – Advocates for psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp are disappointed with legislation passed by the governor that will tax and regulate psychoactive cannabinoids derived chemically from non-psychoactive hemp. While Alabama did pass medical marijuana legislation in 2021, the Alabama Legislature made it abundantly clear that recreational marijuana would not be allowed in the state. That position was made null and void by the 2018 Farm Bill that legalized hemp. Hemp advocates a...
May 6, 2025 – the Alabama Legislature passed the Teachers Paperwork Streamlining Act. Senate Bill 280 (SB280) is sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). It is carried in the House by State Representative Terri Collins (R-Decatur). The House adopted a substitute version of SB280 that they prepared in Collins' Education Policy Committee. "What we are talking about is reducing the load on individual teachers," said Collins. "What this is doing, for the individual teacher - we want to keep them...
May 14, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) on Tuesday signed House Bill 307 - the Speedy Trial Act - into law. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) and carried in the House by State Representative Jim Hill (R-Odenville). SB307 expedites trials for violent criminal cases, reduces backlogs and ensures swift justice for victims. Attorney General Steve Marshall, Chief Justice Sarah Stewart and Senator Will Barfoot joined the governor in her office as...
May 6, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL.– Legislation that would have made it legal for Alabama citizens to provide emergency assistance to injured, wounded, or orphaned wild animals was defeated when it did not come up for consideration by the Alabama House of Representatives. At the end of Tuesday's legislative day the Alabama House of Representatives passed a motion "to indefinitely postpone" all House bills that had not already passed in the House. With time running out on the 2025 Alabama regular l...
BIRMINGHAM, AL – May 13, 2025 – Alabama Always, LLC, an applicant for an integrated license in the state's medical cannabis program, has kept the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing cannabis licenses with a host of actions in state courts since 2023. Now they have filed a federal lawsuit against members of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), alleging that Commissioners and staff violated its First Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment rights under the United States Constitu...
May 14, 2025 - CULLMAN, AL - Republican voters in portions of Cullman and Blount Counties went to the polls today for the Special Primary Election in Alabama House District 11. They elected Heath Albright as the GOP nominee in HD11. "Thank you, District 11!" Albright said on his Facebook account. "I am deeply honored by the trust voters in District 11 have placed in me. I'm ready to fight for our families, schools, and businesses, ensuring our community thrives while preserving the values that...
May 15, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama Legislature has passed legislation to exempt nursing moms from having to perform jury duty service. Senate Bill 76 (SB76) was sponsored by State Senator April Weaver (R-Briarfield). State Representative Susan Dubose (R-Grandview) carried the bill in the House. On Wednesday, Weaver said that the bill had been amended in the House of Representatives to require the mother/prospective juror to produce documentation of the birth and that she is a nur...
May 14, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL. – Alabama Governor Kay Ivy (R) signed legislation to tax and regulate THC products derived from hemp. The bill imposes strict regulations on the sale of psychoactive cannabinoids. House Bill 445 (HB445) was introduced in the House by Rep. Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) and carried in the Senate by Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence). The law will limit all psychoactive cannabinoids sold over the counter in Alabama to a maximum limit of 10 milligrams of THC – Tet...
May 14, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama Legislature passed legislation to raise the age of medical consent from 14 years old to 16. Senate Bill 101 (SB 101) was sponsored by State Senator Larry Stutts (R-Sheffield). It was carried in the House by State Representative Susan Dubose (R-Greystone). The House had passed an amended version of SB101 by a vote of 85 to 0 on May 7. On Wednesday, Sen. Stutts asked the Senate to concur with that House version. The motion to concur passed the Sen...
May 14, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL - The Alabama Senate passed legislation giving law enforcement officers civil and criminal immunity as long as they are not acting "recklessly" and the behavior in question is related to their line of duty. House Bill 202 (HB202) was sponsored by State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville). It was carried in the Senate by State Senator Lance Bell (R-Pell City). Sen. Bell said that the immunity only applies to reasonable policy-compliant actions and that o...
May 15, 2025 – BIRMINGHAM, AL – The new members of the Birmingham Water Works Board met for the first time. After decades of incompetence and corruption, the Alabama Legislature abolished the old board and created a new regional water utility outside the control of both the old board and the City of Birmingham. Senate Bill 330 (SB330) was sponsored by State Senator Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) and carried in the Alabama House of Representatives by State Representative Jim Carns (R-...
May 15, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed both of the two remaining bills in the Safe Alabama public safety package, House Bill 202 and House Bill 199. HB202 was sponsored by State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) and carried in the Senate by Senator Lance Bell (R-Pell City). It provides law enforcement with enhanced legal protections from criminal prosecution and civil liability as long as they don't act recklessly and the actions are taken in the...
May 10, 2025 – VESTAVIA HILLS, AL – Republican grassroots activists were updated on the 2025 Alabama regular legislative session by State Senator Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) and State Representative Mike Shaw (R-Hoover). One of the key pieces of legislation passed in this session was the replacement of the Birmingham Waterworks Board with a new regional board that will be more representative than the old board. That legislation was sponsored by Sen. Roberts and Representative Jim Carns (R-...
April 22, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama House of Representatives passed legislation to provide food pantries on Alabama college campuses. House Bill 273 (HB273) is sponsored by State Representatives Terri Collins (R-Decatur). The Hunger-Free Campus Act would require the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to require colleges and universities in the state to form a hunger-free task force. The bill would establish a framework for colleges to be designated as "hunger-free campuses." Instit...
Former Secretary of State John Merrill (R) recently spoke on the Brandon and Christopher Show podcast hosted by Alabama Gazette lead reporter and content manger Brandon Moseley and Alabama Political Contributor Publisher Christopher Peeks. Merrill touted his record as Secretary of State and his work making Alabama elections more secure. "When I left office, we were recognized by conservative women for good government, by the Heritage Foundation, and by the University of Southern California in Lo...
April 29, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL - An Alabama Senate committee failed to give a favorable report to legislation that would have changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. That bill had 55 cosponsors in the House but failed when Senate Republicans on the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government sided with Senate Democrats in committee to kill the bill. House Bill 247 (HB247) was sponsored by State Representative David Standridge (R-Hayden). President Donald J. T...
April 29, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today that the State has filed a lawsuit against social media company TikTok Inc., and its parent company, ByteDance Inc., for exploiting children, addicting them to harmful content, and lying about the safety of its platform. The lawsuit, filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court, seeks to hold TikTok accountable for fueling a mental health crisis among Alabama's youth. "Today we join concerned parents across o...
Former Alabama Lieutenant Governor George D. H. McMillan Jr. (D), a prominent figure in Alabama's political and social scene, passed away, leaving a legacy that will be remembered for generations. His death marks the end of an era characterized by significant contributions to the state and its people. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) shared the following comment upon learning of the passing of former Alabama Lieutenant Governor George McMillan: "I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our...
Monday, April 28, 2025, This is Confederate Memorial Day. State offices are closed in remembrance of the soldiers and sailors who served defending the State of Alabama and the Confederate States of America (C.S.A.) during the Civil War of 1861 to 1865. Federal government offices, as well as most banks, businesses, and schools, will be open. Former Governor Lewis E. Parsons estimated that 122,000 Alabamians served in the Confederate military and that 35,000 of those died in the war. The next year...
