HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS KEEPS PLEDGE OF PASSING ITS 2025 "ALABAMA VALUES" LEGISLATIVE AGENDA DURING REGULAR SESSION

May 19, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R - Hartselle) said on Monday that the Alabama House Republican Caucus kept its pledge to pass the "Alabama Values" legislative agenda and statement of principles, a list of conservative issues and initiatives that the body's supermajority promised to prioritize during the 2025 regular session.

"The 'Alabama Values' agenda highlighted the conservative beliefs and values that most Alabamians embrace, and Republican House members worked hard to make its enactment a reality," Stadthagen said. "From fighting crime to combating illegal immigration to cutting taxes to improving education and other issues, our Republican members showed tremendous leadership and helped make an already great state even better."

The items in the 2025 House Republican Caucus "Alabama Values" agenda were:

Alabama Values Work Ethic and Job Creation - Among the many measures passed in this area was the "Powering Growth" plan that will create jobs and spur economic development because energy availability consistently ranks as the No. 1 factor in site selection for economic development projects. It also eases the path for energy producers to build infrastructure and create jobs, especially in rural portions of the state.

Alabama Values Border Protection - The House and Senate partnered on passing a package designed to combat illegal immigration and work hand-in-glove with the federal efforts of the Trump administration. It included legislation that creates the Class C felony crime of knowingly trafficking illegal immigrants and another that requires law enforcement to collect the DNA and fingerprints of illegal immigrants who are arrested for crimes.

Alabama Values Honest Elections - While our state has more election protections than most, Alabamians must be assured that the votes they cast are counted honestly, and our system is shielded from those who seek to manipulate it. This is why Republican lawmakers passed bills codifying the Alabama Voter Identification Database into law and banning the use of foreign national drivers' licenses as an acceptable form of Voter ID.

Alabama Values Public Safety - Alabamians deserve to feel protected and receive swift justice for crimes committed against them, so to help recruit and retain law enforcement officers, House Republicans passed the "Back The Blue Protection Act," which provides civil and criminal immunity to LEOs who follow department guidelines and regulations while on duty. The GOP Caucus also passed the "Speedy Trial Act" that fastbacks prosecutions and legislation banning sex offenders from serving as first responders.

Alabama Values Public Education - A record ETF budget and an expansion of funding for school choice options demonstrated the commitment of Alabama House Republicans to provide every child - regardless of their circumstances, income level, or zip code - the opportunity to obtain a quality, 21st Century education. House Republicans also enacted the "FOCUS Act" that prohibits student use of electronic devices during instructional hours except for commonsense exceptions. A bill requiring schools to teach students that graduating high school, securing full-time employment, and marrying before having children will lead to better outcomes, better jobs, and higher incomes was passed, as well.

Alabama Values Active Military and Veterans - Alabama House Republicans passed several bills to ensure that our state remains the nation's most welcoming for active duty military personnel, their dependents, and veterans, and among the most significant was legislation to create a comprehensive Veterans Resource Center, which will provide a "one-stop shop" to access job training, mental health and wellness care, and other services that help ease the transition to civilian life.

Alabama Values Innocent Life and Families - Alabama is a proud pro-life state, and House Republicans recognized their commitment to families by passing legislation to remove state taxes on items like baby food, diapers, and other essentials that every child needs. In addition, House Republicans sponsored and passed a bill that cut the state sales tax on groceries in half ahead of schedule and authorized local governments to reduce their levies, as well. Removing impediments to starting and growing a family is among the most pro-life/pro-family actions that can be taken.

Alabama Values Common Sense - House Republicans passed several measure to combat the "Woke" agenda, and among the most important was the "What Is A Woman Act," which provides basic yet precise and biologically-based definitions of words like "man," "woman," "male," "female," "boy," "girl," "mother," and "father." The legislation simply reinforces the fact that men are born men, women are born women, and no amount of wishing can ever make one the other. The bill is rooted in proven fact and indisputable biology rather than trendy and dangerous social fads.

The "Alabama Values" agenda was crafted by an ad hoc platform committee of Republican House members that was co-chaired by State Rep. Kerry "Bubba" Underwood (R - Tuscumbia) and State Rep. James Lomax (R - Huntsville)

Other state representatives serving on the agenda committee were Cynthia Almond (R - Tuscaloosa), Susan DuBose (R - Hoover), Steve Hurst (R - Munford), Jamie Kiel (R - Russellville), Paul Lee (R - Dothan), Rhett Marques (R - Enterprise), Marcus Paramore (R - Troy), Kenneth Paschal (R - Pelham), amd Shane Stringer (R - Citronelle).