Rep. Ed Oliver joins the Heart of Dixie Podcast

State Representative Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) recently joined the Heart of Dixie Podcast to discuss the 2025 Alabama Regular Legislative Session.

Oliver represents House District 81 in Tallapoosa and Lee Counties.

The Legislature passed the RAISE Act to provide extra funding for schools with more English language learners, special needs, poverty, and/or gifted students. They also passed the largest education budget in history at $9.9 billion and a $2.1 billion supplemental appropriation.

"As a good Republican I don't believe in spending any more money than you have to to achieve your goals," Rep, Oliver explained. "But if we are going to do public education, I think we have to do it effectively and Senator Orr and Representative Garrett finally decided that the model we were using one size fits all didn't make sense."

The Legislature also passed $180 million to fund the first year of the Choose Act. The Choose Act allows the education dollars to follow the child for when parents want a better educational environment than the one found in the neighborhood school they are zoned too.

"With the Choose Act, once again 11 to 12% of Alabama students are home schooled, there is a large number that go to private schools," said Oliver. "Everybody pays taxes, so the debate becomes whether your money go to a public school your child doesn't go to, or do you get some help if you decide to send your kid somewhere else. It also makes public schools compete. I think it creates competition in the field of education. I think for parents and students alike we will see change."

The Legislature also cut the state grocery tax from three percent to two percent.

"That is the Legislature doing what we said we would do," said Rep. Oliver. "When we passed the gas tax it was promised that, when it was feasible we would get rid of the grocery tax."

Perhaps most controversial was HB455 – the bill to tax, limit, and regulate cannabinoids derived from hemp. The bill limited dosage to a maximum of 10 milligrams per dose, bans synthetic cannabis, bans all smokable products, and the sale of any plant products such as hemp flower

"I understand the concern of trying to keep it out of the hands of kids," said Rep. Oliver. "That is one of those bills that you just had to go along with."

Harry expressed his concerns that the bill empowered the Alabama Beverage Control Board with regulating psychoactive hemp derived products, and limits where it can be sold; even though THC (even illegal marijuana) is less dangerous than legal alcohol.

"I did vote for that bill, but you point is well taken," said Oliver. "I am a libertarian at heart. People have the right to destroy their lives any way they choose. I have some problems with that bill as well."

The Alabama Legislature is only allowed to meet in session for a maximin of thirty days a year. The 2025 session is now complete, and the next regular session will be in 2026.

The Heart of Dixie Podcast is cohosted by Alabama Gazette Lead Reporter and Content Manager Brandon Moseley and Baldwin County Attorney Harry Still III.