Alabama Legislative Meeting Update
Today marks the final day of the regular legislative session in 2025, and the Alabama House of Representatives is taking an unusual route. There’s no special order calendar, and currently, no major bills are up for discussion.
After a couple of hours of waiting on Wednesday, the House called it quits around 1 PM. Members seemed a bit restless as they awaited updates, while the Senate continued to navigate through a lengthy list of legislative items. It seems lawmakers are prepared to react if the final bill needs their approval before it potentially falls by the wayside.
Beyond what’s happening in the House, the Senate is advancing through a 10-page calendar that consists mainly of local bills originating at the community level.
Senate President Pro Tempore Gagger (R-Cullman) highlighted the significance of local measure No. 50. The Senate has begun processing these local bills with the aim of speeding things up.
The Senate has also proposed a special order calendar to organize debates for legislative day 30 of this regular session. If this is approved, the agenda could include a series of House Bills.
However, the path isn’t without its complications. Among the contentious proposals is HB202, part of Governor Kay Ivey’s anti-crime initiative, which aims to strengthen legal protections for law enforcement. Democrats are pushing back strongly, and State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) plans to suggest revisions.
For Governor Ivey, HB202 ranks high on her priority list along with HB188, a measure aiming to establish scholarship programs for law enforcement personnel and their families. HB188 is still pending a final vote in the Senate.
Another significant bill is SB5, which seeks to modify the Alabama Archives Historical Committee. After the House altered this bill to eliminate the requirement for Senate confirmations on board appointments, it has gone back to the Senate and faces the risk of a filibuster.
Meanwhile, the House remains poised to act if the Senate passes any measures requiring their consent.
The absence of a special order calendar indicates that the House is unlikely to push its own agenda unless absolutely necessary.
At around 2:30 PM, the Alabama Senate began addressing the first bill on their calendar.
