The Alabama Republican Party on Thursday released a list of legislative priorities ahead of the 2024 legislative session.

Priorities include enacting legislation to provide “universal school choice,” a major focus ahead of the session, and “challenging the agenda of woke socialism.”

“It is critical that Alabama passes legislation that helps families struggling with the cost of living, protects children from socialist policies, and protects the rights and freedoms of each individual,” said ALGOP President John Wall. Ta. “The bottom line is, we want to give control back to the people of Alabama, because they know how to live their lives and raise their children better than the government.”

The party plans to challenge “woke socialist policies” by passing anti-ESG legislation that would prevent discrimination based on ESG protocols. Congress already passed major anti-ESG legislation last year, with Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island) introducing a bill last year that would further ban the use of ESG factors in hiring, firing, and evaluating employees. was resubmitted.

The platform also calls for “defunding taxpayer funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs” and defining femininity and giving women access to safe spaces such as restrooms, locker rooms, and shelters. They are also calling for the creation of a “Women's Bill of Rights'' to enable them to do so. Rep. Susan DuBose, a Hoover Republican, introduced a similar bill in the last Congress that would exclude transgender women from the state's legal definition of women.

Another section of the party's platform calls for children to be “protected” from divisive ideologies “such as the transgender lifestyle” in the classroom, and anti-transgender legislation remains popular with the party. Alabama lawmakers could introduce a bill that would extend the state's “Don't Tell Me I'm Gay” law to 8th grade and even 12th grade, with Rep. Ed Oliver (R-DeDeville) The plan is to revive the “divisive concept'' bill for consecutive years.

Gov. Kay Ivey is scheduled to announce her version of the education savings account program during Monday's State of the State address. Lawmakers can implement Ivey's plan or go their own way. Bills similar to previous attempts to establish such a program have already been introduced.

The party also aims to improve jobs and the economy by promoting workforce development and eliminating corporate personal wealth taxes. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth last week announced a workforce development package that includes the creation of new cabinet positions while consolidating several existing departments.

Republicans are also seeking to cap Alabama's annual property tax increases to offset rising costs of living.

The party is still seeking to pass legislation in response to the coronavirus, including changes to the appointment process for state health officials and a permanent ban on mask mandates.

Alabama has consistently had one of the most secure elections, and just last year, Republican lawmakers ignored an actual election fraud case in which David Cole fraudulently qualified to represent the 10th Congressional District. But the platform also has a section on election integrity.

The platform calls for re-enacting laws that would criminalize post-election audits and helping voters fill out absentee ballots. The bill narrowly missed the last Congress.

“It is the values ​​of the Republican platform that best serve the success of our communities and our people,” Wahl said. “We've seen that in recent Republican bills like cutting grocery taxes, banning mandatory vaccine passports, protecting the Second Amendment, and standing up for the woke agenda. We've seen that in this Congress. We look forward to seeing the state build on these successes as we move forward.”

Public libraries are not mentioned on the agenda, but some Republican lawmakers and far-right websites have accused librarians of public libraries of providing inappropriate and even pornographic content to minors. trying to attack. Mr. Wall is the director of the Alabama Public Library Service, which is currently amending its bylaws at Mr. Ivey's request, but Mr. DuBose, Sen. Threatening state funding.