‘They always stayed true to their roots’: How Randy Owen and Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter built a lasting friendship from DeKalb County
Stories from the Heart of Fort Payne On a recent summer day at Randy Owen’s farm in Fort Payne, a tale reminiscent of an old country ballad began to unfold. One man, Randy Owen, stands as a generational voice — the iconic leader of the band “Alabama,” acclaimed as the most successful country band in […]
Speaker Ledbetter: The RAISE Act benefits students, teachers, and school systems
Funding Public Schools in Alabama Alabama’s public schools rely on three primary sources for funding. Approximately 10% comes from federal programs like Title I and School Nutrition Programs, aimed largely at supporting students from low-income families. Next up is local funding. Local property taxes contribute between 21% and 34% of education expenses, meaning roughly a […]
Speaker Ledbetter: Alabama strongly supports its law enforcement officers, and this session demonstrates that commitment
Legislative Efforts to Support Law Enforcement in Alabama As National Police Week wraps up, it’s an ideal moment for Congress to consider crucial actions to show appreciation for our law enforcement professionals. Supporting local recruitment and retention efforts is critical—this approach ultimately aims to enhance public safety throughout Alabama with the ongoing safe Alabama initiative. […]
Speaker Ledbetter: ‘I want to eliminate the grocery tax entirely’ and ‘reconsider’ the overtime tax reduction
Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter recently spoke to reporters about the outcomes of the 2025 legislative session. “I think it was a solid session,” Ledbetter remarked. Regarding tax matters, he expressed satisfaction with the achievements but acknowledged that there was more work to be done. “We needed to consider it some more,” he noted. “My […]
Improving access, preventing tragedies is priority of mental health bills, Ledbetter says alongside lawmakers
Alabama lawmakers and officials gathered Wednesday to outline progress on the state's mental health care approach. During the press conference, they discussed bills aimed at making treatment easier to access, allocating funds more effectively and modernizing the way family members and emergency responders address substance abuse alongside mental illness. House Speaker Nathaniel Leadbetter, who has […]
Speaker Ledbetter: A history lesson on the UAW
I grew up in a textile town once known as the “Hosiery Capital of the World,” so if you'd told me 20 years ago that Alabama would become the nation's largest exporter of automobiles, I probably wouldn't have believed you. That all changed when Mercedes put down roots here in 1997. Over the past 27 […]
Steve Flowers: Nathaniel Ledbetter a very powerful Speaker of the House
The 2024 Regular Legislative Session began about three months ago, so I wrote a column titled, “The 2024 Regular Legislative Session Begins Next Week.” In that column, I highlighted the leadership of the Alabama Assembly and Senate. I said that there were three key leaders: Senator Greg Reed, Senator Arthur Ohr, and Speaker of the […]
Ledbetter: Working for Alabama serves job-seekers, employers, families, and the next generation
During discussion of the legislative package for Alabama, House Speaker Nathaniel Leadbetter said the bill would serve a wide range of Alabamians. “Session after session, lawmakers have come together to pass pro-business legislation that helps Alabamians thrive,” Leadbetter said. “We can't rest on our laurels; there's still a lot of work to be done, and […]
Ledbetter appoints State Rep. Margie Wilcox to Energy Council Executive Committee
Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Leadbetter appointed Rep. Margie Wilcox (R-Mobile) to the Energy Council's Executive Committee. The Energy Council is a bipartisan legislative body comprised of 15 energy-producing states in the U.S. and two Canadian provinces. Founded in 1975, the Council serves as a forum for dialogue on energy and related environmental policies. Rep. Wilcox's […]
Ledbetter on fate of legal gambling: ‘At the end of the day, there just wasn’t enough time’
Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Leadbetter appeared on Capitol Journal this weekend to speak again about the 2024 legislative session. Among other topics, he detailed the push for legal gambling by members of the House of Representatives, who fell one vote short in the Alabama Senate. “Well, there was a lot of talk,” he said, “and […]