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 […]
Speaker Ledbetter tours Dekalb, Jackson Counties impacted by damage from EF-3 tornado
Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Leadbetter on Monday surveyed the widespread damage caused by recent EF-3 tornadoes in parts of DeKalb and Jackson counties, with the two storms reportedly destroying several homes. Around 5,800 people are reported to have been left without power due to the severe weather. No deaths have been reported, but damage is […]
Speaker Ledbetter: Productive session offers promise that Alabama’s best days are yet to come
It's been just over two weeks since the Legislature recessed, but I believe Alabamians should be proud of the work their lawmakers have accomplished over the past three months. There is always more work ahead of us, but when we evaluate the productivity and success of a session, we ask ourselves, “Did we improve the […]
Ethics reform to be revisited during 2025 legislative session, Speaker Ledbetter expects
House Speaker Nathaniel Leadbetter believes state lawmakers accomplished great things for Alabamians during the 2024 legislative session. He offered more details Thursday about the bills that will be up for reconsideration next session. Leadbetter said reforming the state's ethics laws will remain a priority for him next year. This year, state Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) […]
Ledbetter: IVF is as pro-life as it gets, and the Legislature is committed to protecting it
When Parliament adjourned for the weekend on February 15, a number of difficult issues already awaited its reconvening the following week. The House was preparing to vote on the CHOOSE Act and other priorities. The Senate was grappling with issues such as legislation addressing election security and DEI. The session went smoothly, and both chambers […]
