Governor Ivey will not hold a special session to revise district maps deemed in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
Governor Ivey Declines Special Session for Senate Redistricting On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that he would not convene a special session to redraw the state Senate district, which was recently determined to be in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Deuel Ross, the head of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund […]
Climate issues and oil drilling take center stage in California’s legislative session finale
Recently, I mentioned that California seems to be backtracking on climate initiatives, primarily due to actions taken by Governor Gavin Newsom. I criticized him and his team for efforts to undermine rooftop solar, support the Aliso Canyon gas facility, and delay the rollout of plastic recycling laws, which, well, seemed a bit counterproductive. However, I […]
Rep. Mack Butler reintroduces “Don’t Say Gay” bill for the 2026 session
Alabama’s New Legislative Push on Gender Identity in Schools After the recent failure of what some have called the “gay” bill during the 2025 legislative session, Alabama Representative Mac Butler, R-Rainbow City, is now focusing on restricting discussions around gender identity and sexual orientation in the state’s classrooms. Butler has introduced House Bill 23, which […]
Governor Requests Special Legislative Session to Redefine Congressional Districts Following Texas Redistricting Legislation
Missouri Governor Calls Special Session for Redistricting Missouri’s Governor, Mike Kehoe, plans to initiate a redistricting process that may lead to a shift in control from Democrats to Republicans in the state. This special session is set to commence at noon on Wednesday, September 3rd, with a particular focus on the 5th Congressional District, currently […]
Proposal for governor and attorney general to appoint temporary police chiefs introduced for 2026 session
New Bill to Allow Joint Appointment of Interim Police Chief Earlier this month, Representative Reed Ingram from R-Pike Road pre-filed a bill that would enable the governor and state attorney general to jointly select an interim police chief to manage local police departments. There was a similar proposal debated during the 2025 legislative session, but […]
Legislation to exclude optical aids from Alabama sales tax reintroduced for the 2026 session
Alabama House of Representatives Discusses Tax Exemption for Optical Aids During the 2025 legislative session, the Alabama House of Representatives approved Bill 176, which aimed to exempt optical aids like glasses and contact lenses from sales tax. Unfortunately, this bill did not make it through the Senate before the session ended, meaning it won’t become […]
Proposal to restrict young offender status for murder reintroduced for 2026 session
Update on Alabama Youthful Offender Legislation During the 2025 legislative session, R-Killen State Assemblyman Philip Petus introduced a bill aimed at preventing Alabama judges from granting youthful offender status to individuals over 16 who are charged with murder. Although the bill was discussed, it ultimately did not pass in the House of Representatives before the […]
Screening of ‘Other Side’ and Question-and-Answer Session
Sedona International Film Festival Features “Other Side” The Sedona International Film Festival is set to showcase “Other Side,” a film in the “Heartful Living, Gentle Dying” series. The screening will take place at 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 17th, at the Mary Fisher Theatre. This unique premiere will be followed by a Zoom Q&A session […]
Successes for West Alabama: Key moments from the 2025 session in HD 16
2025 Legislative Conference Overview The upcoming 2025 Legislative Conference marks my second term representing House District 16, which includes Fayette, Northern Tuscaloosa County, and West Jefferson County. After winning this seat in a competitive special election in 2024, I’ve dedicated my efforts to a single goal: enhancing the lives of over 48,000 residents in Western […]
State Representative Bryan Brinyark: Achievements for West Alabama from the 2025 legislative session
Highlights from the 2025 Legislative Conference The recently held 2025 Legislative Conference marked the second session for House District 16, which encompasses the entirety of Fayette, North Tuscaloosa, and parts of West Jefferson County. After securing my seat in a competitive special election back in 2024, my daily focus has centered on one main goal—to […]