Alabama’s other legislature is in the history books, but it’s safe for now because Sen. Chris Elliott’s hostile takeover of the Department of Archives and History didn’t take hold. Elliott’s bill is just one of many bad bills proposed during the 2024 session, some of which will cross the finish line and govern us all from now on.
But there’s also reason to celebrate. Some even worse bills just barely made it to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk.Thank God for the declining gambling debacle, this really could have solidified its place as one of the worst sessions of all time
Public funding for private school students
You can also put lipstick on a pig… The CHOOSE Act (Creating Hope and Opportunity in Student Education) would replace the previous This is a further cut from the bill introduced during the session. The Alabama Education Association and other education groups took a neutral stance on the bill during House committee meetings. But they still suffer from the same core problem that all versions of these school voucher programs have. This means that a large amount of tax money is already being poured into the education funds of students who are receiving private education.
The law requires at least $100 million to be appropriated annually for the program, with tax credits of up to $7,000 per eligible private school student and $2,000 per homeschool student. (up to $4,000 per family per year). The bill includes accountability measures missing in previous iterations, and the fact that lawmakers must appropriate the funds annually protects funding already set aside for public education. Helpful. But once the program expands in three years, the cost to fully fund it will be more than $500 million.
But almost all of that money is just tax breaks for families who can and do already afford to send their children to private schools. Not all families who send their children to private schools are wealthy, and some make great sacrifices to give their children the best education possible. But many families who attend public schools can’t afford to send their children to private schools, and even supporters of the CHOOSE law don’t expect the program to help those students. Advocates have consistently estimated that only 1 to 5 percent of public school students take advantage of the program.
Despite Ivey’s public statements that the CHOOSE Act is part of her education, the program is unlikely to improve the state’s abysmal education standards, as huge spending does little to change the status quo of the education students receive. It is unclear how this can be expected to improve. He plans to make Alabama a top 30 state in education by the end of his term.
After overcoming hurdles from education groups, the bill passed Congress despite opposition from Democrats and was signed into law.
Homogeneity, inequality, exclusion
Diversity, equity, and inclusion – even Republican lawmakers seeking to eliminate DEI programs acknowledge that these are ideals that should be upheld. But when used together in this order to refer to state government agencies and programs on college campuses, lawmakers paint a picture of pervasive white discrimination and anti-conservative discrimination.
And because Republicans love to mix in Marxism whenever possible.
The bill did not use the word CRT in the actual bill (despite confirming that the bill applied to CRTs), and Rep. Ed Oliver (R-DeDeville) did not use the word CRT in the actual bill (despite confirming that the bill applied to CRTs). It began with an attempt to combat species theory. The bill was overhauled this Congress and includes provisions that would block state funding for DEI programs.
The saving grace of this bill is that the language is so vague that universities may not actually have to change their DEI programs. But ambiguity in the law can also have a chilling effect on what is taught in schools, for fear that someone might be considered breaking the law and be policed.
The bill passed Congress before midway through the session and was signed into law.
Ballot collection
Alabama’s recent bill banning ballot harvesting is a controversial move that appears to prioritize unfounded fears of election fraud over the fundamental rights of its most vulnerable residents. By outlawing the collection and submission of ballots by third parties, the state is effectively disenfranchising elderly and disabled voters who often rely on this service to exercise their democratic rights. I will do it. This policy not only complicates the voting process for people with physical limitations or transportation issues, but appears to be part of a broader, sinister trend of voter suppression tactics disguised as election security. I can also see it. This decision blatantly ignores the needs of a large segment of Alabama’s population and risks significantly reducing voter participation and democratic engagement among those who already face the greatest barriers to voting.
union buster
As workers at Alabama’s Mercedes and Hyundai plants hold historic votes on whether to unionize, the Alabama Legislature is cutting back on companies that voluntarily unionize by stripping them of economic incentives. Passed a bill to punish them. It also requires secret voting to hinder union organizers’ ability to gather votes effectively. The law appears to support auto companies’ bottom lines without addressing the very reason auto workers are considering unionizing in the first place: low wages and working conditions. Ivey signed the bill on Monday.
About IDK
While Alabama lawmakers celebrate the reversal; Roe v. Wade It quickly became apparent that they did not understand the IVF process and how the definition of personality that begins at conception can and does not impact the IVF procedure. Holy hell broke loose at the state Capitol when the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that fetuses are legal persons and therefore IVF clinics can be held liable under the Wrongful Death of Minors Act. rained down.
Lawmakers worked quickly and vigorously to provide a fix, but in doing so, they veered too far in another direction without giving much thought to the unintended consequences of their actions. The bill passed by Congress gives IVF clinics absolute immunity from lawsuits, even if there is gross negligence in the handling of embryos.
Only a small number of ideologically consistent resisters opposed the bill on the grounds that life begins at conception. Most Alabama legislators would have made that claim every year when abortion was still legal. Some opponents said the bill goes too far in protecting clinics.
And further, the Alabama Supreme Court will rule the bill unconstitutional based on whether the bill protects clinics or because Alabama voters enshrined life in pregnancy in the state constitution. The question remains as to whether or not.
say no to sex
When moms and dads really love each other… It’s unclear exactly what sex education programs would be taught under the bill introduced by Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover). The bill prohibits sex education materials from being “sexually explicit.” The term is not defined in the bill, so how do we teach about sex when there is no clear documentation about it?
Sex education programs would also be prohibited from demonstrating contraceptive use despite improper use of condoms or no condom use at all, and the bill would prohibit condom “failure rates.” education on this subject is mandatory.
This bill is a clear attack on the Alabama Campaign for Adolescent Sexual Health (ACASH) and comprehensive sex education in general. It would require sex education programs to become “sexual risk avoidance” programs, rebranding abstinence-only education. Alabama law already requires states to emphasize abstinence as the only sure way to avoid pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and STDs.
The bill passed three-quarters of the way through Congress and at one point appeared on the Senate calendar on the last day of the session.
Don’t call me gay (high school version)
Mac Butler, the anti-LGBTQ representative who was ironically named “Rainbow City,” called for a state ban on teachers leading or leading classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity. I have submitted a bill to extend the term until the first year of school. He also agreed to include an amendment that would prohibit school staff from displaying pride flags or other LGBTQ insignia in schools. The bill cleared House and Senate committees before the end of the session.
Gay history is not history
The Invisible Histories Project will present a one-hour “food for thought” presentation at the Alabama Department of Archives and History in June 2023 on how LGBTQ history has been historically suppressed in the state. Ta.
In response, Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Jospain) implied that “that’s the way it should be.” After failing to recover $5 million in funding previously earmarked for the agency during a special redistricting session in 2023, Elliott dramatically reorganized the board this session, freeing directors from political whims. The department dealt another blow with a bill that would allow for layoffs. .
The bill underwent a number of changes through Congress, and was updated in a House committee to require cause for removal of board members. The amendment stalled after passing three-quarters of the chamber before lawmakers left for spring break, apparently killing Elliott’s interest in moving the bill forward.
throw a book at a librarian
When Clean Up Alabama first announced plans to have the Alabama Legislature introduce a bill that would put librarians in prison, it seemed a bit far-fetched, even to the state’s most extreme lawmakers. But lo and behold, ALGOP is weighing in on its position, even John Wall, director of the Alabama Public Library Service, who might want to protect librarians from frivolous arrests. .
Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-Indian Springs)’s newly redesigned bill to ban drag shows in public places suddenly means no gender-related material in library books. . This is an oversimplification of the actual law, but it’s the gist of what lawmakers wanted to pass. And it came pretty close to passing, too, but only managed to reach the Senate floor.
The bill would allow anyone to issue a warrant to a librarian if they believed in a book. Regardless of whether the books actually meet the legal definition, library bookshelves are “harmful to minors.” For the librarian to be recognized as legitimate, he would have to undergo a criminal trial.
The bill would also make any establishment inadvertently a public nuisance if it sells or displays content that is “harmful to minors,” regardless of whether the content is sold or displayed only to adults. You will be exposed to This allowed movie theaters, retail stores, and flea markets to all become public nuisances by stocking their shelves and screens with R-rated movies.
