From our state house studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

Wednesdays are committee days in the Alabama legislature.

And today was an active one.

We'll start our coverage in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, which is considering the proposal that would allo the Alabama Farmers Federation, better known as Alfa, to offer health benefit plans outside the state regulated insurance market.

House Bill 47 from State Representative David Faulkner, passed overwhelmingly in the House last week and was the subject of another public hearing today.

Supporters argue it could ease the burden of high health care costs for farm families.

But critics, including Blue Cross and Blue Shiel and the American Cancer Society, warn that the plans would lack regulatory oversight.

Raising red flags about consumer protections.

Lawmakers heard from both sides.

98 yes votes and technically zero no votes out of 103 House members.

House of Representatives also soundly rejected and took out an amendment to require the Alabama Department of Insurance to bargain enforcement by vote of 74 to 15.

I ask you to resist any further changes to this legislation.

One of the biggest burdens that young farm families have is health insurance.

Like the representativ just talked about, you're paying almost two house mortgages for health insurance.

If you're a farm famil and you're out there trying to to make a living.

And a lot of cases someone on that farm, a husband or wife has to go and find employment somewhere else just to to supplement for health care.

Unfortunately, this health insurance.

But again, that's what this is.

It's not going to have to follow any of the rules or the laws that every other health insurance has to follow, either under the state or the federal law.

But you all have seen this, and Mr. Farme referenced it in his testimony.

This is how I've listed the things that were put in the bill that Alfa is saying they're required to do, but what they leave out is that there's no entity that can actually make them do any of these things.

This is purely an advisory set of rules.

Nobody can tell them they must comply.

No vote was taken on the bill.

That might not happe until next week, when the Senate Banking and Insurance Committe has its next standing meeting.

The joint prison Oversight Committee met today and advanced legislation overhauling the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole.

Senate Bill 324 from State Senator Clyde Chambliss would expan that board from 3 to 5 members.

It would require Senate confirmation before appointees can serve.

And it would shift the power to select a board chair from the governor to the board itself.

The proposal stems from concerns raised by the Joint Prison Oversight Committee, which Chambliss chairs.

He says the changes are needed after the board failed to provide direct answers during a public hearing, essentially stonewalling lawmakers in their oversight role.

The bill also set new guidelines for when inmates can be reconsidered for parol if their requests were denied.

Here's what Chambliss and other senators had to say during the debate.

Well, the answer to the question is the Board of Pardons and Paroles can change the guidelines.

Not only can they, they shall, every three years review and change, update whatever.

Well, they're years overdue at this point.

So it starts getting deeper at this point because not only did they not answer my question, I felt like they misled the committee.

They knew that they were supposed to do it.

They knew they were years behind, but they wanted to act like they didn't know.

Well, we as an oversight role, need to be given direct answers to our questions.

It's very, very frustrating when you're sitting there trying to talk to a board chair in others who was almost being mean spirited, and being just not wanting to answer questions.

And, and you're sitting here with oversight capacity to, to get those answers.

So I think that we have to do something.

I 100% agree with the fact that there needs to be more accountability and better communication with oversight committees.

I 100% agree with you on that.

There are a few things in this bill that concern me because I think that there are some things, the way that it's written that perhaps might be a vehicle to get a more lenient board.

And that part I don't support that.

Bill now goes to the full Senate.

More movement on a bill t regulate hemp derived products, but its final form may still change.

House Bill 445 from State Representative Andy Whitt passed the House with bipartisan support, and today was approved by the Senate.

Fiscal Responsibility an Economic Development Committee.

The legislation would authoriz the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to license and regulate the sale of consumable hemp products, and restrict access for those under 21.

Lawmakers indicated that there are plans to merge this bill with other similar proposals.

However, some hemp industry advocates argue that the measure goes too far and could put them out of business.

Got some work to do on it an the senators have some concerns.

But I think it's going to make our bill stronger.

From the comments and things that we've heard.

So I'm looking forward to working with the Senate and getting this passed.

Do away with all the inhalabl vapes and things of that nature.

Let ABC regulate it.

We think we're in a good spo and the ideas that I heard today and the discussions we've had, Senator, is very positive for us.

So I'm looking for passage this this session.

And we're goin to protect our kids in Alabama.

Hundreds, if not over a thousand retail locations, that sell these products responsibly.

And, I think they're kind of maybe trying to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

And, we respect the guardrail attempt.

We've we in in to hav responsible legislative action.

We're just concerned that maybe some of the good won't be emphasized enough The House Education Policy Committee had another active day today.

Lawmakers considered legislation regarding dual enrollment.

Senate Bill 196 from Senator Arthur Orr would allow qualifyin high school juniors and seniors to enroll full tim at eligible community colleges.

It's dubbed the move on.

When ready plan.

It's a important bill, but for a very I think it's important for the committee a very small subset of students and that small subset subset of students are not your dual enrollment, who are people who want to stay in high school.

They want to do sports or things, but they want to go ahead and get some college credit, get going.

With knocking some of those out, have, test run, if you will, in the college experience, but not leave high school.

This is for a group of students, 11th or 12th graders.

If they are ready to move on, then we allow them to move on to higher education, to college.

But they don't have a high school diploma.

They're only through the 10th grade or only through the 11th grade.

They haven't done enough, don't have enough credits in the high school world to graduate from high school.

So the bill would allow them to move on and basically cut all ties with more or less with high school.

So no athletics now coming back for the prom and all that.

They're there.

They're going.

But when they finish, whether 11th or 12th grade, enough get enough credits that can report back to high school.

They can participate in the graduation ceremonies, but they go ahead and start their, college career, if you will.

As an 11th or 12th grader, beginning to to really rack up those college credits that will report back that bill was approved by the committe and now goes to the full House.

House Bill 231 from State Representative Reed Ingram would require schools to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance and say a prayer before the start of each day.

Ingram says it's about buildin civic engagement and character, though some have constitutional concerns about the prayer requirement.

What we've done is put a couple of different layers in here.

We've took out the Christianity to where if somebody had a different belief, it would be any of their religion.

And, I'm a Christian and, have been and always will be.

But I do, you know, respect other religions as well too.

And other people come into this country with different beliefs and, an that's their right and opinion.

Another thing that we've done on this would be to where it would have to be approved by, it would be a to start with.

So, the next thing it would have to be approved by the school board and, they would have to take a vote on it within 90 days after, after it goes into into law after the CAA.

And then the next thing is is no praying in the classroom.

It's a prayer would could go on during the it has to go before the school or after school time.

So, they would have a room that they could pray in at the school, whatever the school board decided for them to do.

Also, it would be to where the have to have a parent consent.

So anybody in that room that is studying would have to have a parent consent.

And a lot of times, you know, we provide meals for kids because they don't have meals at home and we don't have time to pray.

A lot of the parents don't because they work seven days a week.

So this would give them time to where they can study, just like they get a meal at school.

They could study before class or they could study after class.

That bill was approve and now goes to the full House.

There were some other notabl bills moving in committee today, especially on the education front.

That includes Senat Bill 92 from State Senator Donny Chastain banning the use of cell phones in schools.

It's now ready for potential final passage on the House floor.

Senate Bill 246 from State Representative Scott stating and would establish legal immunity for schools that choose not to use preferred pronouns.

It now also goes to the full house.

House Bill 61 from State Representative Susan DuBose advanced through a Senate committee today.

It would allow homeschooler to take advantage of career tech education courses at public schools.

It's now ready for the Senate floor.

The Senate Educatio Policy Committee also advanced.

Senate Bill 278 from State Senator Shay Shell Nut.

It would require local school boards to set policies for allowing high school students to leave campus to atten religious instruction courses.

This is the Senate version of a House bill that failed to advance through committee last week.

Since then, Lieutenant Governo Wil Ainsworth has gotten behind the proposa and not on the education front, but significant legislation related to alcohol.

House Bill 521 and Senate Bil 268 would allow so-called ready to drink cocktail beverages to be sold alongside beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores.

Right now, you can only get those products and liquor stores.

Both touris committees approved those bills, so they will go to their respective chambers.

State Representative Corey Harbison officially resigned from the legislature today.

The lawmaker from good Hope had indicated throughout the session that he might not continue to serve in the legislature du to family obligations back home.

He made it official today in a letter to House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter.

No word yet from the governor's office on when a special election might be called to fill that seat and stay with us.

We'll be right back with tonight's guests.

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Welcome back to Capital Journal.

Today is Innovation Day here at the state House.

And joining m next to talk about it is Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama in Alabama.

Cynthia, thanks for coming on Capital Journal.

Thanks for having me.

Like I said, it's Innovation Day here in the state House.

We'll talk a lot about that later, but I was hoping that you could give our audience a reminder of Innovate Alabama, its root and its role here in the state.

So Innovate Alabama officially stood up about two and a half years ago.

It was bor out of the Innovation commission sanctioned by the governor to take a look at innovation within the state of Alabama and whether or not we could position the state longer term, 2030, for a technology and innovative, technology economy.

So that's really our focus.

We've been hard at i for about two and a half years, just making sure that we develop programs that are intentional around supporting our founder and entrepreneurs and innovators throughout the state of Alabama, and at the same time, attracting those innovators and entrepreneurs who are not in the state, but encouraging them to grow roots in the state of Alabama and build their businesses and their lives here.

And the last time I think we spoke, you were we were up there for the Innovation Awards.

Yes.

That was a really exciting event with Doctor Rice and everybody.

And that was kind of a real celebration.

And that was two years ago.

So y'all still, you know, come a long way since then.

Talk about innovation day.

What is your message to the legislature as you meet with Walmart?

You got your big event tonight.

Your, you know all in the building here today.

What's your message to the legislature about supporting innovate Alabama and the importance there?

So first of all, we want to thank them for the support that they have provided to us to date.

And we really could not d the work without their support.

Secondly, Lee, what we want to do is amplify for them the progress that has been made across the state, not just at the state level, but really at that local level within their jurisdictions.

We want to show them organizations that are living in their spaces, that are taking advantage of the funding that are developing program around talent in Stem education and also outdoor recreation and access to resources.

So everything that we're doing, we want to make sure that they're clear and that they have an opportunity to discuss those programs with the team and really deep dive into each of those topics, answer any questions that we have, that they may have but ultimately we're looking for their continued support.

And again, if they have questions were an open book, we'd love to sit down and just have those conversations.

What are some maybe examples of your innovators who have sought out support, you know, through your grant process and been successful?

We know that they're probably too many to name, but any top of mind that might provide a good example of sort of how it works.

Sure.

I think several are, top of mind.

A company called outpost.

In the Huntsville space, they actually applied for two cyber grants.

They were able to acquire additional contracts within the federal governmen space to grow their capability.

They just recently moved into a new facility, where they are continue to grow, to continuing to grow their talent and build their business within the state of Alabama.

We also have, analytical eye, a company that was founded really in the Huntsville spac but moved to Birmingham, resided in Innovation Depot for quite a long time.

Recentl they won a $5 million contract with the federal government on a $250,000 investment.

So if you can win a 250,000 with a $250,000 investment, the exit of that to start is $5 million.

I see that's pretty good outcomes for the state of Alabama.

And in a field that is really bleeding edge right now, in the area of artificial intelligence.

But it all starts with that, that egg, right, that starts with that seed funding.

And so that's very important for our founders as they maneuver that journey, but also really as they maneuver in the state of Alabama or trying to make sure that it's not just pouring into the founder, but we're building on that ecosystem around the founders so that our educational institutions can provide the support that they need.

Are nonprofits that can support them with any technical assistance that they may need in terms of how to build their businesses in the state of Alabama.

And then, most importantly, I think the communities, the cities that these companies are going to reside in, making sure that their communities are ready to receive those founders and provide the support that they need.

You know, innovate Alabama receive some criticism today.

Innovate innovation day of all days.

From the Alabama Policy Institute.

I found this interesting that they came out and kind of directly criticized Innovate Alabama, mainly questioning the need for grants, accusing the organization of funding the, I'm sure you've seen the email that went out.

What is your response to these criticisms from the Policy Institute?

So I'm not going to say that it's a response to it.

I think we as an organization stand behind our mission.

We're firm on that.

We again, we're responding to the commission report that was provided over two years ago.

Those priorities have not changed, and we are staying true to that mission.

So we are focused on our entrepreneurs and making sure that they get the funding that they need.

Our processes are documented.

They are repeatable.

And we are, moving through that, I think, pretty judiciously.

So we definitely have accountability.

And our process we have reporting not just on the recipient side, but also on our side.

And so we're doing our due diligence to make sure that we are good shippers of that funding, whether that's federal funding or state funding.

We are dealing with both.

And so we are sure that we are following those requirements from bot the state and the federal level.

Absolutely.

Well, I really appreciate you clarifying a lot of that.

It's for me, it's, you know, it's sometimes tough to grasp all these really complicated issues and everything, but I appreciate you kind of putting it, you know, spilling out so well for me and for lawmaker who I know are paying attention.

And we'll see you tonight at the Innovate Alabama, big event.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is Adam Thompson, Alabama state director for Americans for prosperity.

Adam thanks for coming on the show.

Thanks, Todd I want to talk about this issue.

This bill that y'all have been supporting this week.

It's it's been topical this week.

Senate bill 248, Senator Arthur or Senator Tom Butler has had to do with judicial rulings.

In they're in the court syste and how they defer to agencies or potentially not.

Can you kind of star from the beginning on this bill and why y'all are supportive of it?

Absolutely.

So this bill, Senate Bill 248, would change the standard of judicial review in Alabama for agency rules and rulings.

So right now, in Alabama, citizens aren't protected, from agencies, just kind of automatically getting their way for judges, deferring to the expertise of an agency.

And that's just the ruling.

Now, agencie have absolutely have expertise.

But we believe, that, judges should do the job they constitutionally are elected to do, which is interpret the law.

So not just a agency's interpretation of what they think the law should be, but have a judge actually interpret what the law is.

And so this follows the US Supreme Court decisio last summer, low bright prizes which struck down, a previous ruling called Chevron Chevron deference.

And so this just aims to make Alabama, the same situation that has already happened at the federal level.

Yeah, I do, I do.

I was familiar with the Chevron deference.

That was a ruling that a lot of folks wanted to see overturned.

Because you're right, at the federal level, it was when in doubt, you know the courts.

When in doubt, you're going to defer to the expertise of an agency rather than what the law says or what your interpretation.

And a lot of folks thought tha that gave the executive branch way too much authority as opposed to Congress.

And even the courts.

And so you're saying this would do the same thing in terms of state court and state rulings?

Absolutely.

So it do the exact same thing, but there's a specific provision in there, a couple of provisions, one that says that judges can consider that expertise because agencies do hav expertise in specific matters.

The other provision that says that truly vague statutes should be interpreted with a reasonable limitatio on agency power and promoting, individual liberty.

Right.

So we want to rein in agencies kind of taking over more and more.

That's not necessarily authorized in the statute.

Now, obviously at the federal level, there were there's dozens and dozens, probably hundreds of examples of how agency, how rulings and agencies interacted and all that.

Are there any examples here on the state level, like has this been a problem here at the state level, or is this more looking forward to prevent it from becoming a a little bit of both?

We haven't had major problems here recently.

But we also want to stop, efforts before they become major problems.

And so this just reinforces the individual liberty and really reining in some of the executive's, overreach sometimes at agencies or can happen.

And so this just puts that back in that constitutional judicial role.

Well, what are the prospects of the bill?

Where is it and is it you know we've only got eight days left.

Is it going to be on track to pass?

We feel very good about it.

It passed Senat Committee Committee unanimously.

So we're just waiting for action on the Senate floor which we hope will be very soon.

So we're very appreciative to Senator Arthur Oregon Senator Tom Butle for sponsoring this legislation.

And so we're we're waitin for action on the Senate floor.

A lot of folks are waitin for action on the Senate floor.

So that'll be interesting.

It always is this time of session.

Absolutely.

Switching gears a bit.

Your organization was super supportive of the Chew's act.

That was, you know, the big school choice act.

Landmark school choice act.

They passed last year.

Now it's being implemented and you're seeing reports.

Trish has done some great reporting on this of the incredible demand that' out there, 37,000 applications.

Some of those might be multiple family applications.

Right.

Students within one family.

And so next school year it starts right.

Those those tax credit scholarship kind of things will start.

So what's your been your reaction as a supporter of that law?

Has it gone the way you envisioned?

And I mean, I guess you had demand is a good sign.

Absolutely.

Todd I think it's gon even better than we could have envisioned in year one.

And the demand clearly shows this is what Alabama familie is, what Alabama parents want.

And so we're incredibly happy about the reception.

And, we're also very, very pleased with Chairman Orange, chairman Garrett, adding an additional 35 million, to the choose act in the current budget they're working on right now to hopefully alleviate some of possibly, a waitlist that might form with so much, swing applicants for this program.

So we're very pleased with where it is.

You have to think there will be a waitlist.

And one of the things Tricia's been getting on is, you know, let's let's find some way to kind of measure success rather than just numbers of students, you know.

So we'll we'll obviously keep following that.

Sounds like this was just the first step in terms of the school choice program and other school choice program, you know, can't forget our, charter school programs, you know, program and things like that.

So, well, before I let you go I saw a post on Facebook earlier where your daughter is paging in the house.

That's got to be special for you.

It is, it is.

She gets to see what dad does, kind of week in and week out and learn about government.

And so she, is having a good time.

And special thanks to Representative Reading Room and Representative Arnold Looney for showing her courtesy an letting her come page this week.

That's really cool.

A special time for for students.

Well, thanks again for your time and we'll be following that bill.

Thanks so much, Todd.

We'll be right back.

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That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back tomorrow night with more coverage of the Alabama Legislature here on ABC for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacy.

We'll see you next time.