From our State House studi in Montgomery, I'm Todd Stacey.

Welcome to Capital Journal.

Wednesdays are committee days in the Alabama legislature, and today was a doozy.

Several high profile bills were up for discussion and the halls of the statehouse were packed with advocate hoping to express their views.

Two lawmakers will star in the House Health Committee, which took up legislation allowing the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer health care plans to its members.

House Bill 447 from Representative David Faulkner comes as alpha leaders say the state's farmers can't afford their insurance premiums and need a better option.

Such Farm Bureau plans exis in other states like Tennessee.

But opponents of the bill, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabam and the American Cancer Society, say the plan's offered wouldn't truly be health insurance or be subject to the same regulations like the requiremen to cover preexisting conditions.

The Alabama farmers are facing the worst financial crisis since the 1980s.

Alabama has lost 8% of its farms since 2017, and our state's farmers saw their income drop 1 billion in just one year.

Recently, between 2022 and 2023.

Soaring production cost, combined with low commodity prices, are pushing farmers out as legislators.

There is little we can do about fertilizer cost or the price of cotton, but we can make a difference in one of the largest household cost for many farmer families.

Health care coverage.

The Alabama Farmer Federation is seeking authority to offer its members a health plan coverage similar to success for programs already approved in ten other states.

These alpha health plans have the potential to save farmer and other self-employed families 30 to 60 on the cost of health coverage.

These plans are needed because farmers and other small business owner often fall into a coverage gap.

We think it's a mistake to allow just one company to sell an unregulated health insurance plan operated entirely out of Tennessee, using United Health Insurance to make decisions on which claims will be paid and which will be denied.

But we realize this is going to happen, and therefore it is entirely reasonable, in our opinion, for you to include some very basic protections, none of which interfere with Alpha's ability to sell the product or make a profit.

Our goal from the start has been to find a path for you to vote yes on a bill but one that includes at least some critical protections for consumers and health care providers.

This was just a public hearing, s no vote was taken on the bill.

The committee is expected t take it up for a vote next week.

Tune in to Capitol Journal tomorrow when I'll talk more in depth with supporters and opponents of this bill.

The House Health Committee held public hearings of other notable bills today, House Bill 441 from Representative David Standridge would require speech, pathology and audiology therapists to have at least an associate's degree in communication disorders or audiology to practice.

And House Bill 445 for Representative Andy Wit would impose toughe restrictions on consumable hemp products, including gummies and CBD drinks.

No vote was taken on either bill, but a Senate companion of the CBD restriction bill di pass a Senate committee today.

The House Education Budget Committee today took up legislation offering worker's comp insurance to teachers and other education workers.

Senate Bill one from Senator Sam Gauvin passed the Senate unanimously earlier this session, but questions have been raised in the House about costs and other key details.

An amended version was presented that aimed to tighten up language that lawmakers felt uncomfortable with.

I would say about 75% of the this new amendment packet that's in front of you is what we had last time we were gathered.

But there are a couple of extra amendments that were added.

And Mr. Faulkner's I'll just let you, if you don't mind, speak to a couple of the main questions that you had that I think were answered and and then happy to address any other questions.

There was some discussio last meeting by several members and again, not in opposition to the concept of the bill, but there was there were some technical concerns, some concerns about, as you mentioned, some of the the the bor, the the the doctors, just some of the things that need to be clarified.

And so I appreciate reps and it Faulconer Senator Gavilan reps involvement all of you all working togethe like you said over spring break and I saw some comedian last night and he mentioned he would not be here this morning.

But and I think working with the finance department as well to make sure that everybody's concerned.

So I think we've got a bill that everybody has agreed to that we can move forward with and good in good faith.

That amended bill passed committe and now goes to the full House.

The House Judiciary Committee met today and considered legislation aim to expand the scope of specialty courts to help those dealing with addiction and mental illness.

Senate Bill 200 is sponsored by State Senator Andrew Jones and is champione by Chief Justice Sarah Stewart.

It would change the current drug courts to accountability courts and allow them to include veterans and those dealing with mental illness.

Rename drug courts to accountability courts and expand the scope of whom the accountability courts would serve to include offenders with mental illness and offenders who are veterans to further provide for the duties of administration Office of the Courts.

By combining the courts, does that save money?

Or what's the purpose of doing that?

Well, we've got at this point in time, we there's 12 veterans courts throughout the state.

We wanted to expand those, took the opportunity as we're doing that, to restructure here, to give every quarter pathway in Alabama to the veterans court in Illinois on the score of 67 counties have accountability courts.

They have the drug courts now and then some of them have formed these other courts through that.

This would allow it to be better.

That bill was approved by the committe and now goes to the full House.

A big day in the House Education Policy Committee as lawmakers considered legislation on hot button issues.

House Bill 34 from Representative Susan DuBose would require local school boards to adopt policies allowing for students to leave campus to atten religious instruction programs.

DuBose brought an amended version of the bill with clearer guidelines.

But members of the committee were skeptical that such a change in law is necessary.

This religious timed release was ruled constitute in 1952 by the Supreme Court, and it has been popular throughout the country in the decades ever since.

With the amendments that we voted on last week that was unanimously approved, we have made sure our local districts maintained control.

Credits are optional.

That will be decided by the school district.

Policy and details of the program are within local control.

That was in the Second Amendment that we passed unanimously, unanimously last week.

For example, in my city of Hoover.

They've decided that religious release will be allowed only at the high school level and eighth period which is a specials period, too.

Safeguards are provided b guidelines of the Supreme Court and any local policy guidelines the district may want to add.

I have I have an issue with the practical, the technical implementation of this.

Besides, I feel like in my district, it's I've been made aware from the people that would have to be implementing this that it's just another regulation for them.

They're doing the best they can.

They're already providin for students the best they can in this for this particular issue, because I'm like Representative Ross Child, I've been praying so much since I've been in the legislature.

I'm so close to God.

I have.

Yeah, I have become a so so I certainly believe in religious education.

But I believe when you talke about parents, I'm I really am a big proponent of parents exposing their children.

That bill failed on a vote of 4 to 9.

The committe also considered House Bill 244 from Representative Matt Butler, which would prohibit public school teachers from discussing gender identity or referring to students with pronouns inconsistent with their biological sex.

During a public hearing, lawmakers heard from supporters and opponents of this bill.

This bill reinforces the idea that education should prioritize academic excellence, math, science, reading and history rather than ideological discussions that may not align with the parents values.

Additionally, HB 244 protect the integrity of the classroom by prohibiting teachers and school employees from displaying flags or insignia related to gender identity and sexual orientation.

Schools should be places of learning, not activism, and this provisio ensures that classrooms remain neutral and focused on education.

Two of my mothers are not exactly straight.

They have been lesbia for as long as I can remember.

This is not a new phenomenon and it is not a phenomena that goes away just because we tried to wish it away and tried to keep it away from people who feel discomfort at such things existing and people feel discomfort at people like me existing.

And I get used to it.

But it is not somethin that a small child should ever have to get used to.

No vote was taken on that bill, but it could come up again at a later date.

Other notable bills before the committee included House Bill 17 from Representative Mark Gidley, which would require public school campuses, including K-through-12 and community colleges, to display the Ten Commandments.

That bill was carried over and could return.

House Bill 179 also from Gidley, would allow public schools to hire chaplains or allow volunteers to fill that role.

That bill was approve and now goes to the full House and House Bill 246 from State Representative Scott State.

Hagan would offer legal protections to schools that choose not to use modern gender pronouns.

That bill was carried over and a new version is expected to emerge on to the Senate, where a tense exchange took place in the County and Municipal Government Committee, as two Republican senators from Baldwin County clashed over Senate Bill 270.

This bill would change how local sales tax dollars are distributed in Baldwin County, particularly for cities like Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, which split from the Baldwin County School system.

State Senator Chris Elliott had his colleague, Senator April Weaver, sponsor the bill as a state wide measure rather than as a local bill that caught fellow Baldwin County Senator Greg Albritton by surprise in the middle of the committee meeting.

Albritton accused Elliott of trying to sideste the local legislative process.

The two sparred back and forth in a tense and at times personal debate.

In Baldwin County, we levy a tax countywide.

That tax is is for education.

We've had this argument.

We've gone through this many times.

You and I have.

And others have in the courts.

Have I?

My angst is not only jus a matter of of what we're doing and how this is going about, but trying to do the end run around between the local legislation and making it a general law.

And if it gets out of committee and gets on the floor, I'm going to filibuster this as much as I possibly can.

What we have now is taking fro children in two school systems just because they happen to be in a different school system.

Their parents are.

I would prefer not to be interrupted again.

The legislation that I would prefer that we not have this discussion openly.

But you've made this point.

All of that is correct.

And yet the school system that broke away and the Baldwin County School system had this discussion, had an agreement.

It was actually completed by those folks.

And now it's already gone through the courts and now we're trying to legislatively change.

That's all I'm saying.

You al need to be making this decision.

You don't nee to have a lot of votes to pass, because if you allow us to start making this decision for you, we are going to be passing a law to make another decision for you.

And only you can make the decision of what is in the best interests of your people.

All in favor say are in.

You oppose.

I am opposed and I'll be loud about it so that the chairman can hear how loud I say no.

The bill's carried over.

As you can see, that Bill wa carried over and is likely dead.

The committe also considered Senate Bill 247 from Senator Arthur or which would restrict protests near private homes or introduced a similar measure last year that didn't gain any traction this time.

He pointed to protests targeting public officials from both parties, saying they've raised serious safety concerns for families.

But opponents of the bill argue it infringes on First Amendment rights.

A Democratic congressman in Ohio where people went to his house and for several days can't couldn't get in and out, had to have law enforcement to get his family in and out of this house.

And just what a terribly intimidating and scary situation to be in and we ought to do something about it.

In reality, it's often accidental, one that most protesters who are willing to fix themselves.

SB 247 is not only a bad bill, but an assault on the First Amendment rights and voices of marginalized Alabamians.

My daughter lives in downtown Birmingham.

She lives on a loft downtown.

Just don't know.

And there's so many laughs downtown.

So where would you actually g to have even a peaceful protest in downtown Birmingham and not be near residents?

So again, it's not that it's permissive and the municipalities get a chance to set this.

It says municipalitie can have adopt a more stringent regulation.

Just want to make that clarification.

The committee advanced that bill and it now goes to the full Senate.

There were other notable Senate bills being discussed today.

Senate Bill 252 from Senator Billy Beasley.

The pharmacy benefit manager bill that passed the Senate last month was in the House Insurance Committee.

An amendment was mad to the bill removing liability protections for pharmacies that violate the law.

The amended version passed committe and now goes to the full House.

Senate Bill 245 from Senator Arthur or would requir regular eligibility cross checks for public assistance program like Medicaid and food stamps.

It passed the Senate Health Committee and Senate Bill 268 from Senator Bobby Singleton was the subject of a public hearing today.

This is the bill allowing for so-called ready to drink beverage containing liquor like heinen's to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.

No vote was taken, but expect to hear more about that bill as the session continues.

Speaking of notable legislation, Governor Kay Ivey today signed into law Senate Bill 199, the Paid parental leave law.

Under the law, state and education employees are offered paid time off after having or adopting children.

New mothers will receive eight weeks paid time off.

A new fathers will receive two weeks.

The law also offers limited time off for those experiencing stillbirths or miscarriages.

It does not allow paid time off after abortions.

The law will go into effect July 1st as lawmakers in Montgomery prepare for another potential debate over gambling legislation this session.

A major development is already taking place in Birmingham.

The Porch Band of Cree Indians has finalized the deal to purchase the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino.

The facility has been acquired by Wynn Creek Hospitality following an agreement first announced last November with the MacGregor family that operated the racecourse for more than 30 years.

This gives the tribe four facilities in the state, adding to their casinos and at more Montgomery and Wetumpka.

The finalized deal could impact any gambling debate that happens this year.

Because unlike their other casinos, the Birmingham race course is not located on federal trust land and therefore would be subject to state gambling laws.

And that was today here at the Capitol complex.

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

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Welcome back to Capital Journal.

Joining me next is Dustin Chandler, a disability advocate here in the state of Alabama.

Dustin welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Thanks for having me, Todd.

Well, I think we've talked off air about it's been 11 years since the passage of Carly's Law, which you were one of the chief advocates for.

It was your daughter, Carly.

CBD oil and allowing universities to really develop that as a therapy.

And here we are again talking about it.

But I wanted you to take us back before we get into the medical marijuana discussion about your advocacy on that and how that came about and what has happened since.

Yeah, thanks, Todd.

You know, I got in this you know, in 2014 with Gardasil because of one reason and that was my daughter Carly, and the really difficult time she was having with seizures and seeing her suffer, sitting down at the kitchen table trying to figure out what can I do?

Didn't have any hope and wanted to try to find something.

So that's what led me to get into that, into Carly's law and try to find a solution to help the suffering children, adults and people of Alabama and kind of give them some hope to.

And it really just started with my daughter to try to help her out.

And that just kind of got me into this.

It was nothing that was not planned.

You know, God grace me with our birth and the difficulties that have come with it.

And it's sent me on a different journey.

And that's that's what got me in, was her suffering early and wanting to help her and really having that hopeless feeling that there was nothing I could do to help.

But in other states there was something that was helping other kids and we needed out here in Alabama.

Talk about the difference that it did make once it got into production and got, you know, it was therapies were actually available.

Yeah.

I mean, my daughter, you know, responded very well to it.

She has as of today, she's not seizure free.

But when we added the CBD oil it was definitely a game changer and it was you know and just that it mean that kind of game changer in helping reduce seizures amongst some other things really made the whole entire what I would call a fight and struggle to get that passed and things made it really worth it to try to give her some relief from the seizures.

And and hopefully it's helped out a lot of other people, which I think it has.

And w just have to continue that hope.

Mm hmm.

Well, we now have a medical marijuana law.

It was passed almost four years ago and may be about four years.

And yet no products available.

I think that's frustrated a lot of folks, because I had Joh McMillan on here the other day.

They're frustrated.

The commission is frustrated.

I think those in the industry are frustrated.

But sometimes what gets los in that political conversation is the reason behind it to begin with.

And that's the patients.

There are no products available for patients to talk about that from.

An advocate standpoint about that frustration an what hope might exist out there.

Yeah, you know, that's the main reason why I'm here with you today is to try to bring the focus back to the patient, back to where I was on day one with Carter's law, as we just mentioned.

It was it's a it's the sense of hopelessness that that if you're if you are sufferin and this was part of your hope when this passed in 2021, that the state of Alabama, the legislature, said that the hope is here.

And we have absolutely, in my opinion, just forgotten about the patient that is from children to adults in many different conditions.

We'v just kind of lost sight of that.

And when you thin you have hope around the corner and then it takes four years, you start to become hopeless again.

And you and you you just kind of lose all hope.

And and unfortunately, you may go to other means to obtain something that you should be able to obtain here because the law stated you can't in 2021 and thanks.

I'm drug on and drug on and drug on for four years and it it just put you in a it put you in a dark mindset.

I was in that dark mindset many, many years ago back in 2014 and have that ray of hope, you know, kind of kind of helps you out, not just mentally, but emotionally, spiritually, physically and it's an it's not saying that, you know, medical cannabis is a cure.

It's just a hope that if you can and you're able to have this product under the law, man, that's just a ray of hope that that many have just lost.

And we've just we have absolutely the conversation have not been about the patient.

There are suffering people in Alabama that need this.

And something's got to be don to restore that hope in Alabama.

And in my opinion the legislature has to step in because, like you said, there are so many different so many different kind of facets out there.

I was going to ask you about that.

Yeah, I was going to ask you about that because we have this court ruling.

Basically, the way I've read it and the wa the commission thinks about it is it kind of gives hope that to restart that process and kind of get over the finish line.

But you're saying you think the legislature still needs to step in?

Sure.

I think there's a legislature needs to step i because people are going to sue.

This thing is going to stay in court.

We can't let this stay in court another week.

In my opinion.

We can't let it stand court another year or how long it takes.

You know, people I've talked to think it could be tied up in court just depends on what people decide to do.

And we just can't take that chance.

And to, you know the legislature, kudos to them.

And 2021 stood up for the people of Alabama.

They stood up and sai that this is this is necessary.

This is going to have some hope, give some hope to Alabama, and we still don't have it.

So it seems like there's a need for them to step back in and correct some things that may have been done wrong.

You know, some things have gotten out of line.

We've got to correct the issues that we have and being locked up in court for another year, that's just another year that this takes.

And then it's going to take from that, you know, years to get product or months they get product.

So the quicker, in my opinion, the quicker the legislature can step in and create something that is that is fair to all that it has been in this process and get things to the patient quickest is the thing that we've got to do.

And that's the number one thing.

Get the product to the suffering people of Alabama and what's the quickest way to do it?

Well, we're here in the secon half of the legislative session.

We'll see if they take action.

Just I appreciate you coming on to remind us of the history that exists on this issue and give us some some perspective on that.

Thanks again for comin on.

Thanks for having me, Todd.

We'll be right back.

The quilters of G Spend are world renowned for their traditional quilt designs.

The inhabitant of the small Alabama River Town are mostly descendant of enslaved African-Americans.

Band has demonstrated a persistent cultural wealth in the vibrant style of its quilts.

Quilt making has a long history in Alabama, and there are no finer examples of this art form than the motifs and craftsmanship of the quilts of James Band.

That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back tomorrow night at the same time with more coverage of the Alabama legislature here on APTN for our Capital-Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.