From ou statehouse studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacey, welcome to Capitol Journal.

The Alabama legislature's 2025 regular session is now in the homestretch.

Lawmakers met for the 24th and 25th legislative days this week, leaving just five more meeting days remaining.

We are hearing the session could be wrapped up as soon as Thursday, May 8th, but there's still plenty of work to do before then.

Most notably on the state's budgets, there was major movement on those budgets this week.

We'll start in the Senate and the general fund, which was taken up in committee this week.

The $3.7 billion spending pla would be a record for the state.

This week's movement follows action earlier this month by the House, and keeps the legislature on pace to finalize spending plan before the end of the session.

Capito Journal's Jeff Sanders reports.

Members of the Senate General Fund Committee advanced a new budget plan for the 2026 fiscal year, marking another majo step in the budgeting process.

At $3.7 billion, the general fund budget sets a record for overall spending, reflecting strong state revenues and steady growth over the past several years.

Committee chairman Greg Britain said that while the numbers for this year are strong, lawmakers are bracing for a more challenging financial landscape.

The difficulty comes in as everybody's accustomed to having a very, very fat wallet.

Someone else is what?

And that's what's going awa and we've got to adjust to that.

One major factor driving that concern.

Federal pandemic relief dollars that have boosted state accounts in recent years are running out.

At the same time, earlie tax cuts are expected to reduce available revenues eve as the economy remains stable.

And I've told my people, this is probably the last year that's going to be the good year.

It's going to be squeezin everything, scraping the barrel.

So the Senate version of the budget makes some adjustments compared to the plan already passed by the House.

However, all Britain emphasize that no agency is seeing a reduction from current funding levels.

Everybody is getting more money this year than they had last year.

All right.

We just apportioned it a little differently.

But those financial worries will likely come into focus in fiscal year 2027.

The climate, economic climate and the challenges that the general fund budget's going to have that, we just are it's going to be tough.

We got to get our minds adjusted.

We've got to get our budgets adjusted and our wallets adjusted so that we don't overspend.

The last thing we should do and is, is to make the error of spending more than we have.

The full Senate is scheduled to take up the general fund budget next week.

If approved, the plan would return to the House where lawmakers can either agree to the Senate's changes or send a budget to a conference committee for final negotiations.

Reporting from the statehouse in Montgomery.

I'm Jeff Sanders for Capitol Journal.

Thank you.

Jeff.

The Education Trust Fund budget was taken up by the House this week the largest of the two budgets.

The ETF covers a range of education expenses from K through 12 to higher education.

Capital journal's Randy Scott reports from the House floor.

Chairman or told me that thi was the most challenging budget that he had ever had to deal with.

And now and this part, thi first page sort of explains why Representative Danny Garret is talking about Senate Bill 112 and supporting bills which make up the state general fund budget.

He chairs the House Education Budget Committee as they work on that spending plan.

The budget for this year that came over from the government the Senate pass is $9.9 billion.

Last year was $9.3 billion.

We also have the raise act, and that was, $186 million.

That's going to student needs, that some of that from the budget, some of tha from the education reserve fund.

We have the Choose act.

We have $100 million.

That's in the appropriation of the education Fund.

We had PYP increases that were substantial this year in the ETF.

We passed legislatio to provide workers compensation, for state employee and for teachers, for teachers.

And that was a number we had to deal with.

We also passed a parental leave act that added to our, requirement.

Representative Garrett says the budget is increased by $561 million, or 6%.

Good news, says some school personnel.

So I feel really good about this.

Budget's very strong.

Hope that it moves through the house.

You know, pretty easy.

And then goes back to the Senate without, many more changes soon.

The proposed budget makes it to the House floor, where it faces debate and suggestions.

Under this budget, the first class pre-K program will receive $213 million, which is an increase of 12.4 million from this past year.

The K-12 schools in this budget will receive an additional $250 million.

$99 million to cover the PYP increases, from $800 to $900 per employee.

As a body, we need to explor maybe legislation in the future.

With our budget that will give or help create scheme for arrangements between county commissions and city councils with local school boards.

That will hel give a percentage of that money to that local school board.

The education budget is approved.

Let me say the great job, Mr. Chairman, and for the whole committee.

And not only that, but for the whole body.

I mean, the input toda and the conversation been great.

I think it's way should.

So thank you for your work at the Alabama State House.

Randi Scott, Capitol Journal.

Thank you.

Randy.

Governor Kay Ivey this wee signed Senate Bill one into law.

The new law, sponsored by State Senator Sam Gauvin, creates a worker's compensation program for teachers and other public school employees to offer coverage should they get hurt on the job, instead of having to use their sick days or go unpaid, employees will now be able to keep getting their full salary for u to 90 days while they recover.

Allison King with the Alabama Education Association, says this is a big step forward for educators.

Well, we're so excited.

We're thankful for the legislature's unanimou support of the legislation and, of course, for the governor signature this morning.

And it does bring an added level of comfort and benefit to our education employees that are on the front lines every day.

If and when they do encounter an injury, they'll have a quality program they can lean on to help them with their out-of-pocket expenses and their time off as needed.

Anything we can do to add as a benefit to education professionals only increases retention and recruitment of employees.

In a day where we're always trying to be competitive for employees, it's it's good to have things like this, as well as parental leave and other things we've put into place this session to bring quality employees into the field.

One of the most combustible issues this session has been an effort to reform the Birmingham Waterworks Board.

This week we were prepared for a contentious debate over Senate Bill 330 from State Senator Dan Roberts.

It originally aimed to reduc the board from 9 to 5 members, a move seen by Democrats as diminishing the City of Birmingham's influence.

However, following negotiations, the bill was amended to establish a seven member board still giving appointment powers to regional and state officials.

That compromise led to unanimous passage on the floor.

This is good for Birmingham.

This is good for Jefferson County.

This is good for Walker, blunt, Shelby and Saint Clair counties.

And that's what the object of this bill was to bring in.

Outstandin board members were after a board whose goal is to work together to provide true, true loyalty to the customer base, not to anyone else.

Their fiduciary duty will be to the customers of the Birmingham Waterworks.

And that's what we were after.

We're after bringing in people, engineers, finance people, general business people who understand how to work together as a board to direct the general manager, how to run a water system.

I believe Representative Jim Carnes will carry it in the House, and we have some assurance that it will get treated and prioritized in the House.

And we're certainly hoping that happens.

The Senate this week also took up legislation regarding religious instruction for public school students.

Senate Bill 229 from Stat Senator Shay None would require local school boards to adopt policies to allow high school students to leave campus to atten religious instruction courses.

The house version of this bill was voted down in committee two weeks ago, but the Senate version has gained momentum since Lieutenant Governor Wi Ainsworth came out in support.

Supporters including Shell Nut say the bill promotes parental choice and religious freedom, but critics warn it could undermine local control and blur the line between church and state.

Many of you have asked, why do we need this bill?

Since we passed a law in Alabama in 2019 allowing school districts to enact policies?

Since that time, very few school districts have adopted release town policies.

Currently, there are 1219 more school districts have policies coming.

We know there's a demand by parents for more programs.

4500 parents have signed a petitio for religious release program.

We have over 100 district that have expressed an interest, but do not have a policy in place.

Parents are approaching superintendents and school boards throughout the state and are being told no.

I just feel for our superintendents and our school board members who have a whole lot more to deal with.

So much funding.

That's going to be cut for education.

Rather than talking about letting a child be released from schoo to go and learn about religion, where they should be getting it when they go to church on their Sabbath day.

That bill passed 26 to 5 and now goes to the House.

Also passing the Senat this week was legislation aimed at reforming the Board of Pardons and Paroles and Senate Bill 234 from State Senator Clyde Chambliss expand the board from 3 to 5 members.

It also requires the board to select its own chair.

Chambliss argues that this will lead to a better dynamic in the board.

He said the board's decisio making on parole cases has been too inconsistent over the years, and this could help fix that.

There's not a magic number, in my opinion.

We've gone to some of the hearings in the days that we were there, the parole rate was zero.

And I think I know everybody on our committee agreed that it should be zero.

That day.

There were people tha just don't need to be let out.

The pendulum swings as is.

I think the issue we've had years where we were well over 50%.

We've had years that we're in single digits, that pendulum swing, in my opinion.

And the purpose of this bill, I think we will minimiz that pendulum, pendulum swing.

It will always move back and forth based on who you're considering, who the members of the board are, that sort of thing.

But we need to minimize that swing.

You know, it shouldn't be tha dependent on individual members.

So I think a five member board will make that a little more consistent.

And we won't have those extremes either way.

That bill now goes to the House at the start of the session.

Public safet was perhaps the signature issue.

Several measures have already passed, but one key part of the safe Alabama package has yet to make it to the finish line.

House Bill 202 from State Representative Re Reynolds is known as the back.

The Blue Act, and is meant to help local police departments recruit and retain officers.

After years of a police shortage, it was in the Senate Judiciary Committee this week where Democrats argued the bill goes too far to protect police.

Reynolds countered, saying police need to feel protected when they engage in altercations.

I don't care what it is.

Black folks do not ge the benefit of the doubt, okay?

And that's the problem.

If we wasn't dealing with that aspect, then you could probably look at it in a, in a I could in a more favorable light.

But that's the realities of life that we am.

And because of that, this bill is going to caus a lot of black folks get killed, and it's going to be done under the name of community.

I wore this suit this morning because the last three police officers I buried at Huntsville PD, I wore this this suit right here.

So I take what you said and I flip the coin, and I worry about that split second decision they've got to go through.

And what if they hesitate?

And then what if they are killed?

And then secondly, you talk about the, the, you know, unintentional aspects of this case.

I mean, we've got to have that discretionary authority there because we have an escalation in force.

So we train our officers.

It was mentioned earlier about, you know, verbal communications, non-lethal weapons, deadly weapons.

But our officers have to escalate during that discretionary moment, sometimes in a second, to match what what the suspect does that makes it office feel like that he's in danger.

No vote was taken on the bil because it was a public hearing.

But lawmakers are expecte to revisit the issue next week.

Also in committee this week was legislation on the issue of immigration and money transfers.

The House Financial Services Committee considered House Bill 297 from Stat Representative Jennifer Fiddler.

It would add a fe to international cash transfers like Western Union, and use that revenu to help local areas dealing with high immigrant populations to fund education, hospitals and law enforcement programs.

We really look at our penalty schedule, and we increase the data that is required for some of our businesses, for anything over a thousand, anything over 2000.

And any suspicious activity must be reported.

And if you don't and the records have to be kept for five years.

And then there's, penalties that are increased, any fines or penalties that have will be collected are then put in the general fund.

The general fund has a line item for the sheriff's education and training fund.

And then that's where that money goes.

You mentioned that these proceeds will be going towards training education purposes.

Yes.

Why are we putting these fund in general fund instead of ETF?

Because we always are drawn out of our ETFs, and we don't have enough to do what we have to do about your presence.

So why are we not putting it into the Educational Trust Fund for training educational purposes instead of general fund?

The line item that is in the Ways and Means general fun is for the education training.

That's basically a replacemen for the pistol permit funding.

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

Also reported out of committee this week was the Farm Bureau health care legislation being pushed by the Alabama Farmers Federation.

House Bill 477 from State Representative David Faulkner has been one of the most talked about bills of the session.

It would allow Alfa to sell health plans to its members, who they say are struggling with high insurance costs.

But it wouldn't operate like traditional regulated health insurance, which has caused concern for some.

Fortne came on Capitol Journal earlier this week to explain his bill and how the concept is already working in other states.

I'd like to say that, you know, Alpha, came up with the idea, but they didn't, and I didn't come up with the idea or.

Senator.

Tennessee has been doing has a Farm Bureau healt plan and has had one since 1947.

And 1010 states, including Tennessee, have already passed legislation allowing their Farm Bureau to have a health plan.

So the idea it's a tried and proven idea, in other states.

And so we would be the 11th state if we once we enact it.

But the reason for it that you've asked is because of the rising cost of health care costs for our farmers.

And so this is a help health plan option for, Alpha's members.

That bill is expected to b on the Senate floor next week.

Another bill to watch next week is tax incentive legislation aimed to help support hospitals in rural communities.

House Bill 86 from State Representative Terry Collins is dubbed the Rural Hospital Investment Program.

It would offer tax credit to individuals or corporations who make donations supporting qualifying rural hospitals.

I spoke with Dane Howard of the Alabama Hospital Association this week about the bill and how it can help support an industry that has struggled financially in recent years.

The impetus where this came from is modeled after a progra in Georgia called Georgia Heart, and in our bill that has passed the House 103 to nothing, is modeled directl after the Georgia Heart program.

And in a nutshell, it does allow for individuals, corporations, foundations to make a contribution to a rural hospital.

We'll talk abou how how you identify them later.

And for that contribution, they get a tax credit.

Alabama.

Income tax might not necessarily mean a federal tax credit, but it does for the Alabama income tax credit.

The Georgia program has 100 million cap on their that allows up to $100 million to be contributed to a rural hospital in Georgia, and that individual could get a tax credit.

No, not 100 million.

We don't have individuals giving 100 million our bill, the bill that's being proposed, and thanks to the leadership of Representative Terry Collins and Senator April Weaver, has a $20 million ca for the first year, which means the 25 million the second yea and 30 million the third year.

And then it will sunset unless the legislature renews it.

that bill has passed the House and could be in Senate committee next week.

Congresswoman Terr Sewell visited the state House this week.

She visited with state lawmakers to share the latest from Washington, as well as hear feedback on ho some of the latest federal cuts are having an impact here on the ground.

One critical issue for Sewell is a decision by the Trump administration to remove a consent decree that was being utilized to improve water and sewag infrastructure in Lounds County.

The Department of Justic came in and did an investigation and really held the state of Alabama, Public Health Department, in charge of trying to clean up that mess, as well as all of the various grants that I've gotten over the years, to try to address this issue.

I think we all know that the soil in Lowndes County is so is not porous enough.

And so it makes it really hard to have, lines put in.

And so most of the water and sewer septic tanks and then we have folks who are who can barely make ends meet, let alone buy a new septic tank or bu a septic tank or maintain one.

So it's been a really tough, road to hoe.

But the people of Lowndes County are amazing.

You know, I my mom grew up in Lowndes County.

My, my, my, my maternal side of my family's all in Lowndes County.

And so we have been working, with, Alabama's delegation, over the years to get more resources, there.

And we finally got the DO to come and do an investigation.

And there was a consent decree.

I sent consent letter, that the state of Alabama, through the, the state publi health department, pledged to do certain, improvements make certain improvements, and, and finally put some resources there, and we got federal resources to help them out.

And so now all of a sudden, the Trump administration has done away with that consent letter, and it's no longer an agreement.

And, it is my hope.

I don't know if I've spoken to Scott Harris and others at the Albemarle Public Health Department that Alabama will step up and do its part.

I mean this is at the end of the day, this is about, human right, not about die.

It's about making sure that every American has clean sand, you know, clean water and proper sanitation.

Meanwhile, the state' Senate delegation welcomed FBI Director Kash Patel to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

The FBI has a growing facility on the arsenal, and Patel recently announced hundreds more FBI position are being moved to Huntsville.

Capital Journals Alex Angle reports on Patel's visit and how it came to be.

The FBI's footprint in North Alabama is expanding.

Director Kash Patel confirme 500 FBI jobs are set to be moved to Huntsville by the end of the year.

He toured Redstone Arsenal alongside Alabama Senators on Wednesday.

Redstone speaks specifically to cyber capabilities to terrorism, explosive capabilities and certain capabilities that we just can't replicate anywhere else in the country.

And so those are the types of folk we're going to bring down here.

His visit made good on a promise he made to Senator Katie Britt, who sits on the Judiciary Committee during his confirmation process earlier this year.

I would love a commitment from you.

Just to come with me to visit those facilities, see what those men and women are doing, what they're learning, and all of the training that' right there at their fingertips.

Senator, you have that commitment.

Britt and Senator Tommy Tuberville urged Patel to fill 1000.

If not for thousand, open slots at the FBI's facilities in Huntsville.

Just hours after Patel was confirmed.

He did it immediately, announcin 500 people moving to Huntsville.

And we know that's jus the beginning and more to come.

After the tour, Patel highlighted how the FBI's presenc at Redstone Arsenal is growing, which will allow it to house additional employees in the next couple of years.

So what it looks like in one two years, I think Alabama knows, and these great senators know we have two more buildings coming online in 2027 that can have the capacity for 15, 1600 more people.

So we're going to keep building because you all have already built it here.

Britton Tuberville both praise Patel for investing in Alabama.

Tuberville said Redstone is quote, a big part of the puzzle.

Patel says the FBI's facilitie in Huntsville will also be used to train interagency and international partners.

He says the move to Huntsville are all in an effort to fight violent crime.

Reporting in Washington Alex Ingle, Capital Journal.

Thank you, Alex, and thank you to our friend at Waff for that video footage.

And speaking of Tuberville, he is causing quite a stir in Alabama political circles this week.

It has long been rumored that the former Auburn coach and Alabama's senior senator i considering a run for governor.

Those rumors intensified whe political news site Yellowhammer reported that Tuberville indeed is running for governor.

Unnamed sources said Tuberville told a group of Birmingham donors that he was getting int the race for governor in 2026.

But within minutes of that story publishing, Tuberville posted on social media that he had not made a firm decision.

He tweeted, quote, while I appreciate all the interest, Suzanne and I are still praying about how bes to serve the people of Alabama when I have an official announcement about my future.

You'll hear it directly from me.

End quote.

Should he get in the race it would have huge implications not just for that contest but for other races, including for his current Senate seat, which is also on the ballot in 2026.

And if Tuberville does run, you can bet that he'll be seeking the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

And it just so happen that Trump is coming to Alabama in a matter of days.

It was announced this week that President Trump will give the commencement address at the University of Alabama.

According to a post on Truth Social, Trump said, I have agreed to do the commencement address at two really great places the University of Alabama and West Point.

Stay tuned for dates and times and dates.

Spring commencement exercises are currently scheduled for May 2nd through May 4th at Cullman Coliseum.

U.S.

Senator Katie Britt confirme the president's plans and said she's thrilled to have hi coming back to her alma mater.

Governor Kay Ivey this week was on the Gulf Coast to help dedicate a new state facility that will help play a key rol in protecting the environment.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management new coastal office in mobile now bears the name of its longtime director, Lance LaFleur, who is preparing to retire after 15 years of service.

LaFleur is leadership included, guiding the agency through the aftermath of the deepwater Deepwater Horizon oil spil and overseeing the construction of that very facility, which will serve as a hub for coastal emergency response and environmental oversight.

Governor Ivey and other state leaders praised LaFleur, who is not only the longest serving Alabama environmental director but also the longest serving of any in the nation.

This 15,000 square foot coastal office will promote greater efficiency and monitoring our coastal environment against future challenges.

I'm equally excited abou the fact that this new facility today will bear the name of a longstanding champion of Alabama's environment leaders, has truly been a partner, and I contributed to cell level success as a state.

And under Lance's leadership, her name has helped ensure that it will remains pure.

It's a tremendous honor to, and quite humbling that this building now bears my name.

Ideally, however, the middle of the names of all the many people who made it possible.

It truly is a testament to a lot of work by a lot of people and I'm just pleased that I have had the opportunity to be part of it.

I applaud the hundreds of people who work every day to serve the people of Alabama and protect public health and the environment.

Congratulations, Lance.

And he'll be on Capitol Journal next week to share more about his career.

This week saw the battle of the Tom Bigby softball game matching lawmakers from Alabama against their counterparts from Mississippi.

The charity event raised money for Children's of Alabama Hospital.

Last year, Alabama won the game but this year, Mississippi got its revenge.

The event was organized in par by House Majority Leader Scott Stafford Hagan, who said beyond helping raise money for children's, the game was also an opportunit for lawmakers from both states to bounce ideas off each other.

They played pretty tough, though, with some pretty hard spills.

State Senator Josh Connelly actually broke his hip while playing, leading him to have surgery.

The day after.

We are certainly thinking about you, Mr. Connelly.

I hope you recover soon.

There's this week mourned the loss of former Lieutenant Governor George McMillon, who passed away at the age of 81.

McMillon was a force in Alabama politics where his career really began at Aubur when he was elected president.

He went on to serve in the Alabama House and the Senate, and was elected lieutenant governor in 1978.

He ran for governor in 1982 and narrowly lost to George Wallace in the primary.

McMillan would go on to be an unofficial statesman in Birmingham, helping with tourism and economic development.

Governor Kay Ivey was close friends with McMillan since their days at Auburn.

She said he treasured being in public service throughout his life an that he will be greatly missed.

Earlier this week, I sat dow with political columnist Steve Flowers to talk about Georg McMillan's extraordinary life.

Here's some of that conversation.

George was a superstar, coming out of the gate.

He was, an outstanding student at Auburn University and was actually president of the SGA.

And actually, ironically, he and they were were classmates at all over and political friends and allies and leaders in student government.

Jimmy Ryan was a couple of years behind them, was in the same group.

They came out of all when most done well in school and all were in an academicall beside being friends this year because he went to Virginia Law School.

I mean, he was at the UVA Law School.

So what did UVA Law school came back to Birmingham?

Settle down.

Even though I graduate from Auburn High School, he was an extension agent around the state.

So he grew up in Greenville and and I graduated Auburn High School but was outstanding at al the University of West Virginia.

Then he went, came back to Birmingham and wrote for Dow, whose father was a very prominent businessman there.

And soon after getting married, Birmingham, he got into politics.

There was open house, and he got elected to that at a young age.

And then he took on a lin on the state Senate named George Lewis Bailes, who was probably the most promised state senator in the state, especially the best parliamentarian and very robust man.

Nobody thought he was beat.

Well, he beat hi in a special election for open seat for not open re challenged him in a Senate seat.

So he was he was recognized as being a superstar.

So it was a long shot.

It was a long shot.

He beat Georgia's bills like a drum, though.

And then he came out of there.

And four years later, after one term in the Senate, ran for lieutenant governor, was elected, and, then started running for governor.

Right after that, it was assumed that was was not going to ru again, was to serve three terms.

And when Wallace left in 78 and Father James became governor, Father James was governor in 78, and then McClellan was his lieutenant governor.

And so McClellan started running for governor and did and Wallace coming bac did not, did not deter George.

And George would have beaten Wallace in the Democratic primary, which was tantamount to election at that time.

Right.

Yeah.

Like the Republicans, in the same way the Republican Party is now, it was tantamount election.

You won the Democratic primary.

You won the governor's race.

And so, he came with an allegation against an eyelash of beating Wallace.

And the only reason was one.

And history books tell you this, and we may have talked, but Wallace got the black vote out of there.

Yeah, he' gone down the street in church.

Right.

He flipped because he he basically apologized for his segregationist, and they accepted it, and they elected him.

And McMillan assumed that was not going to happen, that he'd be the progressive, and, you know, pro New South governor.

And George was recognize nationwide as bringing Alabama into the new centur and being a new South governor the same way Brewer was ten years earlier.

A great man who will be missed.

Coming up after the break, I'll sit down with state Senator Dan Roberts.

And after that, state Senato Kirk Hatcher will stay with us.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online at Video adaptive.org.

Capital Journal episodes are also available on AP TV's free mobile app.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes o Capital Journals Facebook page, and you can listen to past episodes of Capital Journal.

When you're driving or on the go with Capital Journal podcast.

Keep up with what's happening with Capital Journal.

You're watching Alabama Public Television celebrating 70 years of service to Alabama.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is state Senator Dan Roberts from Birmingham.

Senator thanks for coming on the show.

Todd, always a pleasure, sir.

Absolutely.

Well, you've got a really high profile bill, up this week.

It passed the Senate on Thursday.

And having to d with the Birmingham Waterworks.

This is a big issue to try to tackle.

I was told, you know, was threatened to blow up the session almost because there was a threat of filibuster.

But let's kind of start from the beginning.

What does this bill do and why?

In 2001, the waterworks was established as its own entity.

And ever since then, it seems like we have been in a wrestling match, if you will.

We discussed earlier a bill was passed in 201 to add two more board members.

Birmingham had six, then Blount County and Shelby County.

Blount is where we get the water from roughly 47 million gallons a day comes for the needs of the Birmingham Waterworks.

So those bills passed, and yet we've had corruption, as you and I also talked about moments ago, abundant with board members an surrounding this whole process.

Right.

So in order to try to bring a board who has as their fiduciary clients, the ratepayers was a major objective.

And what we were trying to do here today.

Okay.

So is that is the subtext there that, the board doesn't always conside the ratepayers its constituency.

Is that kind of the thing is, it is that what it maybe they get their eye off the ball somewhat.

It could be I would say if the history of it would suggest that they've had other things on their minds as well.

Currently, most of in the Jefferson County area in some extended past that, that also have sewer sewer rates will go up 3.9% for the next 29 years.

And that's a given.

And it's already roughly one and a half times whatever your water rate is.

And then Birmingham has been up over 4% the last two years.

And if you divide the number, the rate increase into 72 you come up with eight.

And so that puts u at a situation where every eight years, the average perso in Jefferson and Shelby County will be seeing a doublin of their water and sewer bill.

Goodness.

Yeah.

So I mean, anytime that happens, you're going to hear about it as a state lawmaker and your colleagues as well.

But this came to be very controversial.

Senator Smitherman, was ready to filibuster until y'all cut him off.

I mean, he was ready to go to the end.

Yeah.

To do that.

So what where does this controversy come from?

If this is a a big problem, like you say, why?

While the objections to to fixing it, he disagrees with the method that we were trying to go about doing.

And he felt like what was don in 15 and then modified in 16.

Was it forever?

We disagreed.

So we filed the bill that allowed for five board members, one appointe by the lieutenant governor, one by the president of the Jefferson County Commission, one by the mayor, one for Blount County and one for Shelby County.

If you state or study orga that organization behavior five is a great number for boar and we required qualifications either finance, engineerin or general business background that each person would need to be good at in order to be appointed to the board.

Here again, trying t bring together a cohesive board whose goal is to turn right this ship.

Okay, but it looks like y'all reach to some kind of compromise on the floor because there was no filibuster as this bill was passed, what was the compromise?

The compromise was to add two more board members.

One appointed by the governor and one appointed by the city council of Birmingham.

Okay, so why is this such an issue?

Why what?

Birmingham waterworks, water and sewer in Greater Birmingham area?

Why are we always coming back to this in terms of I mean, I think about over the years, yeah, we've had corruption you know, folks going to jail.

What is it about the waterworks specifically that has to be such a controversial issue that you have to deal with it at the state level?

What does the waterworks, number one, that was established by the state?

Okay.

So that's why we have authorit to deal with the board thereof.

Number two, what does the waterworks produce?

I told you, roughly 47 million gallons a day comes in from Blount County.

What do they produce?

Potable water, which goes to everyone.

Gotta have it.

What we pump out, we do not.

Bill 450.

It could be a little bit over 50% of that.

So you're you're lookin at the revenue to the waterworks on only 50% of what they make portable and pump out.

Those numbers are off the charts.

If you look aroun the southeast, you'll see under 10 or 20.

Just below 20 would be the max.

And that's due to leakage.

In pipes.

You can have pipes bursting at times and other things like that, but it is unheard of to be missing 50% of the water that you produce in pump.

So it is pumped out.

So all the expenses of receiving training, making potable, sending out through the pump stations.

And then if you're not billing for 50% of that, it also negatively impacts the Jefferson County sewer system because Birmingham bills for them.

So if 50% of the water is lost who knows what portion of that one ends up in the sewer system that then is not billed for.

So it puts an undue burden on the Jefferson County sewer system as well.

And in addition, our ratepayers are using whatever they use.

But because the lost revenue rates continue to go up annually.

Yeah.

And I heard you mentioned on the floor how, you know, this is a statewide issue because as Alabama's largest metro area, an economic engine for the state, these issues, as they linger, really impact economic development.

Right.

You're recruiting businesses to, you know, Greater Birmingham.

You know, they're paying attentio to things like this too, right?

They are.

Anyone that's looking to locate or grow in our area realizes the undue burden that water and sewer rates are to their employees so they can go elsewhere.

I talked to a congressional on of our congressional delegation persons that represents this area, and he said you would no believe the number of companies that I personally helped get here who then choose to go elsewher because of that one issue.

Wow.

Yeah.

And Birmingham's responsible for 28% of the gross domestic product of the state of Alabama.

So in many ways, so goes th greater Birmingham Hoover MSA.

So goes the state.

All right.

Well, it's getting late in the session.

So obviously it could be a thorny issue in the House.

What are the prospects of this actually getting through.

Give it I'm just thinking no you didn't you didn't have a filibuster on the Senate floor.

But you may well could have a very long drawn out debate on the House floor.

We very well couldn't.

But being in the capable, hands, capable hands of Representativ Jim Carnes, who knows this issue backwards and forwards, who is most capable?

I think we've got as good a shot as any getting this done, and I believe we will have leadership support, and I believe that you'll have overwhelming support.

If nothing else, the entire legislature is so tired of hearing about Birmingham Waterworks, I believe they will go okay, this fix works.

If they got it through the Senate, we're going to get it through the House and go, well, we will be watching as the session really enters the homestretch.

Thank you for comin and explaining some of the stuff that can be really complicated and thorny.

And we'll see you next week.

Look forward to it.

Todd.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online any time at Alabama Public Television's website.

Appy tv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes on Capital Journal's Facebook page.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers with access to free, curriculum aligned videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Media and all the PBS kids programs, parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is state senator Kirk Hatcher from Montgomery.

Senator thanks for coming on the show.

Delighted to be here.

Well, we are just five days left in this legislative session.

We're entering the others.

Everybody's a little exhausted, a little tired.

But y'all did have a pretty productive week this week in the Senate.

Yes.

We'll talk to you about that because it's your past.

I don't know, maybe a couple dozen bills, but up until that point, there had been a lot of acrimony there on the Senate floor.

You know, filibuster or slowing down bills.

You had that day where there were cloture after cloture, after cloture.

So from our perspective, we're watching all that play out, but we can't always know what's going on behind the scenes.

What happened to lead to some of this acrimony and kind of a breakdown in the Senate?

Well, you know, overall, we've had a really good, session, you know, moving bills out and, absolutely want to give great credit to, Senate pro tem, Gonzales, who's done a really good job, in his first year, in his first year of moving this, legislation and really working well with, all of the members of the body.

I do think, you know, there are two things that, you know, create created problems.

One, is having a good balance of, of, bills on the calendar that represent both, you know, Republican and Democrats.

And so the idea would be, you know, you know, how many of our bills on there versus, friends across the aisle and the Republicans and then, in some instances maybe funding no bills there.

So that creates, a moment where, okay, well, now we got to slow this down and get some of our bills on here, so, you know.

And the other piece, I think that, that really did create, a particular, particularly acrimonious, issue, really, really involved a local issue with Jefferson County.

And the, Birmingham City Waterworks and I think because, members, of the of the body felt and rightfully so, kind of left out of that process or felt or maybe felt blindsided by, the bill coming forward.

Before the body a opposed to being a local, issue that they could deal with, created a lot of, of, how can I put it?

Tension.

Tension.

Thank you.

It looked pretty tense.

Yeah, yeah, but at the end of the day, it didn't end up.

Y'all must have reached some kind of agreement.

I was talking to Senator Roberts about that and some of the compromises in that particular bill.

But so, I mean, everybody's wondering going into Thursday's session.

Oh, man Is this going to be an all day.

We're going to order dinner, that kind of thing.

And then you all started passing bills just, over and over.

So what?

And again, behind the scenes, what goes on?

Do you have to kind of reach a agreement and say, okay, we've we've figured out what's going on?

Yeah, absolutely.

And and I think you know, and look, this process called politics requires, some give and take.

You know, you know, obviously people won't agree on everything, but certainly not to a point of being disagreeable.

And the thing that's so, so good about, you know, particularly the work there in the Senate, there are so many opportunities for us, to come together across the aisl to reach the kind of conclusion, that you saw today where people are.

You know, I've had the conversation.

You, you know, there may be some folk who are really still not feeling very good about this, but at least, for the good of the order, we're able to move forward with the agenda.

Given the fact that we have, with five more days left and a lot of work to do, a lot of people said, hey, I want my bill career to be able to move and confirmations to move.

Absolutel are going to be busy these last.

Oh yes sir.

Yes, sir.

Switching gears I wanted to ask you about the issue of education.

I know that's one of your top priorities as an educator.

And you know, the budget's moving.

But also attached to this budge is what's called the Raise act, which changes the student based fund funding formula.

We've talked about this a lot from, you know, the old foundation program from the early 90s, updating it to kind of see, well, certain student populations, have greater costs.

English languag learners, special needs, gifted, you know, these kind of things.

So I wanted to ask yo about that because it seems like this has sailed along and it's gotten a lot of support.

What is your perspective on the Race Act and how it might impact public education?

I do think and thank yo for bringing that up, because, you know, we have not, talked abou this, you know, nearly enough.

I agree at all.

I agree it's a very important issue.

It is one of th you know, the things that we can say is a good move, legislatively, for the state.

What I can say is that, the current, student, funding formula is, in my view, archaic.

It is not responding to, the needs of our young people the way it would need to and should and certainly efficiently.

And so the student centered funding is, is, is, is the way to go, in a word because it's going to speak to all of those issues and concerns associated with how we properly fund, our young people to include those who, have demonstrated, the most need in terms of learning abilities and all these other pieces you mentioned earlier as the intro to this.

And I might add that, and it puts us in line with, other states who have moved to student centered funding.

I was first introduced to student centered funding and what it does.

When I was living, and working in Connecticut, and recognizing how we wer behind the curve when it came.

When it comes to that.

So this is going to be something that I invite your viewers to really pay attention, to raise the questions, particularly with those of us who are serving on education, budget committees.

Because this, agreement that we made and voted out of that task force, between both the House and Senate budget committees, is something that, in terms of the hybrid model that will allow people to have an opportunity to kind of ease into how we move to, more exclusivel that student centered funding.

And so I invite people I'm excited about it.

I'll come back again and talk in detail about just that, if you want because I do think, our people in the state of Alabama will will see a really good measurable outcome with this.

Yeah.

And maybe sometimes it's it's good when things aren't just giant headlines because, you know, you got the controversial bill, the Alphaville DBMs, all this, you know.

So maybe it's good news when when really fundamental, reforms like that kind of go under the radar.

But while we're on the topic o education, I want to get local.

And I know, you know, this is a statewide show, but it does matter.

This is the capital city.

And what happens here in terms of education in schools, it affects the whole state.

We've had some trouble, at the board level, at the, you know, in terms of keeping a superintendent.

That obviously has impacted Montgomery Public Schools.

I know that you hear from people all the time about this because sometimes the stat has to intervene, what have you what can be done about this?

What can be done at the legislative level?

To partner with what they're doing at the local level to try to turn things around.

You know, you know, one of the things I immediately would say is that there's real appreciation for, you know, any and all of our, public servants out here, particularly in elected office, are doing to try to do at least, to be responsible to and for, the roles that they serve.

And that includes, but is not limited to our local school board, Montgomery Public Schools, boar and what they have sought to do, to try to speak to getting a student.

I'm sorry, educational leader, in the syste as quickly as possible, given, the need for such, for a whole host of reasons.

When Doctor Brown left what I think is, really important, particularly for times like these, and even mor so in, a place like Montgomery for the reasons you just offered.

We really do need and must have individuals and educational leadershi literally throughout the country who are transformative educational leaders.

And I do think that requires a certain level of exposure about the constant evolution of the educational process to include how it is we are educating our young people out here, in an age of, technology that is on, a level the like of which Covid introduced to us just how, invaluabl that is in terms of the moving around this piece.

And my thinking is, is a, you know, a part of what we have to we have to visit as a part of reform in Montgomery public Schools is how we go about governing what that governance looks like in terms of accountability, how people understand their particular roles in terms of, those who do sit on school boards and what that accountability may be like, to, their primary stakeholders who help with the fiscal aspect of a school system so that all of us are on th same page when it comes down to, truly quality educational opportunity and experience for our young people.

And I, I'd like to think that we're there.

But that's a conversation that has to be intentional, right now.

And it's one of the reasons that I've been both talkin about and dropping legislation that hopefully, if nothing else, gets people to the table to talk about, what we must do to reform these things, as it relates to our educational offering and what is, the option or options available to help us get there?

So what, if any of that makes sense?

Yeah, but I want to get specific into your legislation.

I know you haven't dropped it yet, so it may just be almost like a trial balloon because it's pretty late in the session to pass.

Correct.

What what kind of ideas would you incorporate into your legislation?

Well I mean, that's been talk about, city school system and this is not a new conversation.

And as oppose to it's a it's county right now.

Well, that's a that's the thing is, it's always appear to be somewhat nebulous to me because I, I've been around and worked in county systems and you, you know, the reporting to in terms of you know, the authorities there and then certainl what city systems are concerned, the county, commission in particular puts in, a significant amount of money into, Montgomery Public Schools.

Obviously the the resources part from the federal government and state, you know, from our body to get to the system.

But, you know, and of course, obviously the other piece is there, but I do think that's the piece that I would be a little bi more interested in how we shape, whatever conversations, that will materialize in the next couple of weeks around what the system's going to look like because of a question like the one you just asked.

So.

Yes.

So but is this a work in progress?

Well, look, you know, whenever you do drop it, it's going to get the conversation started.

I'm happy to have the conversations already started right.

That we did it right here.

And so come back and let's talk about this because I want, I want to shin some more light on on all this.

Again considering this i the capital city and it matters.

Yes.

What goes on here, Senator?

We're out of time, but we'll see you next week.

Good luck the rest of session.

And, Thank you.

Best of luck.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

The Alabama Department of Archive and History was founded in 1901, becoming the nation's first publicly funded independent state archives agency.

The archives identifies, preserves, and makes accessible records and artifacts of enduring historical value to the state.

Thomas owned, founded the agency and served as its first director.

He was succeeded by his wife, Marie Banchero, who headed the archives for 35 years and was the second woman to lead a state agency.

That's our show for this week.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back next week at the same time with more coverage of th Alabama Legislature here on apt for our Capitol Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.