From our state House studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacey, welcome to Capitol Journal.

The Alabama legislature was back in session this week and completed the 17th and 18th legislative days of the 30 day session.

That means we have 12 meetin days left that will take place between now and mid-May.

There's a lot to get to but the biggest news of the week came afte lawmakers had already left town.

The Senate will not be moving forward on a comprehensiv gambling package this session.

Earlier this week, Mar Cell of the Alabama Daily News reported that Senator Gre Albritton had draft legislation calling for a vote of the people to legalize a lottery slot machine.

Casinos and sports betting.

The plan also called for a compact with the Porch Creek Indians.

The state House was abuzz all week with speculation over whether or not gambling would actually be debated this session.

But late Thursday, Senate President Pro Tem Garland Gunter put that speculation to rest.

In a statement, Godfrey said, quote, with 12 meeting days remaining in the session, both budgets still awaiting approval and other important bills and measures demanding focus and attention.

The comprehensive gaming bill released today is simply too little, too lat and has too few votes to pass.

End quote.

He also said that in order to pass such an ambitious gambling plan, the process would need to start well before the legislative session and include conversations with many stakeholders.

As it happens.

Senator Albritton who was bringing that gambling bill, is our guest on Capitol Journal this week in an interview that we recorded befor the statement was issued, which I suppose makes our conversation mostly academic.

One of the more high profile bills of this session was the subject of a public hearing this week.

The House Health Committee took up legislation that would allo 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 plans offered wouldn't truly be health insurance and 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 farm since 2017.

And our state's farmer saw their income drop 1 billion in just one yea 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 costs for many farmer families, health care coverage.

The Alabama Farmer Federation is seeking authority to offer its members a health plan coverage similar to successful 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 in 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.

That 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.

I spoke more in depth on the issue with supporters and opponents of that bill for Thursday's Capitol Journal, which I encourage you to check out.

You can find it on our YouTube channel.

Just go to YouTube and search Capitol Journal.

That House Health Committee also held public hearings fo other notable bills this week.

House Bill 441 fro Representative David Standridge would require speech pathology and audiology therapists to at least have an associate's degree in communication disorders or audiology to practice.

And House Bill 445 from representative Andy Witt would impose tougher restrictions on consumable hemp products, including gummies and CBD drinks.

No vote was taken on either bill, but a Senate companion of that CBD restriction bill did pass a Senate committee this week.

It was a big week in the House Education Policy Committee as lawmakers considered legislation on hot button issues.

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

The boss brough an amended version of the bill, attempting to clear up some of the guidelines.

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

This, religious time release was ruled unconstitutional 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 were unanimously approved, we have made sure our local districts maintain control.

All 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 special period to safeguards, are provided by guidelines of the Supreme Cour 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 representing Ross child.

I've been praying so much since I've been in the legislature.

I'm so close to God, I have this.

Yeah, I have become 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.

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 goodly, would allow public schools to hire chaplains or allow volunteers to fill that role.

That bill was approved and goes to the full House and House Bill 246 for Representativ Scott, stating, and 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.

The House Judiciary Committe this week considered legislation aimed to expand the scope of specialty courts to help those dealing with addiction and mental illness.

Senate Bill 200 is sponsored by 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 t accountability courts and expand the scope of whom the accountability courts would serve to include offenders with mental illness and offenders or veterans to further provide for the duties of administration.

Office of the courts.

By combining the code words, 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 to give a record a pathway in Alabama to do, Veterans Court million on this court.

All 67 counties have, accountability cause they have the drug courts.

Now, and then some of the 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.

This week saw the first movement on state budgets.

The general fund saw action in committee and on the House floor.

Capitol journal's Randy Scott has that.

And other legislative developments from the House.

Representative Rex Reynolds gets to the poin about the general fund budget.

We're in a good position in the general fund.

Two things.

We started off the fiscal year, higher than we thought.

We had some additional revenues.

And that's because of the conservative budget that you passed last year.

Left left some revenue on the table.

And that's what we're supposed to do.

This year, we'll do we'll d the same at a higher percentage.

The general Fund Committee met to discuss House Bill 186 and other bills making up the new general fund budget.

All pass.

And they now go to the House floor in the Education Trust Fund Committee meeting.

Members work on Senate bill one, which sets of guidelines for worker compensation fo teachers and other school staff.

So I appreciate Representative Faulkner, Senator, given reps involved and all of y'all working together, like you said over spring break and, saw some recovery in 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, to that we can move forward with in good, in good faith.

Senate Bill one is approved Thursday.

House debate over House Bill 166.

This measure addresses the notion of cell phone usage in schools.

Our, bill that it's going to remov cell phones from our classrooms.

Essentially, they'll still be on the property, but they will be turned off and stored off the body of the person.

The local boards will be deciding how that implemen those policies get implemented.

That is really the only requirement.

This is just setting that as the floor.

I do think that those those devices need to be somewhere where those children can call parents and or even call 911 and say, somebody is shootin in our school or, or whatever, because that has happened to House bill 166 passes the general fund budget also reaches the House floor.

Lawmakers have a lengthy discussion, including talks on why some items were initially taken out and finding a solution to those changes.

A good, solid bill that supports our state agencies, our state services and economic development, an Alabama dance Hall of Fame in Birmingham, of course, the Magic City Classic and I think the Civil Right Museum, the Civil Rights Museum, and Green Lawn the museum, Civil Rights Museum actually is in the district that I represent.

And I know you said that several people had reached out to you over the course of the past few days, and that you want to do what you could to make, you know, as best you could to make sure that those items are in place.

I joined that, my colleagues on the Democratic side.

We walked up to the Senate, had that conversation, and we had some assurance that that they would put those back in the budget, and I would protect thos line items when they come back.

The general fund budge is approved at the statehouse.

Randy Scott, Capitol Journal.

More on that general fund budget that passed the House this week.

It totals $3.7 billion, which is an increase of about 341 million from the budget passed last year.

The largest share o the budget is directed towards the Alabama Departmen of Corrections at 826 million.

Medicaid at 955 million.

The Department of Public Health at 131 million.

And the Department of Mental Health at 239 million.

Turning now to the Alabama Senate, where controversial legislation dealing with weight limits for log trucks was debated this week.

Senate Bill 110, sponsored by Senator Jack Williams, originally sought to raise axle weight limits for log trucks, something supporters said would help the timber.

Timber industry and prevent drivers from being unfairly hit with fines and court costs.

But the proposal met resistance from Alea and the Alabama Department of Transportation.

They warned that heavier axle loads could damage roads and bridges and creat added safety risks for drivers.

On the Senate floor, Williams accepted amendments from Senator Clyde Chambliss.

Under the revised bill, axle weight limits will stay the same, but there are now change to how enforcement is handled.

The amended version would limit how many trucks can be stoppe at one time for weight checks, and it gives drivers more options to challenge portable scale readings.

If you're there at the scales and you're within ten miles of the mill, then you can go ahead and go to the mill with one of the troopers and weigh your truck at the mill.

And if that set of scales that weighs gross and those scales are certified by Aegon Industries.

And so it's not just it is regulated, but if that gross shows that you're the that you are, under gross, well, then that ticket goes away because there's obviously a false ha.

Let's say you're 90 miles from a mill.

So the second part of this would allow the trucker to go to any certified scale, weigh his truck, and if he' under gross when he gets there, it's obvious that our temporary scales are portable.

Scales, gave a false ha because o an air rod system or whatever.

And then that ticket goes away.

Our local economy, the people, as these trucks come out of the woods, every one of them stops and gets a Coke and a candy bar or something.

So it helps all our economy and at our little stores out in the country, because they're not going by big stores where they're where they're coming from out of the woods.

That bill passed the Senate unanimously and now heads to the House for further debate.

Some tense drama in the county and municipal government committee this week, as tw Republican senators from Baldwin County clashed over Senate Bill 270.

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

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

All Britton 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 county.

What that tax is, is for education.

We've had this argument.

We've gone through this many times.

You and I have and others hav in the course, have I my angst.

It's not only just a matter of of what we're doing and how this is going about, but trying to do the end run around on 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, a stand that I would prefer that we not have this discussion openly.

But you've made this point all 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 need to have a lot of force, a 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 aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

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

The bills carried over.

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

The committee also considered Senate Bill 247 from Senator Arthur, or which would restrict protests near private homes or introduced a similar measure last year that failed to gain traction.

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

But opponents argu that the bill infringes on First Amendment rights.

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

Just don't know.

And there's so many lofts downtown.

So where would you actually g to have even a peaceful protest in the 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 wanted to make that clarification.

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

The Senate on Thursday took up legislation aimed at streamlinin the process for parents seeking religious exemptions from school vaccination requirements.

Senate Bill 85 from Senator Arthur, or would allow parents to si to submit a written declaration directly to schools eliminating the need to obtain exemption form from county health departments.

Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill, expressing concerns about potential impacts on public health.

An amendment was added requiring that if a child receives a religious exemption, parents must provide a health form confirming the child has not had any communicable diseases in the last 12 months.

We didn't expand the law.

All we did was streamline the process and we took out of the process, having to go to the health department to get a piece of paper that they have to give you anyway.

It's not a discretionary function.

It is a mandatory function that they have to give you the religious exemption paper.

So why are we doing that?

Let's just, let parents affirm that they have a religious exemptio as they go to the schools and, put that in writing for the schools and admit the child.

You know, you have to have an immunization form when kids first enroll.

So are we doing away with that?

Okay.

It's not going to be required.

Parents are not going to be required to have that form.

It was always a blue form as I remember.

I don't think where I'm at for the immunization now.

I'm sorry.

I don't think so.

All we're doing is you're taking out the middle step, which you're going to get the go and get the piece of paper anyway.

Now they may be browbeat.

They may not.

I don't know, it's just kind of a hassle to go to the health department, get the little form and come back.

We're just taking out that middle step.

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

That was the only bill that the Senate took up Thursday, partly because of a mini filibuster on the part of State Senator Roger Smitherman.

He was unhappy about two things the lack of Democratic bills on the agenda and cuts to the Magic City Classic and other items in the House passed general fund budget.

Republicans have vowe to restore those funding cuts, but Smitherman still took the opportunit to slow it down in the Senate.

Now, all of a sudden, we let nobody and a third of the agenda is not ours.

We had zero bills on here.

You know, I mean, yo somebody saw my name at the end, but I was a call sign.

I'm not to sponsor main sponsor to be.

So with that and I've talked about that this is a problem.

But I do the full straight day and it was not addressed.

So we can't be passing bills if we are not going to have an opportunity to have our bills presented to the full Senate.

The second thin is that the budget in the House, oh, it may have had more in it, but it had six things come from Jefferson County zeroed out.

And yet you had other thing from other counties increased.

So that's no justification.

And, you know, I le you all may do determination or what I'm saying.

There were some other notable bill moving in the Senate this week.

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 who violate the law.

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

Senate Bill 245 from Senator Arthur or would require 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 subjec of a public hearing this week.

This is the bill allowing for so-called ready to drink beverages containing liquor like high noons, to be sold i grocery and convenience stores.

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

Speaking of notable legislation, Governor Kay Ivey this week signed into law Senate Bill 199, the paid parental leave law under the law.

State and educatio employees are offered paid time off after having or adopting children.

New mothers will receive eight weeks paid time off and 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 busy as the statehouse was this week.

Next week promise to be even more action packed.

That's partly because lawmakers are preparing to take up the state's largest ever education trust fund budget.

Senator Arthur, or, who chair the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, says the plan is ready to be introduced next week alongside it.

There's a proposal to change ho schools are funded in Alabama.

Capito Journal's Jeff Sanders has more.

Senator Arthur or has been working on the Education Trus Fund budget for several weeks.

This year, the budget is projected at $9.9 billion, a 6% increase over the current year, and the largest education budget in state history will be on the floor for sure on Thursday.

To be determined whether we have a two day or three day work week next week.

So.

But we do know Thursday will be the day that the education budget will be on the floor, along with the budget or is also introducing the Raise act.

Short for Rewarding Advancement in Instruction and Student Excellence.

The proposal would chang how Alabama funds its K through 12 public schools.

It came out of a legislative commission that studied the state's current funding model last year.

It will better support our public schools for children in poverty.

Children that are English language learners, children that are gifted and for those that have special educational needs, it will address those four buckets, of students and give schools the additional resources that to educate those children with because the studies have shown that for those childre it requires additional resources or says the new model is designed to better serv students who need more support without overhauling the entire system.

This is the hybrid model.

You'll see the foundation program remaining intact, and this is coming on top of that particular, funding out of the foundation.

Once the Senate approves its version of the Education Trust Fund budget, it then heads to the House for further review and possible changes.

Reporting from the statehous in Montgomery, I'm Jeff Sanders for Capitol Journal.

Turning now to Washington, where tariff is the watchword of the week.

President Donald Trump followed through on his commitment to place wide ranging tariffs on foreign imports, a decision that is already having an economic impact across the country.

And here in Alabama, the state's congressional delegation is reacting to the situation, with Republicans mostly praising the tariffs, saying they believe they will spur domestic job growth.

But some economists aren't so sure.

Our own Alex Engle reports from Capitol Hill.

Alabama's GOP lawmakers are standing behind Trump and his tariffs that he announced on Wednesday, calling it Liberation Day.

But Democratic Congresswoman Terry Sewell says her constituents will not be liberated.

It's our declaration of economic independence.

President Donald Trump exude confidence this week, announcing a 10% tariff on imports from all countries during an event in the Rose Garden on Wednesday.

He was surrounded by auto and steel workers for years, hardworking American citizens who were forced to sit on the sidelines as other nations got rich and powerful.

Much of it at our expense.

But now it's our turn to prosper.

Trump also announced higher tariffs for countries that have a larger trade deficit with the United States.

Alabama's Republican lawmakers are supporting the president's efforts.

Senator Tommy Tuberville says there will be short term pain because of higher prices.

But he says the tariffs are necessary.

Tool tariffs are only only chance to get industry back in this country.

Get domestic worker here to get them back employed.

But economists war the tariffs will make most goods like cars and clothes, more expensive for Americans.

And they say it will strain global trade.

An economics professor at Troy University, John Dove, says some industries have stockpile supplies ahead of the tariffs, which could lead to a dela in higher prices for some goods, kind of depending on the industry, depending on the products that we're talking about.

We're probably looking at, you know, weeks to potentially several month before we really do start to see significant increases in prices on those consumer products.

Some have already begun to rise.

Dove says tariffs can raise revenue.

But he says they also create a lot of uncertainty.

Trump also put a 25% tariff on auto imports.

Alabama has multiple auto makers located in the state.

Congresswoman Terry Sewell says a tariff will hurt auto workers and all of her constituents.

We all know that tariffs are just another word for a tax, and that tax is going to be passed on to the consumers.

On the agriculture side, Tuberville says higher tariffs on countries like Vietnam will help Alabama' catfish and shrimp farmers.

U.S. catfish and shrimp producers have faced some of the worst blows.

Global financial markets are now reeling after the tariff announcement.

It's unclea if Trump will keep the tariffs permanent or lower, or drop them at some point.

Reporting on Capitol Hill, Alex Ingle, Capital Journal.

Last month saw a funding freeze from the Trump administration that impacted agencies and institutions here in Alabama.

Many were concerne about how those freezes or cuts could impact education.

At a time when the state i starting to see some real gains.

But Senator Arthur, o who chairs the Senate Education Budget Committee, say the state is in a good position financiall when it comes to school funding.

A doctor, Mackey, and I discussed it this week and to be determined.

The state of Alabam did a very good job of pushing that money out.

My recollection, he said there was only $8 million that had been left.

It hadn't been clawed back.

It's just been frozen for now.

But there are some state that have hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars that are have not been disbursed.

And so we're in very good shape as far as that is concerned in Alabama.

And credit to the state Department of Education for pushing that money out to educational systems around the state.

Thursday marked the 200th anniversary of the visit of Marquis de Lafayette to Montgomery.

Lafayette, of course, was the French general who served under George Washington and was a hero of the Revolutionary War.

Later in life, he was among the most famous men on earth, traveling the world to advocate for fundamental ideals like freedom of speech and religious tolerance.

Thursday.

Governor Kay Ivey, Supreme Court Justice Will Sellars and other state leaders marked the occasion with a special ceremon that included some reenactments of Lafayette's famous Montgomery speech.

With America's 50th birthday on the horizon.

President James Monroe sought to reunite our new country and restore Patriot home.

He invited his old friend and fellow Revolutionary War comrade, the famous General Markie D. Love it to visit the United States.

The marquee eagerly accepted.

The triumphal return of this great hero of the American Revolution, was met with universal enthusiasm and renewed patriotic fervor across a hamlet of a growing nation.

General Lafayette's arriva in Alabama was a turning point for Alabamians the monarchy.

Lafayette's presence placed us on the back on the map, elevating our status as an equal among our fellow states in the process of growing a freedom loving nation.

I am sincerely affected by the honors conferre upon me by the American people.

The kindness with which they have received my conduct has magnified my merit.

I have seen here the best proofs of a great, prosperous and happy people, and the rapid advancements of the polite and useful arts and then the stability of your free institutions.

After the event inside the Capitol, a wreath laying ceremony took place at Lafayette's commemorative marker there on the Capitol grounds.

Those involved in planning the event, including Justice Sellars, said it's important to remember such important figures in American history and to make sure younger generations understand the remarkabl founding of the United States.

There will be a lot t commemorate over the next year.

In just two weeks, we will mark 250 years since Paul Revere's famous ride to alert the Massachusetts countryside that the British were coming.

And next year will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Look forward to that.

Before we get to our interviews, some fun this week.

Governor Kay Ivey this week paid a visit to Saint James School here in Montgomery, where fourth graders were putting on a show about Alabama history.

It included students dressing up as notable Alabamians.

And, of course, one student, Caroline Lindsay, dressed as Governor Kay Ivey herself.

And she didn't hold back with her presentation, which included Governor Ivey's famous high stepping lawn.

Take a look.

All right.

Now, step two have for a hashtag.

My name is Pam.

I am leader who is not the current governor of Alabama, fighting for what's right.

With strength and grace, I lead the way in Alabama, serving dinner and disasters, economy and education, preparing my state for the next generation.

And after the show, Carolin got to chat with Governor Ivey.

There she is, pictured with the boss and her father, Nathan Lindsey, who is Ivey's deputy chief of staff.

That's just great.

No, no step too high for a high stepper.

I really love the attention to detail.

She had the state of Alabama pin and the shoes were just right too.

So way to go, Caroline.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is state senator Greg Albritton, chairman of the Senate General Fund Budget Committee.

Mr. chairman thanks for coming on the show.

Thanks for having me.

All right, let's get into it.

Gambling.

You, your bill, the reporting on your bill started on Sunday with Mary.

So very thorough reporting.

It's changed since then, and want to get into the specifics.

Sure.

It's very important but I wanted to start with why.

You know, why are we doing this again?

Why are we talking about this again?

You know we saw what happened last year.

It seems like a wasn't that fun?

It was Sometimes it was fun to cover.

But again, you know, everybody thought.

Matt, after all that, they'r never going to touch this again.

So why do I, you know, take this.

Really monumental tas of bringing up gambling again?

Because.

Has it gone away?

Gambling is still here, and it's growing, exponentially.

Whenever you go out, look at some basketball games that's going on.

Yeah.

And the sweet 1 and the ESPN ads that's there.

It's all over.

And it will continue to grow, since it won't go away.

The issue doesn't die.

We've got to deal with it.

Okay.

It's a social ill, Todd.

Just like this.

This week, we've been dealing with rtds, you know, rated drink stuff.

We've been dealing with, cannabis and and marijuana stuff.

They are all social ills that's among us that we have to control, that we have to deal with.

The same thing true with gambling.

So you're saying the legislature is taking action to regulate CBD, cannabinoid, all that stuff?

Alcohol.

And so you consider gambling right up there in terms of needing needed regulation?

Even more so, yes.

Because this is running rampant right now.

And we're we're just sitting back watching it.

Okay.

Let's get into the specifics and know there are a lot of them.

But walk me through the basics of what your bill as it exists now.

Does.

Okay.

We are basically capturing the business, the state exercising a sovereign role of controlling this industry.

We are capping it, stopping the growth, wild fire growth.

I'll say it that way, because all we're doing is we're taking the issue, like the lottery, and we're establishing that we've done that several other times.

It hasn't changed.

Then we take a look at where we have these.

What are the 19 local CCAs that's authorizing, six different sites in the state where gambling takes care of different types pari mutuel, HHR by historical horse racin and bingo and electronic bingo.

Those are six, I says, somewhat legal.

And we're going to capture all of that, and we're going to keep it at the same thing.

We're going to authorize these same six sites to do the same things.

Now, they won't be doing all of that.

The market will govern that, but it'll be limited to just those six sites and limited to the lottery.

We don't have anything set up in northeast corner.

We don't have any room for class three gaming at all.

Class two gaming.

And this is federal discussion.

But class two gaming, will be at those places that we designate.

Then we take sports gaming and we tether that sport gaming to those same six sites.

We don't open up special bars.

We don't put special places out.

It's tethered to those same six sites.

They'll be tethered physically and also electronically so that an individual can download the all.

Let's save the app, let's say from green track.

And then they can make their bets on their phone through that entity.

That way the state knows what's happening, who's doing what and by how much.

Okay.

Also there's a requirement.

I think there's a wa I read that that the state enter into a compact with the ports Bennett Creek.

That's correct.

That' the only statement that's made.

We require a compact to be made, but we don't set up anything.

We don't isolate anything.

That's going to be between the governor and PCI.

As to what type and where and how that works.

Okay.

Talk about revenue.

Before I go there, let me make one more thing clear.

If they enter into an A, compact, the governor and PCI that they're going to open a separate entity or separate place.

They've got to come back to the state legislature for another CCA.

I was going to ask you about that because that's always been question.

Right?

There's no way.

So Greeks have purchased that Birmingham facility.

Great.

But that's already in with th that's one of the things checks.

Right.

So they would kind of be in two different worlds with their federally recognized lands.

But if they did pick up another site, you're saying that would have to come back to the legislature.

If they picked up another site, they'd have to come back to the legislature to get that approved.

Okay.

Well, that's interesting because it might that might be a disincentive for adding an extra site because that might be hard to pass.

Precisely.

Okay.

Interesting.

It will be hard to pass.

That's why I'm doing it that way.

Well, talk about revenue.

What are the tax levels and where does the money get 24%, just like we had before.

Plus, we're putting taxes on every machine electronic machine, HHR electronic.

And we're also putting a and excise tax on each and every bet.

Sports bet that's made small 1% on those smalle bets and 2% on the larger bets.

Okay.

And ho much revenue are you projecting?

And I mean, that's the real thing, is where does this money actually, it's hard to.

It's hard to gauge.

Hard to gauge how much this will generate.

But our estimates are on a rounded number somewhere around 750 800 mil.

Okay.

How do you divide it up?

That's been, major controversy, but I think we've com to an agreement on that.

Okay.

We're going to take, I think of it's two pools.

The lottery is one pool, and then the other gaming is a separate pool.

But we're going to take the whole group and we're going to take 150 million.

And we're going to send that to Dottie.

Okay.

All right.

Roads and bridges.

Now and then we're going to take, the remainder of ETF that they don't pay all of 150.

Don't misunderstand.

But we it'll be somewhere around 200 mil or so.

And that will go to the ETF straight out of the lottery.

Okay.

Then we're going to tak the rest of the gaming aspects.

And that's where a good portion of the 150 comes out of.

And we're going to take the divide that up t locals in different percentages to different places, counties and cities, counties and cities, mostly counties, and then to DA's and to sheriffs and to roads and bridges in the counties and that type thing.

Okay.

And then the rest goes to th general fund, the general fund.

So that means the legislature would basically determine year to year, they'd have a certain amount of money to say, we want this projec this year, this year, you know, that would be a year to year decision.

But just like the regular budget process is another revenue stream.

Exactly.

Now, if you break that out and see how much that is, you're going to wind up with about 200 million or so.

And these are rough estimates to the ETF and basically about 200 million to the general fund.

Not a whole lot of money overall.

Now in Mary's first story and then so that your first iteration of the bill, you had some money set aside for health care and you talke about the importance of, of that and all the healt care challenges that's out now.

It is.

How did that come about?

The demands for getting votes.

Okay.

And frankly we had no money set up for that.

All we had was a paragraph there authorizing, moneys to be spent for that.

That's that's not in there.

And you'll see.

So it wasn't exactl a line item.

It was just this.

This is a authorize, potential authorization.

Okay.

All right.

Well, that's that's what it gets down to is you know, obviously fell short in the Senate last year.

Not the same bill, but the issue did.

And you the conventional wisdom is you're down a vote because Senator Gregory is off and he was a yes vote.

And and that seat's not getting filled.

So how do you get the votes?

What are how are you going about talking with your colleagues about picking up votes, presumably from those who, you know, were a note last year and have been a no.

Good question.

Some things just aren't easy.

Maybe that's why they call it work, but, persuasion.

Illustration and hopefully recognition.

By that I mean last year it was the folks were adamant, no, no sports gaming at all.

Well, it only took a few months for people to understand, comprehend that it's a real problem that we need to get in.

So now I believe most folks are on board with doing the sports gaming end of it, too.

So we don't have that hurdle to overcome.

Let's get into that a little bit because you're.

Yeah, you're I don't think anybody disputes that illegal gambling in Alabama is a problem and has been for a whil and now the emergence of sports.

But yeah that's that's a super addictive.

Highly I mean, it's just so easy to do.

And I guess they're doing it offshore.

So that's what that's what a lot of opponent are doing it in the state House.

Okay.

Well right.

But if the app takes you to the Bahamas or exactly because it's it's technically illegal.

But all right, so let's just say this all passes and here's what the opponents are telling me.

All right.

You say you're going to regulate, say you're going to get under control.

But it could be opening a Pandora's box.

And why would we want to do that?

Thinking about, you know, getting more people addicted to a social ill, like gambling, you know, and unintended consequences.

Could there be more expansion that we know of that could be down the road?

That's what opponents say.

And so it makes a lot of opponents hesitant to get into and expan those opponents, if I might be.

So all those opponents are just flat wrong.

We're not opening any bo that boxes had the lid blown off some time ago.

It's already proliferating.

It's already there.

If we don't think it's not affecting our junior high kids now, we're just hiding ourselves.

It is proliferating throughout our community, and one of the reasons we can't get it passed is because the interests don't want it to pass.

Because this is a free for all here.

This is the Wild West.

When it comes to this.

There's more people gaining more money out of Alabama because we're not watching it.

That's what we've got to do.

We've got to grab this and control it.

Alabama has a moral obligatio to take control of this industry and to regulate it properly, just like it does rtds and everything else, even t the chicken houses we regulate.

But we can't seem to regulate gambling.

And there's a reason for that.

And that's because it's economically difficult for people to allow us to control it.

Well we're going to watch this issue very closely obviously.

And I really appreciate you coming on and explaining everything once.

It wouldn't be a session if we're not talking about gambling.

But I really appreciate your candor.

I hope to end that.

Okay.

I hoped in that.

Fair enough, fair enough.

Thanks again for coming on, and we'll look forward to talking to you soon.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

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Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is Lindsey Gray, director of the Southern Office of the Council of State Governments.

Lindsey, welcome to Capitol Journal.

Thank you so much for having me.

Well, I know you all are in town because you're planning for this big conference.

Coming up, the Council of State Governments, the southern office has its conference in Birmingham this year.

Yes.

Colloquially known as SLC, the old Southern Legislative Conference.

So before we get into the conference, can you share with us a little bit about the the Council of State Governments, its history and mission?

We actually started our office started as the Southern Legislative Conference, so we will never veer away from that.

That is how we are known.

But in the 40s, we started as the Southern Legislative Conference, and in the 50s we came under the umbrella of CSG o the Council of State Governments as their southern office.

So we stayed true to our roots, though, of course, and we will never release the Southern Legislative Conference name, but we are affectionately known as CSG South or the Council of State Government Southern Office since the 50s and am trying to adopt that.

So where we have that regional focus, but we also are part of, you know, national impact as well.

Sure.

So the big conference is coming up.

And this every year there's a different city.

It was a mobile 2015 2015.

Yeah.

So ten year we're back in Alabama I guess.

Last year it was West Virginia.

There was Charleston, there was Nashville.

So every state kind of gets their day in the sun.

And now with Speaker Nathanie Leadbeater being the chairman, it's our turn.

That's right.

So Birmingham, I gues it's going to be in July, right.

Will be in July.

So SLC is always very hot.

But because we're in our southern states, we do go between 15 southern states that make up the southern region.

And it is Alabama's turn under Speaker Ledbetter.

He's been a wonderful chair to us.

And Birmingham was selected out of all the cities.

They were able to support the size of conference that we've become.

But we are focused on legislators and making sure that they have access to policy session for four day, a four day period.

But also, we're Southerners so we love a good hospitality, and it almost feels lik a family reunion over four days.

So it's going to be pretty exciting.

And, and we're happ to be hosting it in Birmingham.

I'm from Alabama, so I love being able to come back home and and hosting this in a plac that's very near and dear to me as well.

Troy University, right.

I'm a Troy University grad as well.

How about that?

Grad?

Well, yeah.

Talk about the these conferences because it's always so much legislation between states.

It can be similar.

States deal with similar issues.

So is this the conference a way for people to kind of, I don't know, collaborate and get together on.

Well, hey, we dealt with the same issue, in Louisiana that you're dealing with i Alabama that you're dealing with and South Carolina, is that kind of the idea?

Yes, we're a nonpartisan organization, so we actually bring both sides of the aisle together to discuss policy matters that are affecting our southern states with similar challenges and opportunities, as you mentioned, that it's important for southern states to talk to each other and to, convene around these policy topics and to really figure out what the best solution is for each of those states, and, and for their political views as well.

So, we find that this is also a time for folk to, to reach across the aisle, and reach across state line in order to share that policy.

Some of the weather events, for example, that we've been seeing, extreme flooding and, and hurricanes and tornadoes are really similar among our states as well.

So there's certain policy areas, of course, it's not just weather events, but there's certain policy areas and activities tha we certainly can rally around.

And our we never tell a legislator how to vote.

It is truly bringing the facts to them, and then they can figure out for themselves where all of this lands for them, and what exact languag they might want to use in in law and in policies that they're forming.

When I was talking to the speaker, he was really excited about becoming chair for the, you know, just just for th sake of bringing the conference to Alabam because of the economic impact.

Yes, we get to showcas the state.

We love doing that.

But it's also a pretty big economic impact.

That's correct.

We usually do a third party study after the conference so we can take actuals.

And the last two years we've been able to have economic impacts in South Carolina and West Virginia, around the 6 million to $8 million mark in those four four day periods.

Early conservative per projections for Alabama's 5.7 million and economic impact.

So, we're excited about those early projections, but, am excited about the actuals afterwards.

So we we partner with a thir party, usually a university or, that has a hospitality office or something like that.

To pull the appropriate numbers.

We're able to provide this actual.

So it is that policy forum but it's also an economic impact for the state.

And we're excited to showcase that.

We're excited to an it's not too late to register.

Right.

Correct.

Right.

So if folks are interested, you know, we get a lot of lobbyists and folks to watch the show.

How might they g about doing that?

CSG south.org.

And they will click on th Southern Legislative conference and the registration button will be right there.

So we make it pretty easy for them to see when the policy sessions will be on what day.

All of that's outlined there.

So it's just CSG south.org.

And they'll see the Southern Legislative conference.

Note very large on the website.

All right.

I'm going to go register right now because I don't want the rooms to directly.

And we should talk about that because we're going to be broadcasting capital Journal from.

Yes.

SLC.

And we're really excited.

Thank you all for letting us, broadcast.

Well, I love that you are our official media partner, this summer.

And we definitely want to make sure that you hav a wonderful space to broadcast.

And hopefully we can even bring some legislators from other states.

That's what hoping on the, on the screen and, and, have a really fruitful conversation.

Absolutely.

Well, Lindsay, we're looking forward to SLC.

Thanks for, spending some time with us to preview it.

And we'll see you in Birmingham.

Great.

Thank you.

Can't wait.

We'll be right back.

At 2 p.m. on February 16th, 1968, the very first 911 call was made in Haleyville, Alabama.

The call was made by State Representative Rankin Fite from Haleyville Mayor James Woods office, and was answered by US representative Tom bevel at the Haleyville Police Station on a bright red telephone that was given to the city b the Alabama Telephone Company.

Haleyville still celebrates their part in 911 history with an annual festival.

That's our show for this week.

Thanks for watching.

We'll return to our nightly coverage of the legislative session on Monday right here on Alabama Public Television.

For our Capital Journal team I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.

On.