>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

TODAY WAS THE SECOND DAY OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S REGULAR SESSION.

BUT THE CAPITOL WAS STILL ABUZZ OVER GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS LAST NIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT AN ARRAY OF ISSUES, BUT CLOSED THE SPEECH CALLING ON THE LEGISLATURE TO JOIN HER IN ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME.

IT ELICITED A BIPARTISAN RESPONSE.

>> FOLKS THINK PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR THIS SESSION.

I AM PROUD TO PARTNER WITH SPEAKER LEDBETTER AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LEGISLATORS IN PUTTING FORTH A PACKAGE OF BILLS BACK THE BLUE AND COMBAT INNER CITY GUN VIOLENCE.

TO BACK THE BLUE, WE WILL PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT WITH ENHANCED LEGAL PROTECTIONS THAT ALLOW THEM TO CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES COURAGEOUSLY, EFFECTIVELY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING IN THE COURTS.

WE WILL SERVE LONG-STANDING FAMILIES THROUGH DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE.

THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT ALABAMA HAS THEIR BACKS.

[APPLAUSE] WE WILL CRACK DOWN ON DANGEROUS INNER CITY SOMETHING AND EXPAND SOMETHING LAWS AND BOOST OUR SUCCESSFUL METRO CRIMES SUPPRESSION UNIT, BAN GLOCK SWITCHES AND ENHANCE SUPERVISION OF HIGH RISK JUVENILES.

WORKING TOGETHER, WE'LL CREATE A SAFER ALABAMA.

>> WE GOT OUR FIRST LOOK AT THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGETS TODAY.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THE GOVERNOR IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A PROPOSED BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATURE.

FINANCE DIRECTOR BILL POOLE HELD A BRIEFING WITH REPORTERS EXPLAINING HOW THE STATE WILL BE RETURNING TO MORE NORMAL BUDGET LEVELS AFTER MULTIPLE YEARS OF REVENUE BEING ENHANCED BY FEDERAL COVID RELIEF DOLLARS.

WHILE BOTH THE GENERAL FUND AND THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND REMAIN IN STRONG FINANCIAL SHAPE, POOLE EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH AS LAWMAKERS BEGIN BUDGET DELIBERATIONS THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BILL POOLE BUDGET HEARINGS.

>> WE'VE HAD REALLY THE BEST OF TIMES IN BOTH BUDGETS FOR THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS.

SO, THIS IS A NORMALIZATION BACK TO HISTORIC NORMS.

SO, I THINK IT IS PERION TO HAVE THAT CONTEXT WITHIN THIS DISCUSSION.

WE'VE ANTICIPATED THAT THESE ANOMALIES WOULD NOT SUSTAIN ON THE GENERAL FUND SIDE, IT'S DRIVEN FROM THE SITE ON INCOME STATE DEPOSITS, AND THE HISTORICAL NORMS THERE AND WE'VE BEEN FAR FAR FROM THE HISTORICAL NORM.

AND EDUCATION SIDE WE'VE SEEN 20% PLUS GROWTH.

AND YEAR OVER YEAR, GROWTH IS 3 TO 4%.

LESS THAN 2% GROWTH IN THE ETF.

WE'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL IN ANTICIPATING THE CHANGES.

THEY ARE NOT SURPRISES AND THEY ARE ALSO REFLECTIVE OF WHAT THE CONTEXT OF, WE'VE SEEN INFLATED REVENUE IN BOTH BUDGETS OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

>> OF COURSE IT IS THE LEGISLATURE THAT MUST TAKE UP THE BUDGETS AND TAKE THEM THROUGH THE ARDUOUS PROCESS OF BEING ENACTED.

TODAY, MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEES HEARD FROM AGENCY HEADS ABOUT THEIR BUDGET REQUESTS AND WHAT FUNDS ARE NEEDED FOR WHAT PROJECTS.

BUDGET HEARINGS SOT.

>> ONE OF GOVERNOR IVEY'S TOP PRIORITIES FROM LAST NIGHT'S SPEECH IS A SWEEPING REORGANIZATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRS.

IVEY IS NOW PUSHING TO INTEGRATE THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY INTO HER ADMINISTRATION.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD ELEVATE THE VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER TO A CABINET-LEVEL POSITION WHILE REDUCING THE SIZE OF THE VETERAN'S BOARD.

TODAY IN THE SENATE VETERANS AN MILITARY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, SENATOR ANDREW JONES INTRODUCED A BILL TO ENACT THESE REFORMS.

THE MEASURE PASSED THE COMMITTEE, THOUGH IT DID FACE SOME PUSHBACK FROM WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN RANKS.

VETS AND MILITARY SOT.

>> THAT JUST BROUGHT A LOT OF ISSUES AND CONCERNS TO LIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT WORKS AND COORDINATES HAND IN HAND WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

ULTIMATELY THAT HAS TO HAPPEN.

AND I THINKING THIS BILL ASSURES THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND ALSO, IT'S GOING TO INCREASE INVOLVEMENT FROM OTHER VETERANS GROUPS.

>> VETERANS, A LOT OF THEM ARE VERY CONCERNED, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY MAY BE LOSING SOME TOUCH IN SOME AREAS.

SO, I THINK THERE JUST NEEDS TO BE SOME WORK IN EDUCATION OR ADAPTATIONS TO THIS BEFORE IT COMES TO THE FLOOR.

>> SEEMS LIKE THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A LITTLE INPUT INTO THAT, SEE WHAT THE DIRECTION IS.

I KNOW IT'S BEEN THOUGHT OUT.

BUT MY CONCERN IS WITH THERES.

WE HAVE A LARGE VETERAN COMMUNITY THERE IN DISTRICT 31.

SO, I HOPE TO WORK WITH YOU.

IF THIS GETS THROUGH COMMITTEE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN LISTEN TO THE STAKEHOLDERS AND MAKE CHANGES FAVORABLE TO THERES.

>> I'LL SPEAK WITH SENATOR JONES IN MORE DETAIL LATER IN THE SHOW.

THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ADVANCED A BILL THAT WOULD IMPOSE AN AUTOMATIC DEATH SENTENCE FOR ANYONE CONVICTED OF CHILD RAPE.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON IS A FORMER PROSECUTOR WHO HAS WORKED CHILD RAPE CASES.

HE SAYS THE EXISTING MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IN PRISON DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.

THE BILL ORIGINALLY APPLIED TO THOSE CONVICTED OF RAPING A CHILD YOUNGER THAN 6, THOUGH REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND INTRODUCED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD RAISE THE APPLICABLE AGE TO 12 AND UNDER.

THAT WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE COMMITTEE.

JUDICIARY STANDING SOT.

>> I PROSECUTED THESE CASES AND PROSECUTED THESE CASES FROM MY TIME IN BIBB COUNTY, THREE, FOUR YEARS CHILDREN WERE THE VICTIMS OF THE RAPE AND THIS IS THE WORST OF THE WORST OFFENSE TO ME.

YOU KNOW, IF SOMEBODY GETS MAD AND KILLED SOMEBODY, I CAN SEE THAT MORE THAN SOMEBODY THAT RAPES AND TAKES AWAY THE INNOCENCE OF A CHILD THAT YOUNG.

THAT PERSON IS NOT REHABILITATABLE, GET BACK ON THE STREETS, THIS IS NOT WHERE THE PERSON SAYS, OH, IF I CAN HAVE SOME TREATMENT I'LL BE BACK.

THAT PERSON CAN NEVER GET THAT.

THIS IS THE WORST OF THE WORST AND IT NEEDS THE WORST OF THE WORST PUNISHMENT.

>> WE'VE TALKED FOR WEEKS ABOUT HOW IMMIGRATION WOULD BE A BIG TOPIC IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE DRAMATIC CHANGE IN ENFORCEMENT ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THAT PROCESS STARTED TODAY IN THE SENATE STATE AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, WHERE LAWMAKERS TOOK UP A NUMBER OF BILLS RELATED TO IMMIGRATION AND IMMIGRANTS.

ONE BILL WOULD IMPOSE A FEE ON WIRE TRANSFERS OUT OF THE COUNTRY IN AN EFFORT TO DETER THE PRACTICE OF MIGRANTS WORKING HERE AND SENDING MONEY BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES.

ANOTHER BILL WOULD REQUIRE STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COLLECT DNA AND FINGERPRINTS FROM ANY ILLEGAL ALIEN THEY ARREST TO ASSIST IN THE FEDERAL DEPORTATION PROCESS.

AND ANOTHER BILL WOULD MAKE IT A STATE CRIME TO HARBOUR OR CONCEAL AN ILLEGAL ALIEN.

THOSE BILLS ADVANCED THROUGH COMMITTEE BUT NOT BEFORE RECEIVING PUSH BACK.

>> THIS BILL AS WELL AS THE OTHER ANTI-IMMIGRANT BILLS ARE ONLY GOING TO DETER ME FROM STAYING IN ALABAMA TO PURSUE MY HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER STUDENTS BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT FOR HISTORY.

AND THINK, ALL OF YOU, DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT FOR HISTORY.

WE HAVE AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION AND THIS BILL ONLY CREATES, YOU KNOW, WILL ONLY JUSTIFY THE NEED FOR RACIAL PROFILING.

>> WE HAVE A DNA DATABASE TO PUT AMERICANS IN.

WE'RE ADDING JUST ONE MORE GROUP TO THIS DATABASE.

IT'S NOT, I THINKING, WITH THE MEDIA SENSATION, THIS IS NOT WHAT I HEARD ON SOME OF THE PEOPLE UP HERE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO DO ANY OF THAT.

WE'RE ADDING ONE PARAGRAPH INTO WHAT WE HAVE.

WE'RE NOT REALLY CREATING ANYTHING.

WE'RE CHANGING JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE ILLEGAL.

WE'RE DOING IT ALREADY.

>> EARLY THIS MORNING, LAWMAKERS, CABINET MEMBERS AND POLITICOS OF ALL STRIPES GATHERED FOR THE FIRST OF THE ALABAMA DAILY NEWS LEGISLATIVE ISSUES BREAKFAST SERIES.

THIS EVEN FEATURED MY PANEL CONVERSATION WITH HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GARLAN GUDGER, AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS.

WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT AS AN INTERESTING TWIST FOR A CROWD THAT INCLUDED A LOT OF LOBBYISTS, I ASKED WHAT ADVICE THE LEADERS HAD FOR THOSE WHO COME TO THEM ADVOCATING LEGISLATION.

GUDGER HAD SOME SIMPLE ADVICE: BE STRAIGHT UP AND TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

GUDGER SOT.

>> I BELIEVE THE TWO GENTLEMEN FROM MY RIGHT ARE SOUND DRIVEN AND SOUND ADVICE BUT THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD TO THAT, BRING ANY TYPE OF BILLS, LEGISLATION, OBVIOUSLY INTO ME TODAY OR TOMORROW AND GIVE ME THE FULL PICTURE.

SOME OF YOU DO, SOME OF YOU DON'T.

JUST TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST.

HAVE WE THOUGHT THROUGH DILIGENTLY ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES AND WHAT OTHER CONSEQUENCES GIVE ME THE FULL PICTURE AND WE'LL MAKE A DECISION.

NO DOUBT I HAVE THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST MEN AND WOMEN UP THERE, AND BEING THERE TO HELP ALABAMA.

GIVE US THE FULL PICTURE AND YOU ARE GOING TO GET THE DECISION.

DON'T GIVE A HALF DECISION AND EXPECT US TO MAKE A GOOD DECISION.

>> I WANT TO THANK THOSE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR TIME AND CANDOR AND THANK EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED TO MAKE IT A QUALITY EVENT.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, I'LL SIT DOWN WITH STATE SENATOR ANDREW JONES TO TALK ABOUT BILLS IMPACTING VETERANS THIS SESSION.

STAY WITH US.

[BREAK] SENATOR ANDREW JONES.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT, RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACEY.