From ou statehouse studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacey.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

Today was the 15th day of the Alabama Legislature's 2026 regular session, officially bringing us to the halfway point of this 30 day session.

The busy day got off to a fast start in the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee, which took up a bill that would allow the Alabama Law Enforcement agency to assume operational control of certain local police departments if they don't meet officers.

Staffing quotas.

Senate Bill 298 from State Senator will bar Foot of Pike Road would require Alabama's Class three municipalities, which means Montgomery and Huntsville, to maintain at least for two full time police officers per 1000 residents within five years.

If a city fails to meet that benchmark, Alea could step in and provide oversight.

And still, until staffing levels are restored.

Democrats argu the legislation is unnecessary.

They point to testimony from Montgomery's mayor and police chief last week, who said the city is making progress in recruiting officers.

Barfoot says opponents and opponents concerns have been addressed.

The issue is how can you get in compliance when the supply is not there?

Local, municipalities, especially rural and smal counties, are going to be hurt because now you're going to have a recruit ment grab frenzy, to get officers to try to meet this mandate.

And where are you going to get them from?

You're going to get them from your smaller cities that are in close proximity, because anybody that's too far away is not going to be able to do that, is not going to be cost effective for them.

So you're going to be robbing your smaller cities over here to make up, to try to make up for the difference that you don't have here.

Two sides of the equation, right.

Does it hurt the state coffers or does it hurt Montgomery financially?

And I would say it doesn't either.

And let me explain that, because if a lawyer comes in and helps Montgomery in this endeavor to increase the recruitment and retention of those officers, any moneys that have spent on behalf of the state are able to be recouped from the city of Montgomery.

So the state's not out any, taxpayer dollars.

We're funding, the Metro Crime Suppression Unit now with all state dollars.

That's just simply a band aid that can't last forever.

So this is a fills the gap there.

And then as it relates to Montgomery, after the definition or words unfunded mandate.

Well, the city Montgomery has as I understand it, budgeted for well in excess of 400 officers over the past several years.

That's good.

The money's there.

They're just not able to hire those officers.

So there is already monies have been set aside in past years for those officers.

And so Montgomery shouldn't have any net loss of, of, of revenue.

That bill passed out o the committee along party lines and now goes to the full Senate for consideration, a bill that would restructure how Alabama oversees its occupational licensing boards.

Reach the Senate floor today.

Senate Bill 227 is sponsored by State Senator Chris Elliott of Josephine.

The measure would create a centralized office within the Department of Workforce to handle administrative duties for certain professional licensing boards.

Occupational boards are state created panels, usually made up of members of a specific profession that regulate who can work in that field.

They issue licenses, collect fees, set standards, and discipline members in professions ranging from cosmetology to contracting and other regulated trades.

The proposal follows years of concerns raised by Elliott and his colleagues about administrative failures within some boards, including problems with financial management, meeting notices and compliance with open meetings and public records laws.

Addres a lot of the Sunset Committee's ongoing concerns that we've had about some of the administrative functions of these boards.

Look, these boards do great work, and they're great people that serve on them.

But they're not they're not professionals, government professionals.

And so they continuously mess up on some of the small stuff how to handle money, how to post meetings, how to make sure that you comply with open meetings, request or open records request things of that nature.

And so they keep missing those things up.

It's not their fault.

That's not what they do for a living.

They're they're, you know, they're cosmetologists or they're whatever.

And so what we're trying to do is provide some administrative entity that can handle those that are having problems with this.

That bill passed the Senate with some bipartisan support and now heads to the House.

After a mostly quiet start to the year, the House got a little more edgy today as Democrats filibustered the GOP agendas that included red meat, conservative bills.

And to counter those efforts, the Republican majority moved multiple times to invoke cloture, which shuts down debate after a certain period.

One of those bills was House Bill 363 from State Representative Greg Barnes of Jasper.

It would make disrupting a work's a worship service a class C felony if convicted of that crime, a person could be sentenced to up to ten years in jail.

This, of course, comes on the heels of the Minneapolis incident, when two people were arrested for disrupting a church service as part of an immigration enforcement protest.

I think people want t make sure our places of worship, which is covers all of them, are safe, and we don't want intrusion riot issues where any time you have children, you have elderly, women, etc.

you know, there's always an opportunity for something bad to happen.

We want to prevent this is a preemptive measure.

We want to make sur that people are put on notice.

They know that if they do this, there's a high probability that something bad for them could be the result.

We have ice running around here in, Alabama throughout this nation.

When they go in and and disturb a worship service.

Are we going to cha today?

I will fulfill this first thing I want someone to hear.

But you also have things, wher people will disagree in church.

This opens up a opportunity to be misconstrued and charge someone with a felony because they really disagree with a position in a church, you know, how many, how many churches would not welcome me in?

And then I'd be considered, you know, creating a problem with the church becaus maybe this is a slippery slope.

And and that's what I'm trying to get people to understand.

That bill passed the House and now goes to the Senate.

Also passin the House today were House Bill 360 from State Representative Chris Sales of Greenville, which would set up a state sales tax holiday for firearms, house Bill two from State Representative David Standridge of Blunt County which would rename under State law the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America and House Bill eight from State Representative Mark Gidley of Hoke's Bluff which would allow school boards to hire volunteer chaplains to serve in public schools.

All of those bills now go to the Senate.

Hundreds of crime victims and their advocates gathered at the Capitol today to raise awareness about how hard it often is for victims to get help in the wake of violence including victims compensation.

Joined by allies in the legislature, survivors marched to the Capitol and called for the passage of bills to expand access to the state's victim compensation program and urge elected leaders to invest in bringing the first trauma recovery center to Alabama.

In Alabama, we are proud and the state that holds offenders accountable for their actions.

But true justice, true justice isn't just about the person behind bars.

It's about the person left behind.

Picking up the pieces right in.

I am the proud sponsor of HB 255, the companion bill to the bill that is mentioned, legislation that will double the time from one year to tw that victims are able to apply for funds from our Crime Victims Compensation Fund.

I'm carrying this bil because sorry isn't a strategy, and a deadline shouldn't be a barrier to healing.

By expanding the applicatio period for victims compensation, we're ensuring that our support doesn't expire before the healing begins.

Providing victim services, helping people heal that stop crime from happening in the first place.

It helps crime survivors get back on their feet.

It helps them get connected to services.

Those are the things that prevent crime from happening in the first place and also helping people heal as well.

So it's really a win win situation as we come to public safety of helping victims and preventing crime at the same time.

With education budget talks set to begin next week, advocates are urging lawmaker to add $14 million to the budget to cover a gap between federa school breakfast reimbursements and the actual cost of serving meals.

Advocates from Alabama Arise led a news conference highlighting this issue.

They said offering school breakfast at no cost increases attendance and improves academic outcomes.

I wholeheartedly suppor this because I was one of those that was pushing it last year, because I know that a healthy breakfas is the first lesson of the day.

It fuels young man before the bail even rains.

When children eat well in the morning, they learn better.

All day.

School breakfast for all of our children is not a handout.

It is a hand up for learning.

Our kids deserve better.

We believe in breaking down policy barriers that limit opportunity.

We believe public policy should make it easier, not harder, for struggling families to make ends meet.

And we believe no one in our state should be hungry, especially not school children.

Breakfast is more than a meal.

It is fuel for learning.

When breakfast is offered at no charge to students, participatio increases, attendance improves.

Nurses report fewer mornings, stomach aches and headaches, teachers say better focu and behavior in the classroom.

Families experience meaningful financial relief.

Healthy school meals at no cost fo all students are not an expense.

They are an investment in families.

They're an investment in communities, and they are an investment in the future workforce of our state.

We'll take a short break, and I'll be back with stat Senator Robert Stewart of Selma.

And after that, students fro the future Farmers of America.

Stay with us.

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

aptv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is stat senator Robert Stewart of Selma.

Senator thanks for coming on the show.

Thanks for having me, Todd.

Absolutely.

Well, you've got some legislation I wanted to ask yo about having to do with setting the minimum, setting, raising, I guess the minimum wage in Alabama.

Well, walk me through what your bill does.

So actually, this bill creates a minimum wage.

So a constituent came to me and informed me that Alabama has no minimum wage.

So we just follow that.

We yeah, we defer to the federal minimum wage.

And so there's a movemen going on all over the country, over 30 states have a minimum wage that's higher than the 725 an hour.

That hasn't been updated since 2009.

And so we talk a lot in our state is a priority.

Having improving work force participation.

We lag.

We're one of the lowest i not the lowest in the country.

And one of the ways that we should explore, workforce improving workforce participation is raising the wages.

And so, what my bill does it creates is very modest.

And again, we want to get the conversation started, because there's so much Washington, D.C., gridlock.

And so we as a state need to do something.

And so what my bill does, it right, it creates a $10 minimum wage and, small businesses are exempt because there's a lot there' a carve out for small businesses if you have 50 employees or less.

And so again, this is a way for us to raise the economic floor because of people, are able to have more wages.

They're able to participate in the economy more as well.

So you're you're right that $10 is a lot less or a lot more modest than I always hear $15 an hour around the country and everything.

So two questions.

Why $10?

What was magic about that $10?

And why exempt small business?

Well, we don't want world number one with dealing with small businesses.

I didn't want to create more hurdles for small businesses.

And they already they're seeing sli profit margins in this economy.

And so we just want to just help them out.

And a lot of times, small business may have family members or children, their children workin at their family on restaurants.

And so again, we just didn't want to create more problems for them I wanted to have them in mind.

But $10 is modest.

You know, it's not lost on me that we have a, a conservative legislature.

Right.

And so I just wanted to meet where there will be some common ground.

And $10 is still more than the federal again, that hasn't been updated since 2009.

Well, what have your conversations been like with your colleagues?

Because, you know, i is a conservative legislature.

I would imagine that there would be some concerns about something like this.

What have your conversations been, and are you hopeful that it can get a fair hearing?

Well my conversations have just been informing because, again a lot of people don't even know that Alabama doesn't have a minimum wage.

And so I've been informing them of the different states that have passed legislation.

We have Florida, which has a 15 will implement late this year, a $15 minimum wage.

And so what I've been framin it is a workforce participation issue as well.

As we could lose workers to neighboring states if we don' do something about this issue.

Okay.

We'll be following that one going forward.

Before I let you go, I know, you know, obviously you represent Selma Jubilees coming up.

What do we need to kno about this year's, celebration?

Well, Jubilee is my favorite time of year.

You know, it's the time where Selma gets the national spotlight.

And so it's the 65th or, excuse me, 61st annual commemoration o the Selma to Montgomery march.

And, you know, as we deal with the Voting Rights Act and everything that came, as a result of the activism and and sacrifice that happened there, there's going to be som national leaders coming to town.

So we'll get to hear a lot of times people come when they're running for president.

Oh, yeah.

Aspiring presidential candidate.

So we'll get to hear from some of them.

I know Governor Pritzker out of Illinois is coming in.

Governor Andy Beshear out of Kentucky, and we're going to have some former cabinet members, I think, Budget Secretary Buttigieg is coming.

And so and for me, this is a tim we're losing our foot soldiers.

Those are people who march every year.

You know, we just lost, Reverend Jesse Jackson just past this past week.

And we also have Miss Joanne Bland, who was a local activism activist at 11 years old.

She was a, marcher on Bloody Sunday, and she did a lot.

She helped found the National Voting Rights Museum, and she founded Foot Soldiers, part, which is really been leading a lot of downtown economic redevelopment and revitalization in town.

So, I just want to pay homage and encourage everybody to come get some good food and some entertainment and the free concerts as well, vendors.

Sir.

And you're you're right.

It is an election year.

And even so, in all, there's always, you know, politicians and everything.

And you hope that we don't get lost in the politics, that they really do focus on the history there and the sacrifices that were made on that bridge, and how we can bring people together with that history.

History should divide us, but for us to walk together, and truth and reconciliation.

Well said.

Senator, thanks for your time.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

Montgomery native Percival Julian was an internationally acclaimed chemist, the third African-American to receive a Ph.D.

in chemistry.

He specialized in the chemistry of natural products and their synthesis in the laboratory.

This technology is very important in medicines, food products, paint and firefighting foams, among other things.

Julian received many awards, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Today is FFA day here at the state House.

And joining me next to talk about it or Alex Johnson state FFA president.

And Luke Garrett state FFA reporter.

Thank you al so much for coming on the show.

Yeah, we're happy to be here.

Yes.

Thank you for having us.

Absolutely.

What's it been like in the state House today?

A meeting with some of your state representatives.

You know, got a lot of folks in blue jackets, here at the state House.

Hasn't been so far.

It's been really fun.

We started off the morning taking a picture on the Capitol steps, steps with doctor Eric Mackey.

We met at about 830 this morning and took that big picture.

And then we split the group.

In half a little bit more than half goes to the Capitol Auditorium, and we heard from four different speakers.

And then the other third goes to the Alabama Cattlemen's Building, and they meet there and hea from a few different speakers.

The museum.

That's right.

That's right.

Yeah, that's that's fun.

Well, I wanted to ask you all in general and individually, what got you involved in FFA originally?

Think back to when you first went to a meeting or signed up at school or whatever.

What first got you involved in FFA?

My first FFA meeting cam when I was about six years old.

My dad had just started teaching AG at my high school, and he had elected a brand new chapter officer team.

And I remembe ever since I was a little kid, I wanted to be just like them because I thought they were the coolest people in the entire world.

So fast forward to 19 years old, and here I am serving in the same blue jacke that so many generations have.

And what gets you into a leadership role?

Because you're the FFA president?

Yes.

I decided that I wanted to run to inspire others, give back to the chapters that have built me and overall leave a positive impact on members across our state.

All right.

So what about you?

Do you remember going back and what?

We'll get you involved originally?

Well, me and Alex, the story kind of runs the same.

We're both, kids under ag teacher, so both of our dads were ag teachers.

But I showed cows when I was in middle school.

And my middle school did not have an FFA chapter.

So once I got into high school, I joined FFA, continued to show cows and my love for the organization just just grew even more.

I showed cows, I did livestock judge, and I did land judge, and, took advantage of all the CD that album FFA offers for sure.

Talk about some of that.

Because what what kind of activities are you all involved in?

But it's not just what Jellick because there's an array of things that people may not associate necessarily with agriculture.

That spanned the gamut.

So talk about the activities people can be involved in at FFA.

So we have two different types of contest in Alabama FFA.

So we have loads which ar leadership development events.

And we have CDs which are career development events.

So your ODS is like your creed speaking, which is for freshmen and middle school students.

You have prepared public speaking, you have extemporaneous speaking, you have discussion meet and you have way more than just that.

Those are just the ones, that I can name off the top of my head.

I've participated in discussion meet, and then the CD side is more getting your hand dirty is what I like to call it.

So that's your dairy judging your land.

Judging, livestock judging.

All the stuff like tha kind of encompasses those CDs.

Alex, what have you gotten involved in?

Activity was.

Well, just a little bit o everything, if I'm being honest.

My most notable thing through FFA is showing pigs, and I've been doing that for 1 years.

Still do it to this day.

My favorite thing in the entire world.

But as far as FFA contests go, my very favorite is livestock judgin because I'm a livestock person, but I've done everything from speaking to conduct of chapter meeting and dealing with parliamentary procedur to vet science and floriculture.

Basically all areas of AG in each different contest that I've done.

What's been your best pig you've ever shown?

Ooh, okay, so I raised one last year that we took to a winter Nationals in Perry, Georgia, and she won reserved champio bread and own Yorkshire Guilt.

And it's really cool as a breeder to have one that can be competitive on the national stage.

Wow.

Okay.

I don't really know what those words mean.

I know you're good, but it sounds impressive.

Yeah.

So congratulate.

Thank you.

Now y'all are both college freshmen.

Yeah.

So?

So talk about that.

What what are your plans?

In college and even after.

Maybe.

Yeah.

So the way Alabama FFA works, at least for the state officers, is you can either have your year of service, your senior year of high school, or your freshman year of college.

So this year, our team is split right down the middle.

Me, Alex and Rachel are all freshman in college, and then Blaine, Natalie and Lucas are all seniors in high school.

So I'm going to Wallace Community College in Dothan.

I have a full Rad academic scholarship for there.

So going to go there for two years.

Transfer to an aging school.

I don't really have all that figured out just yet.

But those are those are kind of my plans.

Alex, I'm currently attending Southern Union State Community College in Wadley, and I'm majoring in veterinary medicine.

My goal is to eventually work for a large scale veterinary corporation and develop vaccine for livestock and food animals.

Wow.

Okay.

You're a little further along than, hundred percent.

100%.

That's why she's the president.

That's great.

That's that's terrific.

That's terrific.

Well, well, you know, we've got a lot of parents that watch this show, young people to, in high school and everything.

What would your advice be to them for considering FSA as an activity, as one of these extracurriculars?

If they're looking for something to get involved in?

I'll start with you, Alex.

I've got to be honest.

I know that there are several students that hear about FFA and don't really understand the impact that it has on people's lives, but I encourage them to go and talk to others who have participated in this organization.

Just just do it.

Just take the first step to getting involved and keep showing up, because you will be opened up to limitless possibilities and opportunities just by showing up.

So I think the advice I could have for the parents is what do you want for your kid?

You want your kid to be better than you are.

My dad says this quote, and it's the only man that wants yo to be better than him himself.

Is your father, right?

So my dad wants me to be better than him.

I'm going to want my son to be better than me.

And I think FFA can do that for kids.

I think it can do it for men, women, no matter what it is.

And parents want to put money and put time into their kids and put and have their kids in an organization that's actually going to have a return on them.

Now, I played football in high school, but I ain't go past that.

Right.

So we have a lot of student that play, high school sports, and I'm not knocking those at all.

I played sports all my all my high school career and was still about in FFA.

So I think it sandwich right on top of your typical high school career, but it's definitel a great thing to add on to it.

Absolutely.

To to terrific organization.

Really appreciate y'all coming on last year.

We didn't we missed it.

We somehow missed, FFA day here at the statehouse.

So I was really happy to work with Alpha and some of our partners there to make sur that we got in touch with your.

So thank congratulations on what you're doing.

Good luck in the future and everything.

I hope you'll keep us in touch.

Yes, sir.

Thank you so much.

Thank.

We'll be right back.

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

aptv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back tomorrow night at the same time, right here on Alabama Public Television for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.