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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

AND WELCOME TO THE BEGINNING OF OUR NIGHTLY COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE AS IT IS SE TO BEGIN ITS 2025 REGULAR SESSION TOMORROW.

EACH YEAR, DURING THE SESSION, CAPITOL JOURNAL GOES TO NIGHTLY PROGRAMMING, BRINGING THE LATES ON WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE AT 10:30 MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AFTER YOUR LOCAL NEWS.

OF COURSE, OUR "WEEK IN REVIEW" EPISODES AIR FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 7:30 AND SUNDAYS AT NOON, SO YO CAN CATCH UP ON THE WEEK THAT WAS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

THE FUN BEGINS TOMORROW NIGHT WITH GOVERNOR KAY IVEY'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE.

OF COURSE WE WILL BE CARRYING THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH LIVE HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

OUR COVERAGE BEGINS AT 5:30 WIT SOME PREGAME COVERAGE IF YOU WILL.

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH IS SCHEDULED TO START AT 6:00.

THAT TYPICALLY LAST 30-45 MINUTES DEPENDING ON HOW MANY TIMES THEY STOP FOR APPLAUSE.

AND OUR COVERAGE WILL GO UNTIL 7:30 WITH THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE AND THEN SOME REACTION ON IT ALL TO FINISH UP THE EVENING.

AND WE'LL HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUEST HERE IN STUDIO TUESDAY NIGHT.

MISS AMERICA, ABBIE STOCKARD, HAS BEEN INVITED BY GOVERNOR IVEY TO ATTEND THE STATE OF THE STATE.

THE VESTAVIA NATIVE AND AUBURN SENIOR WILL STOP BY OUR SET BEFORE THE SPEECH TO TALK ABOUT HER PLATFORM ADVOCATING CYSTIC FIBROSIS AWARENESS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE BEIN ENGAGED IN GOVERNMENT.

I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THIS SPECIAL NIGHT WITH A VERY SPECIAL GUEST.

A REMINDER OF THE LEGISLATIVE SCHEDULE.

AFTER SESSION BEGINS ON THE 4TH WE'LL HAVE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET HEARINGS ON FEBRUARY 5TH - THAT'S WHEN VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES PRESENT THEIR BUDGET REQUESTS TO LAWMAKERS.

WE WILL AGAIN HAVE TWO SPRING BREAK WEEKS THIS SESSION, THE FIRST THE WEEK OF MARCH 10-14 AND THE SECOND THE WEEK OF MARC 24-28.

UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THE LEGISLATURE HAS 105 CALENDAR DAYS TO MEET 30 POSSIBLE LEGISLATIVE DAYS.

THAT MEANS THE LAST POSSIBLE DA OF THE SESSION IS MAY 19.

>> SO WHAT ISSUES MIGHT WE SEE THE LEGISLATURE TACKLE THIS SESSION?

ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME ESPECIALLY IN CITIES SEEMS TO B AT THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S LIST.

ADDRESSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO COMPLEMEN WHAT FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ARE DOING WILL ALSO BE A HOT TOPIC.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS THE BUDGETS, THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND AND TH GENERAL FUND, WHICH ARE THE LEGISLATURE'S PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES.

BUT THEY ALSO MIGHT NEED TO BORROW MORE MONEY FOR PRISON CONSTRUCTION AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO MAINTAIN A LARGER-THAN-EXPECTED TAX CUT PASSED A FEW YEARS AGO?

SPECIFICALLY ON THE CRIME ISSUE WE RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH HOUS SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER TO GET HIS THOUGHTS ON WHAT WE MIGHT SEE THE LEGISLATURE DO.. >> WELL, I THINK WE WILL HAVE ABOUT NINE BILLS.

WE FINISHED THAT AS OF YESTERDAY.

AS FAR AS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WE PUT DOWN THE STRUCTURE OF TIME, HOW WE WANT TO GET IT OUT AND WHAT WE LIKE TO DO IS GET THEM OUT BEFORE THE FIRST BREAK, AND SO I THINK WE CAN.

SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THOSE FOR A NUMBER OF WEEKS NOW AND CERTAINLY THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF AND MY STAFF WORKED CLOSELY TOGETHER TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A PACKAGE THAT WE BELIEVE WILL BE GOOD FOR OUR STATE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED IN ALABAMA WITH THE GROWTH.

WE CREATED OVER 80 THOUSAND JOBS AND INVESTED OVER $50 BILLION IN OUR STATE.

BUT THE CONCERN IS THE VITAL CRIME IN OUR STATE MAY SLOW THAT DOWN OR HALT IT.

IF YOU'RE IN THE AREA WHERE THAT IS GOING ON, IT HURTS PROPERTY VALUE, RETAIL SALES.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT.

THAT'S NOT JUST A SAYING.

IT SHOWS THAT.

>> IT'S A MORALE THING, RIGHT.

>> IT'S DEPRESSING AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITY AND THE STATE AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO MOVE INTO THE STATE, THEY SEE THAT AND GET RELUCTANT BECAUSE OF IT.

SO WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THEY PUT THE TASK FORCE TOGETHER HERE IN MONTGOMERY, SECRETARY TAILOR AND SHERIFF CUNNINGHAM ALONG WITH IT IS THE CITY HAVE DONE THAT AND A TREMENDOUS JOB AND IT'S WORKING.

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH THEM AND THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE TABLE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

WE HAD THE SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION, THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND EVERYBODY HAS BEEN AT THE TABLE, AND I COULDN'T COMPLIMENT THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF MORE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED WITH US FROM DAY ONE WHEN WE STARTED THIS PACKAGE.

LIKE I TOLD THE GOVERNOR, SHE COME UP TO MY DISTRICT AND WE HAD LUNCH ONE DAY.

I SAID IT DOESN'T MATTER ABOUT THE CREDIT.

YOU CAN HAVE THE BILLS WE WORK ON BECAUSE WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE GET IT ACCOMPLISHED AND SLOW DOWN CRIME IN OUR STATE.

I THINK IT'S A GOOD PACKAGE.

I THINK WE WILL.

>> WITH FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED NOW SERVING A ALABAMA'S SECRETARY OF WORKFORCE, THE ALABAMA SENATE I PREPARING FOR A LEADERSHIP TRANSITION.

THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS HAS ALREADY NOMINATED SENATOR GARLA GUDGER TO TAKE HIS PLACE HIS ELECTION IS ALL BUT CERTAIN THANKS TO THE GOP SUPERMAJORITY BUT DEMOCRATIC LEADERS HAVE ALS VOICED THEIR SUPPORT.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER STEVE LIVINGSTON SAYS THE TRANSITION REFLECTS UNITY WITHIN THE CAUCU AND A LEADERSHIP APPROACH DISTINCT FROM PAST LEADERS.

AND WHILE THIS SESSION'S AGENDA MAY NOT BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS LAS YEAR'S, HE SAYS LAWMAKERS ARE READY TO GET TO WORK.

>> IT IS MY INTENTION TO NOMINATE SENATOR GUDGER.

AND TO SHOW THE UNITY INSIDE OF OUR CAUCUS IS STILL THERE.

THE QUESTION TO ME WAS, DO YOU ANTICIPATE HAVING A DALE MARCH APPROACH OR GREG REED APPROACH.

MY ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WAS I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE STEVE LIVINGSTON APPROACH HOW WE RUN THE BODY.

WE WILL SEE THE APPROACH AND IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN SENATOR MARCH OR REED EITHER ONE.

IT'S A MATTER OF GETTING IN, GETTING STARTED AND MOVING FORWARD.

SO WE DON'T HAVE AN AGGRESSIVE AGENDA LAKE WE DID LAST YEAR.

AND A FEW OF THOSE THINGS THAT WERE TRULY REPUBLICAN ISSUES, I DON'T SEE -- OBVIOUSLY THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT POPS UP THAT SURPRISES LIKE IVF LAST YEAR.

BUT I FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO INTO THE SESSION.

WE HAVE THE FIRST TWO WEEKS.

WE HAVE TO GET THE BALL MOVING SOMEWHERE SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST BILLS FILED IN THE 2025 ALABAMA LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS SENATE BILL 1, WHICH AIMS TO PROVIDE WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR EDUCATORS--SOMETHING STATE EMPLOYEES ALREADY RECEIVE BUT TEACHERS DO NOT.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR SAM GIVHAN O HUNTSVILLE IS REINTRODUCING THE BILL AFTER IT FELL SHORT LAST YEAR, MAINLY DUE TO CONCERNS ABOUT HIGHER THAN EXPECTED COSTS.

ANOTHER KEY PRIORITY FOR GIVHAN IS ETHICS REFORM, AS HE WORKS WITH HOUSE COLLEAGUES TO CLARIF ALABAMA'S ETHICS LAWS WHILE ENSURING THEY REMAIN STRONG.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT THAT, WHILE WE DO HAVE WORKERS' COMP COVERAGE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, WE TONIGHT HAVE IT FOR OUR EDUCATION EMPLOYEES.

SO THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS PUSHING THAT THROUGH.

WE ALMOST GOT IT DONE LAST YEAR WE DID MAKE SOME CHANGES, MAKE THE COMPROMISES ALONG THE WAY, BUT WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT ONE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVELY.

I HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE SPEAKER ON THAT ONCE IT GETS TO THE HOUSE AND MOVES THROUGH THE SENATE QUICKLY LAST YEAR, AND THEN WE HAD HAD SOME HICCUPS THERE.

I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MANY PEOPLE IN THE STATE ARE COVERED BY THE ETHICS LAW.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO TRY TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE TRAPS THAT ARE IN THERE WITHOUT WEAKENING THE LAW TO REALLY PROTECT THE PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WILL BE WORKING ON.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSE O REPRESENTATIVES, THEIR TWO RESPECTIVE LEADERS ARE FORMER COLLEGE ATHLETES WITH COMPETITIVE SPIRITS.

THAT MEANS YOU COULD SEE A LITTLE BIT OF OFFENSE AND A LITTLE BIT OF DEFENSE FROM BOTH THOUGH THERE DOES SEEM TO BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

>> WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE BEING CHALLENGED AND WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE BEING CHALLENGED AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS A WOMAN BY LAW.

AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE WE HAVE TO DO IT.

BUT STUFF LIKE THAT.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THOSE WOMEN ARE PROTECTED WITH OUR LIBRARIES, NOT HAVING INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS IN FRONT OF MINORS AND MAKE SURE THAT IS TAKEN CARE OF.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO ADDRESS BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS I PERSONALLY DASH AND I HAVE GOT THE BILL WHERE THE -- YOU KNOW A PERSON CAN'T DRESS KIND OF INAPPOSITE SEX IN A SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MANNER IN FRONT OF MINORS.

I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WE HAVE SEEN THAT TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT OUR STATE SEVERAL TIMES AND IT'S TIME FOR US TO END THAT.

>> WE'VE BEEN REALLY FOCUSING ON THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT ALABAMA.

AND SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED THAT NEEDS A FOCUS NO ALABAMA AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ARE NOT NECESSARILY PRIORITIES TO TOMORROW.

SO WE'RE ONLY PRIORITIZING THINGS THAT ARE IMPACTING THE COMMUNITIES AND THE PEOPLE WE REPRESENT.

WE DON'T HAVE A COCKY CUTTER APPROACH TO IT.

WE ARE FOCUSING BASED ON DATA AND WHAT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE LOCAL COUNTIES AND HOW IT'S IMPACTING IT.

SO WE DON'T GET OUR INSTRUCTIONS AND PLATFORM FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

WE FOCUS AND COME UP WITH A PLATFORM BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE STATE.

SO WE DON'T REALLY ENGAGE IN WHATEVER IS GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FROM A DEMOCRATIC PARTY STANDPOINT.

THERE ARE ISSUES THEY PRIORITIZE.

BUT WE PRIORITIZE THE ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY IMPACT PEOPLE WITHIN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> ANOTHER ISSUE WE MIGHT HEAR LOT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS EDUCATION FUNDING, AND SPECIFICALLY HOW THE STATE MIGH BE MORE TARGETED WITH FUNDING T HELP STRUGGLING STUDENTS.

STATE SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC MACKEY SAID THAT THE STATE'S PREVIOUS INVESTMENTS IN THE LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTS SHOW WHAT PROGRESS CAN BE MAKE.

>> OBVIOUSLY MONEY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY MONEY DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WELL, MONEY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF THE MONEY IS TARGETED AND STRATEGICALLY APPLIED.

I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED TO HEAR THE LEGISLATIVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT MORE FUNDING AND TARGETED FUNDING.

AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR IS WORKING CLOSELY WITH ME AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH HER AND HER OFFICE AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP ON CRAFTING SOMETHING TO GO FORWARD A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE PUT SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY AND WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE LEGISLATURE LAST WEEK IS THEY'RE GETTING CLOSE WITH THE GOVERNOR IN LANDING ON A PROPOSAL THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE IS STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN THE AREAS OF THE STATE AND THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING THE MOST.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE DATA, THE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING IT ALL LINES UP, SO I THINK THAT -- I KNOW AS I HAVE TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR AND I TALKED TO LEGISLATIVE LEADERS THEY MADE IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THEY WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS ARE, WHERE THE MOST STRUGGLERS ARE AND THEY WANT TO TARGET ANY NEW RESOURCES IN THOSE AREAS AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY AND HOPEFUL ABOUT ALABAMA'S FUTURE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO DO.

>> CONGRESSMAN DALE STRONG LED BIPARTISAN DELEGATION TO NEW ORLEANS TODAY TO REVIEW SAFETY MEASURES AHEAD OF SUPER BOWL SUNDAY.

STRONG VISITED THE SITE OF THE NEW YEAR'S DAY DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK ON BURBON STREET.

HE AND THE OTHER LAWMAKERS ALSO TOOK A TOUR OF THE SUPERDOME FO A SAFETY BRIEFING AHEAD OF THE BIG GAME.

STRONG IS THE CHAIR OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.

STRONG SAYS ITS ENCOURAGING TO SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT MAKING SAFETY PREPARATIONS FOR SUNDAY.

>> YOUR LOOKING AT STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL, A LOT OF AGENCIES WORKING TOGETHER, A LARGE PRESENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THIS IS WHAT IT TAKES, PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE AMERICANS >> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT ARE THE TWO STAFF LEADERS THE TWO HOUSES OF LEGISLATURE, SECRETARY PAT HARRIS AND JOHN TREADWELL, CLERK OF THE ALABAMA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

GENTLEMEN, WELCOME AND THAT YOU WERE TAKING THE TIME.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> IT'S JUST ANOTHER TIME TO START OVER AGAIN.

>> I WAS ABOUT TO SAY, WE ALWAYS JOKE ABOUT ARE YOU READY?

ARE WE READY?

SESSION STARTS TOMORROW.

I KNOW YOUR STAFF HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIME PREPARING.

JOHN I WANT TO START WITH YOU AND MAYBE GET YOU BOTH TO ANSWER.

WHEN DOES THAT START?

AND HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE BIG SHOW COMING ON TUESDAY.

>> THAT'S A GOOD, GOOD QUESTION, TODD.

IT STARTS RIGHT AFTER SESSION ENDS.

THERE ARE SOME WRAP UP THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO FINISH UP AND CONCLUDE AT THE END OF A REGULAR SESSION.

THEN WE IMMEDIATELY START PREPARING AND LOOKING TO THE NEXT SESSION.

AND THERE -- AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE COMMISSIONS AND TASK FORCES THAT BEGIN MEETING AND SOME STAFF ARE WORKING THOSE.

AND ASSISTING MEMBERS IN THAT PROCESS.

THEN WE BEGIN RIGHT AWAY LOOKING AT OUR LINK SYSTEM, OUR LEGISLATIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM AND BEGIN HAVING MOCK SESSIONS TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE MOVING AS THEY SHOULD.

WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR COMMITTEE PROCESS AND DOING SOME MOCK SESSIONS ON THAT FRONT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE FLOWING PROPERLY AS WE PREPARE FOR THE NEXT SEXS -- SESSION AND THEN STARTING ABOUT OCTOBER OR NOVEMBER LOOKING AT OUR TEMPORARY STAFF, THAT WE BRING IN SEVERAL TEMPORARY STAFF TO ASSIST US AND ASSIST MEMBERS SO WE BEGIN THAT PROCESS SO SEE OUR NEEDS AND TO BE ABLE AND READY TO FILL THOSE NEEDS.

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT NEVER STOPS.

>> IT NEVER DOES.

WE HAVE A PHILOSOPHY IN THE SENATE FROM MY PREDECESSOR, MCDOWELL LEE, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL STAFF, A NONPARTISAN PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT IS PREPARED FOR EACH OF THESE SESSIONS AS WE COME IN FOR THE REGULAR SESSIONS OR SPECIAL SESSIONS THAT WE MAY HAVE EVERY YEAR.

SO WE'RE PLEASED MOST OF OUR PEOPLE ARE GEARED UP AND READY TO GO.

WE DO FILL IN SOME SPACES THAT ARE EITHER RETIRED OR MOVED ON TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

BUT WE FEEL BLESS EAVE BLESSED BY HAVING SUCH A GOOD PROFILE STAFF.

>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU PAT, THREE YEARS AGO YOU HAD A NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE ON YOUR HANDS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> OF COURSE YOU HAVE A NEW LEADER IN THE SENATE.

IT'S NOT THE SAME IN TERMS OF THE GAVEL AND ALL OF THAT BUT GUDGER WILL LAWMAKER THE PRESIDENT OF THE PRO TEM WHICH IS THE LEADER.

WHAT GOES INTO HELPING HIM BE SUCCESSFUL AS THE NEW PRO TEM.

>> THE TRANSITION HAS BEEN VERY SMOOTH.

I THINK THE MEMBERS AND THE BODY HAS BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY THAT TRANSITION HAS TRANSPIRED WITH REED RESIGNING FROM THE SENATE AND TAKING THE NEW POSITION HE HAS TAKEN AND ELECTING GARLAN GUDGER, WHO HAS BEEN -- WHO HAS SERVED IN THE BODY, SO HE UNDERSTANDS THE RULES AND HE UNDERSTANDS HOW THE PROCESS OPERATES.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME TUTORIALS ABOUT WHAT HIS NEW ROLE AS PRO TEM IN ASSIGNING BILLS AND HAVING THE PRIORITY OF BEING RECOGNIZED OVER THE REST OF THE MEMBERS AND KIND OF BEING -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CALL IT HERDING CATS FROM BEING THE CHIEF HERDER OF WHAT GOES ON OUT THERE ON THE FLOOR.

>> THERE ARE SOME LEGAL ROLES THAT HE HAS THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T HAVE IN TERMS OF THE CONSTITUTION AND THE ROLES OF THE SENATE AND ALL OF THAT WHICH IS INTERESTING INSIDE OF BASEBALL.

YOU MAY NOT SEE FROM THE GALLERY THAT EASY BUT THERE INTERNALLY THEY'RE HAVING TO FIGURE OUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS ON THE FLY.

>> WELL, HE IS ASSIGNING HOUSE MESSAGES.

HE DECIDES WHEN TO TAKE OUT OF THE BACK THE APPOINTMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR OR MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE MESSAGES THAT COME BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO HOUSES THESE ARE HIS DECISION OF WHEN TO TAKE AND WHAT TO TAKE AND HE WILL IF IT INTO THAT ROLE I THINK REALLY WELL.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS SENATOR GUDGER ASSUMING THAT ROLE.

WE ARE, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM THE LEADERS, WE'RE EXPECTING A FAST-PACE AGAIN THIS SESSION, AT LEAST IN THE BEGINNING.

BY THAT I MEAN WHAT WE CALL THREE-DAY WEEKS TO START THE SESSION, MEANING, OKAY, MAYBE MORE TRADITIONALLY, IF A TRADITIONAL WEEK WOULD BE GAVEL IN ON TUESDAY, HOUSE AND SENATE, WEDNESDAY IS THE COMMITTEE DAY, THURSDAY IS ANOTHER SESSION DAY, SO THAT'S MORE OF A NORMAL, SLOWER-PACED WEEK.

BUT WHEN BOTH HOUSES ALSO QUEEN ON MEN'S OF WEDNESDAY IT MAKES FOR A BUSY STATEHOUSE WITH THE COMMITTEE SESSION AND ALL OF THAT.

JOHN, TALK ABOUT THE CHALLENGE THAT GIVES YOU AND YOUR STAFF IN TERMS OF KEEPING UP WITH THAT FAST PACE, MAKING SURE COMMITTEES ARE CLERKED AND PAPERS ARE MOVING EVERYWHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

I KNOW IT MUST NOT BE EASY.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT, TODD.

THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO THAT.

BUT AS WE BEGIN SESSION, IT'S NOT TOO DIFFICULTY ON US BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF BILLS MOVING YET BUT WE USUALLY WILL GAVEL IN ON TUESDAY AND THEN WE GO IN WEAPONS MORNING.

WE GAVEL IN AND OPEN UP THE JOURNAL AND GIVE PERMISSION FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET.

IF WE DON'T COME BACK AT THE END OF THE DAY AND MEET AGAIN, COMMITTEES ARE GOING THROUGH THEIR PROCESS AND FINALITY EYEING AND GETTING READY TO PROCESS OUT THE BILLS HEARD IN COMMITTEE AND WE HAVE TO TURN THE PAGE AROUND THE STAFF AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT DAY SO THEY BEGIN IMMEDIATELY WORKING TOWARDS THURSDAY.

SO THEY REALLY JUST HAVE TO KIND OF -- IT'S A SPED-UP PROCESS BUT THEY HAVE TO SLOW DOWN, PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND JUST KEEP THINGS MOVING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN USUALLY DO.

>> SO AT THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE -- LET'S JUST TAKE THIS WEEK.

THERE WON'T BE ANY BILLS FOR THE HOUSE OR HAD SENATE BODIES TO CONSIDER.

THEY'RE JUST GAVELING IN.

IT'S REALLY JUST A DAY TO INTRODUCE BILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT'S NOT AS IF THEY'RE VOTING OR THINGS LIKE THAT WHICH WILL HAPPEN LATER IN THE SESSION.

OK. THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO THE THREE-DAY WEEKS RIGHT NOW MAY BE NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL.

BUT GET INTO APRIL AND MAY AND IT BECOMES A REAL FAST PACE.

LOOKS, IT OCCURS TO ME THAT ALL THINGS GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TO LAST SESSION IN THIS STATEHOUSE BUILDING, WHICH HAS TO BE A LITTLE BITTERSWEET -- MAYBE MORE SWEETER THAN BITTER.

>> MOSTLY SWEET.

>> IN FACT, YOU HAVE SHARED SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" BEFORE.

I WAS HOPING YOU COULD SHARE A LITTLE BIT LIKE THAT PERSPECTIVE, CONSIDERING THAT, AGAIN, TIMELINES REMAINING THE SAME, 2027 WILL BE IN THE NEW DIGS ACROSS THE STREET.

>> WE'RE PLEASED ABOUT THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE AND LOOK FORWARD INTO MOVING INTO THAT BUILDING.

I JUST HAD SOME ITEMS FRAMED TODAY THAT SHOW ALL THREE CHAMBERS, THE OLD CHAMBER, THE CLAIM PER WE'RE IN NOW WITH THE OLD COLUMNS THAT WERE STILL IN THE SENATE CHAMBER BEFORE WE MOVED THOSE OUT.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO -- THE TRANSPARENCY, THE ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND FOR BOTH VISITORS, PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE BUILDING, SCHOOLKIDS, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT IS GOING TO GO ON IN THE BUILD SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY HAPPY.

IT'S INTERESTING NOW TO LOOK OUT AND BE ABLE TO LOOK STRAIGHT ACROSS BECAUSE WE'RE LAYING THE FLOOR FOR THE FIFTH FLOOR WHERE THE CHAMBERS WILL BE.

THE OTHER IS HAVING THE CHAMBERS ON THE SAME FLOOR THE WAY IT WAS IN THE OLD CAPITOL THE WAY IT WAS AND PROBABLY 90 PERCENT OF OTHER STATE COPIES.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> I DON'T WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT AGAIN BUT JOHN ONE OF THE CHANGES IN YOUR CHAMBER WILL BE THE REMOVAL OF THE COLUMNS.

I DON'T GO BACK FAR ENOUGH TO REMEMBER SENATE COLUMNS AS WELL.

BUT THE COLUMNS RIGHT THERE IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER, YOU GET USED TO IT BUT WHAT A DAY THAT IS GOING TO BE WHEN SUDDENLY YOU'RE MEETING AND YOU CAN HAVE A FEW RIGHT TO THE BACK WALL THERE.

>> I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO MISS THOSE COLUMNS AT ALL.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE CONFIGURATION OF THE NEW CHAMBER.

AND THE SIDELINES -- THE SITE LINES FOR THE MEMBERS.

THAT'S SOME OF THE PROCESS GOING INTO DESIGNING THE NEW CHAMBER IS LOOKING AT THE SITE LINE FROM AVENUE SEAT SO THAT CAN EASILY SEE THE SPEAKER AND SEE THOSE AT THE PODIUM DEBATING AND THE VIDEO BOARDS AND IT'S GOING TO BE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THAN WE HAVE NOW IN THE CURRENT CHAMBER AND GAINING THAT EXTRA SQUARE FOOTAGE IN THERE, WE'RE ON TOP OF EACH OTHER IN THAT CHAMBER AND WE CAN SPREAD OUT A LITTLE BIT AND I THINK IT WILL IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY ON THE FLOOR.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO THIS.

>> IT'S A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, HAVING WORKED IN -- ALL OF US HAVING WORKED IN DIFFERENT CHAMBERS TOGETHER.

AND LOOKING AT CHAMBERS AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE IDEA AND FEEDBACK FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ACTUAL USE THE BUILDING.

THE HOBBYIST, THE SCHOOL CHURN, TOURISTS, EVERYBODY THAT COMES THROUGH, HOW WE CAN IMPROVE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND MAKING IT BETTER FOR THE NEXT 50 TO A HUNDRED YEARS.

>> I WANT TO INCLUDE THE PROSE.

WE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS AND THE ARCHITECTS HAVE COME TO US.

OBVIOUSLY THIS BUILDING WASN'T DESIGNED TO BE FRIENDLY TO REALLY ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE IN MANY WAYS WE CAN BE THE CONDUIT TO THE OUTSIDE, THOSE WHO CAN'T MAKE IT TO MONTGOMERY.

ONE THING ABOUT THAT THAT I HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT ARE THE COMMITTEE ROOMS.

WE HAVE GOT THAT ONE REAL BIG COMMITTEE ROOM, I GUESS ANOTHER ACROSS THE STREET, STAR WARDS KIND OF.

BUT IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A GAME CHANGER IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO ATTEND.

I KNOW WE ARE STREAMING BUT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE IMPROVED.

AND SO MUCH HAPPENS IN COMMITTEE, SO MANY BILLS GET ALTERED AND CHANGED AND MARKED UP TO THE POINT WHERE REALLY YOU NEED TO SEE COMMITTEE RATHER THAN EACH THE FLOOR.

TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS.

WE ALL ARE THE ARCHITECTS TO MAKE SURE THE COMMITTEE ROOMS GET IMPROVED.

>> THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROCESS THERE, AND WE REALLY TOOK A HARD DIVE INTO THE COMMITTEE ROOM DESIGN AND LOOKING AT ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE PUBLIC AND SO YOUR GOING TO SAY IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

YOU WILL SEE IMPROVEMENTS FOR MEMBERS, THE CLAIM OF THE GUY DAIS AT THE FRONT SO MEMBERS AREN'T LOOKING AT THE BACK OF ANOTHER MEMBERS' HEAD.

IT'S A SEMI CIRCLE SHAPE WHICH IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE DEBATE PROCESS DURING COMMITTEE.

AND THEN ALSO, AS YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ROOMS THAT WE DON'T LIVESTREAM.

I THINK THE SENATE LIVE STREAMS EVERY COMMITTEE ROOM BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE THAT WE STILL HAVE THAT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO LIVESTREAM FROM AND WE WILL HAVE FULL LIVESTREAMING CAPACITY IN EVERY COMMITTEE ROOM IN THE NEW STATEHOUSE AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

LET ME ASK THE QUESTION EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.

ARE WE ON TARGET IN 2027, MOVE IN FOR THE NEW ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION?

OF COURSE YOU START MOVING IN EARLIER THAN THAT BUT ARE WE SAFE TO SAY THAT'S A GOOD TARGET.

>> WE'RE ON SCHEDULE.

BECAUSE HE THE WEATHER, YOU MAY BE ABOUT 30 TO 40 DAYS BEHIND.

THOSE ARE DAYS THAT CAN BE MADE UP AS A CONSTRUCTION PROCESS GOES FORWARD.

SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON TARGET, READY TO GO BOTH IN THE BUILDING PROCESS AS WELL AS WHAT THE COSTS WILL BE.

SO WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

>> IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE MOVING ALONG AS A QUICK CLIP.

I WAS TALKING TO TO THE ARCHITECTS OVER THE WEEKEND AND THEY'RE EXCITED.

AND DR. BRONNER IS EXCITED.

THIS IS MEANINGFUL TO HIM AS WELL.

>> WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT WITHOUT DR. BRONNER'S HELP AND RSA IF THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING TO COME ABOUT HAD THEY NOT STEPPED IN TO HELP US.

>> THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

GENTLEMEN, TOMORROW SO COMING.

>> IT'S HERE.

>> GET ALL OF THE SLEEP YOU CAN BUT GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

SO MUCH HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES WITH YOU AND YOUR STAFFS.

IT REALLY NEVER GETS A LOT OF PUBLIC PRAISE BUT WE SEE AND IT APPRECIATE IT SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCH.

REMEMBER STATE OF THE STATE TOMORROW NIGHT, STARTING AT 5:3 HERE ON APT.

FOR OUR CAPITOL JOURNAL TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.