>> TODD: YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT THE OLD HOUSE CHAMBER OF THE ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL WHERE, IN ABOUT 30 MINUTES, GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WILL DELIVER HER ANNUAL STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATURE AND TO THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S COVERAGE OF THE 2025 STATE-OF-THE-STATE ADDRESS.

I'M TODD STACIE, HOST OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" HERE ON APT.

WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE WITH US AND HOPE YOU STICK AROUND THE NEXT FEW HOURS AS WE KICK OFF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

GOVERNOR IVEY'S SPEECH IS SCHEDULED TO START AT 6:00 OR AT LEAST THAT'S WHEN SHE ENTERS THE CHAMBERS.

THERE'S A LOT OF POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE WHICH IS FUN.

THE SPEECH IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

AND WE WILL ALSO HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE AFTER THAT.

HERE IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES WE WILL BE JOINED BY A SPECIAL GUEST, MS. AMERICA, ABBEY STOCK ARRESTED, THE VESTAVIA NATIVE AND AUBURN SENIOR WAS INVITED BY THE GOVERNOR TO BE PER PERSONAL GUEST AT THE STATE OF THE STATE.

AND HE WILL BE JOINING US IN THE STUDIO BEFORE THE SPEECH TO TELL US ABOUT HER PLATFORM AND ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING MS. AMERICA.

BUT FIRST I'M JOINED HERE IN THE STUDIO WHICH APPLY COLLEAGUE RANDY SCOTT AND JEFF SANDERS.

GENTLEMEN, WE'RE HERE BEGIN, STATE OF THE STATE.

IT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE SESSION.

WE'RE HERE.

>> BLINK AND WILL YOU MISS IT.

>> DIDN'T FEEL LIKE TOO LONG AGO WE WERE AT THIS TABLE TALKING ABOUT GOV.

IVEY'S SPEECH LAST YEAR.

>> GROUNDHOG DAY JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S ALREADY HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> A LOT GOING ON AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTED EARLIER TODAY, RIGHT?

THE HOUSE AND SENATE GAVELED IN AT NOON BEFORE THE CONSTITUTION.

AND THEY'RE UNDER WAY BEFORE IT GETS GOING.

JEFF, STARTING WITH YOU, YOU HAVE A NEW LEADER IN THE SENATE.

YOU COVER THE SENATE FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," A NEW LEADER UP THERE.

SO IT HAD TO BE A PRETTY INTERESTING DAY.

YEAH.

AN EXCITING DAY.

GREG REED THE FORMER SENATE PRO TEM LEFT THE SENATE TO GO WORK FOR GOV.

IVEY'S ADMINISTRATION AS THE NEW SECRETARY WORKFORCE.

IT USED TO BE THE LAY DEPARTMENT BUT NOW IT'S WORKFORCE.

THEY HONORED HIM TODAY ON THE FLOOR AND GAVE HIM A CHANCE TO KIND OF SAY HIS THANK YOUS AFTER SEVERING FOR 14 YEARS UP IN THE SENATE.

AND GARLAN GUDGER, WHO WAS NOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS A FEW WEEKS AGO TO BE THE NEW SENATE PRO TEM, THE VOTE -- HE WAS NOMINATED BY SENATOR LIVINGSTON WHO IS THE MAJORITY LEADER.

AND THEN PRETTY MUCH VOTED ON BY EVERYONE TO BE THE PRO TEM AND HE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT IS IMPORTANT TO SERVE NOT JUST HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES BUT OBVIOUSLY HE IS THE PRO TEM FOR ALL OF THE SENATE.

ANOTHER INTERESTING NOTE, TODD, IT WAS SEVEN MONTHS AGO SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER WAS INVOLVED IN A SKI DO, PERSONAL WATERCRAFT ACCIDENT ON A LAKE HEAR IN ALABAMA AND HE WAS IN A VERY CRITICAL CONDITION.

>> LIFE-THREATENING.

>> LIFE-THREATENING, AND HE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND SO HOW HIS RECOVERY WAS VERY ARDUOUS, BUT TO GO FROM THERE IN JUST SEVEN MONTHS TO BE THE LEADER OF THE SENATE INCREDIBLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I KNOW YOU WERE UPSTAIRS IN THE SENATE.

AND I DO THINK IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THIS TRADITION UP THERE.

WHEN YOU WATCH WASHINGTON AND YOU SEE THE SPEAKER VOTE IN WASHINGTON, THEY ARE ALWAYS -- THE DEMOCRATS VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS.

HERE IT'S LIKE ONCE THE LEADER IS CHOSEN THEY ALL UNANIMOUSLY HAVE A TRADITION OF THAT WHICH IS INTERESTING TOWARDS THAT BIPARTISANSHIP.

YOU HAVE A CLIP.

>> YOU MENTIONED THAT BIPARTISANSHIP.

WHEN GREG REED LEFT SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC SENATORS TALKED ABOUT HOW THINK ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM.

AND WE TALK ABOUT THAT ACCIDENT AND HE ADDRESSED HIS COLLEAGUES AND THIS IS WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AND HOW IT'S LED TO WHERE HE IS NOW.

>> DOCTORS DISCOVERED FRACTURED VERTEBRAE, RIBS, PUNCTURED LUNG AND OTHER INJURIES TOO NUMEROUS TO LIST HERE TODAY.

MY BODY WANT TO SAY BROKEN BUT MY SPIRIT WAS STRONG AND IT MADE ME EVEN STRONGER BY THE PRAYERS OF ALABAMIANS BOTH KNOWN AND UNKNOWN WHO ASKED GOD'S HEALING HANDS TO TAKE CONTROL.

THE FIRST TENTATIVE STEPS THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST MADE ME TAKE FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT WERE CAREFUL AND DIFFICULT.

BUT EACH DETERMINED STEP, ONE AFTER THE OTHER, EVENTUALLY BROUGHT ME TO WHERE I STAND BEFORE ALL OF YOU TODAY.

>> AND OF COURSE THAT WAS HIS EMOTIONAL COMMENTS ON THE FLOOR SOON AFTER TAKING OATH OF OFFICE.

HE ALREADY WAS SET TO BECOME PRESIDENT PRO TEM.

WHEN THERE WAS NO PRO TEM THE PAST FEW WEEKS BILLS WEREN'T ABLE TO BE DROPPED.

SO THEY OPENED TODAY AND WILL MEET TOMORROW AT 9 A.M. AND IT WILL BE A QUICK DAY AS MORE BILLS ARE INTRODUCED GETTING READY FOR THE SESSION.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

RANDY, YOU COVER THE HOUSE FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

NO NEW LEADER THIS TIME AROUND, RIGHT?

BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THEY GOT OFF TO A PRETTY FAST START.

>> THEY GOT OFF TO A FAST START AND A BUSY START.

WE DON'T HAVE A NEW LEADER, THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND LEDBETTER IS STILL IN PLACE BUT WE TO HAVE NEW MEMBERS.

TWO WERE SWORN IN TODAY, GENA ROSS, AND THAT MAY SOUND FAMILIAR.

SHE WAS ONCE THE PRE-K DIRECTOR HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

AND KELVIN DATCHER, A BUSINESSMAN FROM THE BIRMINGHAM AREA, WERE BOTH SWORN IN TODAY.

>> FOR THE FULL TERM.

>> FULL TERM.

THEY BROUGHT THEIR FAMILIES WITH THEM.

AND IT'S SOMETHING SPEAKER LEDBETTER SAID WHEN THEY WERE SIGNING IN AND BEING SWORN N HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FAMILIES WERE INVOLVED.

BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES, THEY MAY GET OVERLOOKED OR MAYBE THEY'RE HERE BUT NOT HERE.

BUT HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH FAMILIES WERE HERE TO BE A PART OF IT, TO WITNESS IT, TO TAKE PART IN IT, TO BE ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE TO SEE WHERE THEIR LOVED ONE WOULD BE DOING A LOT OF WORK AND TO ALSO MEET SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH THEM.

SO IT GOT OFF TO A START THAT DEALT WITH FAMILY AND THE SPEAKER SPOKE ABOUT THAT AS WE WILL GETTING SIGNED N LIKE THE SENATE, THEY'RE READY TO GET TO WORK BUT THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH PROTOCOL BEFORE THEY DO THAT.

AND THERE'S THE WORK THEY HAVE TO DO AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE IDEAS OF PROPOSALS THAT ARE SHAPING UP TO HIT THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND SOME OTHER PROMISE THEY EXPECT TO GET FROM OTHER PEOPLE COMING DOWN THE PIKE TO WORK ON.

>> WHAT DID THE SPEAKER HAVE TO SAY?

WHAT WAS ON HIS MIND THE FIRST DAY?

>> A LOT OF THINGS.

HE KNOWS THAT THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BE VERY BUSY.

WE TALKED TO HIM ON SEVERAL THINGS RANGING FROM -- HEY WILL THERE BE ANOTHER GAMBLING OR LOTTERY PROPOSAL?

WE ALSO TALK TO HIM ABOUT CRIME FIGHTING HERE IN ALABAMA, FIGHTING CLAIM, BECAUSE OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS IN CITIES 58-AROUND OF THE STATE WHERE VIOLENCE, GUN VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR, HAS GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT LONG IN THE TOOTH.

ONE THING HE DID TALK ABOUT THAT WE WOULD DEFINITELY WANTING TO GET SOME ANSWERS ON, WHICH HE APPROACHED VERY CANDIDLY WITH US, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING WHICH HE HIMSELF HAS BEEN WORKING ON WITHIN THE LEADERSHIP OF ALABAMA.

AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS KIND OF MIRRORS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH AN ISSUE SUCH AS IMMIGRATION.

WE ASKED HIM ABOUT WHAT IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THAT COMING UP?

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID.

>> YEAH, I THINK WE WILL SEE SOME OF THOSE BILLS COME UP PRETTY QUICK.

WE WILL WORK WITH THE SENATE ON THOSE.

I THINK MOST OF THE ONES IS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HERE ARE LEGAL AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT CRIMINALS.

THAT'S THE MANN FOCUS IS TO TRY -- PEOPLE HAVE CREATED THIS, WITH A CRIME, WE FIND OUT ABOUT IT AND WE WILL SEE WHAT ALL IS IN THE PACKAGE.

I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY FOUR HOUSE BILLS, MAYBE FIVE SENATE BILLS, MAYBE SIX.

I'M NOT SURE.

BUT WE WILL KIND OF SEE HOW THAT GOES.

>> NOW THAT'S WHAT THE SPEAKER SAID.

IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING POLITICS NATIONALLY AND HERE IN ALABAMA, YOU KNOW -- AND AS YOU SAID IN THE OPENING, PROTECTING THE BOARDER AND DEALING WITH IMMIGRATION IS SOMETHING THAT IS ON A LOT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

SO IT DEFINITELY WILL BE SOMETHING THAT IS TALKED ABOUT HERE IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND POSSIBLY ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> YEAH.

WE SPOKE WITH SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOT AT LENGTH ABOUT THAT FOR LAST "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND IT DOES SOUND LIKE THEY'RE GETTING SERIOUS.

WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I DID NOTICE THAT THE SPEAKER'S BACKGROUND THERE IN THE HOUSE LOOKED BETTER, SOME IMPROVEMENT.

THAT'S GOD FOR US THAT WE COVER IT.

IT'S ALWAYS DIMLY LIT.

SO KUDOS TO CHARLES AND CLAY AND ALL OF THE TEAM THAT UPDATED THAT.

LET'S TALK STATE OF THE STATE.

THE SPEECH IS STILL ANOTHER 20 MINUTES AWAY.

TALKING WITH LAWMAKERS, YOU IN THE SENATE AND RANDY YOU IN THE HOUSE, WHAT ARE THEY LISTENING FOR TONIGHT AS THEY'RE IN THE CHAMBER LISTENING DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR?

JEFF I WILL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, YOU TALK WITH SENATORS AND OBVIOUSLY ONE THING THAT IS BIPARTISAN IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

AND YOU OBVIOUSLY ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT TONIGHT AND THAT IS WHAT THEY CAN COME TOGETHER ON, CREATING MORE JOBS.

THEY WANT TO EDUCATE AND MORE RESEARCH AS THEY LOOK AT HOW THEY FUND EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

WE SAW THAT TALKED ABOUT TODAY.

BUT THEN -- BEYOND THAT RANDY TALKED ABOUT IMMIGRATION SUPPLEMENTING THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND SEEING WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THERE.

AND I WILL TELL YOU ONE THING THAT SENATOR GUDGER TALKED ABOUT THAT WAS INTERESTING WAS EFFICIENCY.

WE TALKED ABOUT DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, DOGE WITH ELON MUSK.

HE SAID THEY WANT TO DO IT HERE NO NEED IN THE GOVERNOR SETTING THAT UP BECAUSE HE BELIEVES WE HAVE THAT WITH SUNSET AND CONTRACT REVIEW.

HIS WORDS ARE WE HAVEN'T DONE MUCH WITH THOSE COMMITTEES THE LAST 20 YEARS UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN ACTIVE AND HE EXPECTS THEM TO BE EVEN MORE TV THIS YEAR SEEING WHERE THEY CAN KIND OF SEE SOME MORE EFFICIENCY IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> AND I KNOW ANOTHER LIVE LOOK THERE AT THE OLD HOUSE CHAMBER.

ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR ENTERING THE CHAMBERS.

YOU CAN HEAR THE CORRAL THERE PRACTICING SOME OF THEIR INTERESTING PATRIOTIC TUNES.

I ALWAYS LOVE THAT PART OF THE EVENT.

RANDY, WHAT ARE HOUSE MEMBERS THINK AGAIN, SOMETHING ABOUT STATE OF THE STATE, IF IT'S INCLUDED IN THE SPEECH IT KIND OF GIVES IT A LOT OF POWER, RIGHT?

>> YES, IT DOES.

>> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE HOUSE MEMBERS IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE LISTENING FOR FROM THE GOVERNOR?

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS A BIG TO DO WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM NORTH ALABAMA TO SOUTH ALABAMA, EAST TO WEST ALABAMA ARE INTERESTING IN, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS GOING ON IN CITIES SUCH AS BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONTGOMERY, MOBILE.

AND OTHER PLACES.

THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONCE INCLUSIVE IN THE ISSUES WHERE VIOLENCE HAS BEEN BASICALLY TAKING ITS TOLL ON CITIZENS AND WANTING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

IE, FIND GOT MORE WAYS TO POLICE OR GET LAW ENFORCEMENT INVOLVED IN TAKING CARE OF VIOLENCE AND PREVENTING VIOLENCE.

NOW YOU KNOW THAT'S YEAR THERE WERE SOME MOVES COMING DOWN FROM GOV.

IVEY'S ADMINISTRATION TO HELP WITH LOCAL AREAS TO FIGHT CRIME.

MR. LEDBETTER, THE SPEAKER, SAID THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE DEFINITELY LOOKING AT BUT IT'S A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.

IF YOU'RE NOT PROTECTING THE PEOPLE, IF YOU'RE NOT PROTECTING THE COMMUNITIES IT COULD HEED TO OTHER PROBLEMS THAT COULD AFFECT THEM, FOR INSTANCE,, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET BUSINESSES TO COME TO TOWN THEY LOOK AT THIS.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO MOVE HEAR THEY LOOK AT THAT TOO SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE TO WANT TO COME AND LIVE HERE SO YOU CAN HAVE MORE BUSINESSES, MORE JOBS, MORE CITIZENS AND NEW COMMUNITIES THAT ACCOUNT BOLSTER THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

SO THAT'S ONE THING HE WILL TALK ABOUT.

SOMETHING ELSE PEOPLE MENTIONED, THE BROADBAND INITIATIVE MAKING SURE IT'S STILL ON BOARD AND BEING DONE.

THERE ARE STILL AREAS HERE THAT WANT TO HAVE MORE BROAD BAND OR IMPROVED BROADBAND SERVICE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AND THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO MENTION TOO.

IT'S SOMETHING STILL NEEDED.

AND ALABAMA HAS BEEN DOING THE LION'S SHARE OF WORK GETTING THAT DONE SO IT'S A TO-BE-CONTINUED BUT IT'S A GOOD TO BE CONTINUED.

>> ESPECIALLY WITH THE CHANGE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION.

BACK TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ON CRIME, I AGREE.

I'M DEFINITELY LAWMAKERS FOR THAT TONIGHT IN TERMS OF WHERE -- I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE SPEECH.

YOU ALREADY SAID THAT WAS GOING TO BE.

BUT WHAT EXACTLY DOES SHE SPELL OUT?

WE KNOW THESE TASK FORCES THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE KIND OF BOLSTERING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WE SAW IT HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

SO WE HAVE THIS SHORTAGE OF POLICE OFFICERS.

SO I'M WONDERING IF THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF IT, HOW SPECIFIC DOES SHE GET.

>> I TALKED WITH SENATOR SAM GAVAN THE OTHER DAY AND HE TALKED ABOUT THAT FROM HUNTSVILLE, AND HE SAID THAT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN BUT HE SAID THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS AND THE BIRMINGHAM AREA AND MONTGOMERY, THOSE ARE THE CITIES YOU HEAR A HOT ABOUT.

BUT IS IT MORE OF A SPECIFIC LEGISLATION, LIKE YOU SAID, AND HE SAID THERE'S SOME WORRY FROM COLLEAGUES THAT WE DON'T WANT IT TO MAYBE IN FOR INSTANCE ON THE RIGHTS OF A CITY LIKE AUBURN OR PRATTVILLE -- I'M JUST MAKING CITIES, THAT MAY NOT FEEL THEY NEED THAT TYPE OF INTERVENTION WITH THE STATE.

>> YOU TALKED WITH SENATOR GAVAN AND I WAND TO WAND LA GAVAN, FROM BIRMINGHAM AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS ADDRESSING THE THUNDERSTORM OF POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY FEEL THAT IS DEFINITELY A DRIVING FORCE IN HELPING SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND WE WANT TO HELP KEEP THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THERE FIRST AND FOREMOST TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE COMPENSATED AND FEEL SAFE FORKING TO THEIR JOB AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME INCREASE THE NUMBERS COMING IN BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DO DEFINITELY HELP OUT TO GIVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SOME AREAS IN BIRMINGHAM AND MONTGOMERY AND ET CETERA ONBOARD BEING MORE CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I'M GOING TO BE TALKING WITH HAL TAILOR, THE ALEA SECRETARY, AFTER WE AIR THE SPEECH, TO GET SPECIFICS.

WHY TO THE ASK ABOUT POLICE RECRUITMENT.

AND ON THE GLOCK SWITCH BAN.

THIS IS ALSO INTERESTING.

BECAUSE IF THE GOVERNOR GOES THERE AND MENTIONS IT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE, THAT COULD GIVE ANYBODY THAT'S ON THE FENCE ABOUT THAT -- YOU KNOW SOME PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES TO GUNS THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE A SECOND AMENDMENT THING.

BUT LOOK SHE'S A POPULAR GOVERNOR, YOU KNOW, IT GIVES YOU A IT HELPS YOU OUT POLITICALLY TO SAY THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR THAT IF YOU'RE ON THE FENCE ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I'M LISTEN FOR SPECIFICS.

>> A LOT OF REPRESENTATIVES I SPOKE TO TODAY SAID YEAH, WE KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

WE DON'T WANT TO INTERFERE WITH ANYONE'S RIGHTS TO OWN GUN PUT WE WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE WHILE THEY OWN THEIR GUNS.

>> MORE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT THAN YOU THINK.

>> I THINK THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S REALLY KIND OF BECOME THE TOP LEGISLATIVE ISSUE.

EDUCATION IS ALWAYS UP THIS.

WHEE GET TO THAT.

BUT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE PUBLIC SAFETY/ADDRESSING CRIME HAS BEEN THIS HIGH-PROFILE OF AN ISSUE WHICH I GUESS TELLS YOU HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IT REALLY IS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

WANT TO OK. WE ALL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED ON GAMBLING LAST YEAR.

IT WAS THIS BIG COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

THE HOUSE WORKED ON IT FOR MONTHS AND GOT IT THROUGH WITH A PRETTY BIG MAJORITY.

WENT TO THE SENATE AND DIED.

SO YOU'RE ON THE SPOT NOW.

BECAUSE THEY SAID THE HOUSE IS NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH IT.

IF YOU WANT GAMBLING DO IT IN THE SENATE BUT THE MATH HAS CHANGED UP THIS.

LET ME ASK YOU PRETTY BLUNTLY WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT WE WILL SEE A GAMBLING PROPOSAL.

>> I ASKED THE PRO TEM ABOUT THAT TODAY AND HIS RESPONSE WAS 50/50.

HE SAID UNLESS IT'S CHANGED WHEN I LAST CHECKED AND LET IT CLOSE AT 3:00, THERE WAS NO BILLS PROPOSED YET.

AND I'M QUOTING HIM, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS AS WE SAID EARLIER.

HE SAID PERSONALLY HE BELIEVES WE'RE LOSING A LOT OF HAD REVENUE IN THE STATE, ESPECIALLY WITH SPORTS BETTING AND WHETHER IT'S THE LOTTERY OR REGULAR CASINO GAMBLING.

SENATOR GREG REED LED WITH A YES VOTE LAST TIME IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY.

>> HE WAS A YES.

>> SO YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY HAVE TWO, THREE VOTES AT THE MOST, KIND OF A SWING VOTE THERE, SO AGAIN IT'S GOT TO START THE -- SENATOR LIVINGSTON SAID AS YOU SAID THE HOUSE SPEAKER SAID WE DID OUR JOB LAST YEAR.

IT'S UP TO YOU ALL THIS YEAR.

>> IT'S ON THE SENATE.

IF Y'ALL WANT THIS -- AND THEY SAID Y'ALL -- GET IT TO US.

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS FEES AND I BELIEVE MAKES SENSE WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU ON IT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE SAID WE WANT TO SEE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN VOTE ON.

>> THE THOUGHT BEING THEY DON'T WANT TO SPIN THEIR WHEELS AND DO SOMETHING IF IT'S ONLY GOING TO FAIL IN THE SENATE.

0 ANOTHER THING ON THIS ISSUE, THOUGH, IS THAT WHILE THE BILL FAILED THE WAY IT DID, OPPONENTS OF GAMBLING KIND OF CRACKED THE CODE, AND YOU KNOW, THEY FIGURED OUT HOW TO KILL, HOW TO PUSH BASK AGAINST THIS, SOME OF THE ANTI GAMBLING FORCES IN THIS STATE SO THEY'RE NOT GOING AWAY.

IF A BILL COMES BACK YOU CAN COUNT ON LOYAL OPPOSITION AND FIERCE OPPOSITION, YOU KNOW, FROM ANTI GAMBLING GROUPS.

IT WAS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH LAST AREA.

>> IF IT COULDN'T COME UP THIS YEAR I DOUBT IT WILL DURING AN ELECTION YEAR NEXT YEAR.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY; RIGHT.

WE WILL BE WATCHING THE SENATE TO SEE IF ANYTHING DEVELOPS.

OTHER THINGS I'M LOOKING FOR?

ONLY HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE BUT LISTENING FOR -- SHE MENTIONS ALL THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE VETERANS MENTAL HEALTH SPACE.

HERE IN THE STATEHOUSE THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS OF THAT TASK FORCE LOOKING HOW TO SEARCH VETERAN WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

ANY TALK OF THAT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING WITH SENATOR JONES BRINGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AFFAIRS IN -- >> I THINK HE FAILED THAT TODAY >> WE WILL LIKE LIKELY HEAR ABOUT THAT FROM THE GOVERNOR.

>> MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO VETERANS IS SOMETHING THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT AND LOOKING AT.

>> THERE'S A LOT TO LISTEN FOR.

WE'RE GOING TO BE RIGHT HERE COVERING IT ALL.

I APPRECIATE HAVING ALL OF THIS GREAT FEEDBACK FROM THE SENATE, FROM THE HOUSE.

Y'ALL COVER IT SO WELL.

WE WILL BE HERE THOUGHT THE SPEECH.

LISTENING.

AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL IT'S A FEEDBACK.

AND COMING UP ON OUR BROADCAST, WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST HERE IN THE STUDIO.

ABBEY STOCK ARRESTED, MS. AMERICA, JOINS US FOR A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT HER PLATFORM, HER CIVIC DUTY, AND HER INVITATION TO BE A GUEST OF GOVERNOR IVEY AT TONIGHT'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

STAY WITH US.

>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> ONE MONTH AGO, THE NATION WATCHED AS PAM'S OWN, ABBEY STOCK ARRESTED WAS CROWNED MS. AMERICA.

SHE WAS INVITED BY GOV.

IVEY TO BE THE GUEST AT TONIGHT'S SPEECH.

AND WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE HER HERE IN OUR STUDIO.

ABBEY, WELCOME?

>> WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.

>> TELL ME WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO BE INVITED BY THE GOVERNOR TO ATTEND HER BIG NIGHT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

>> I WAS INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE INVITED.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ALABAMA MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I'M A NATIVE OF VESTAVIA HILLS SO LIVING IN THE STATE IS ALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN.

I'M HONORED TO HAVE FORGED A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

I SAW HER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AT THE INAUGURATION, AND I JUST WANT TO SAY I'M SO HONORED TO REPRESENT ALABAMA AS MS. AMERICA THIS YEAR.

I WAS CROWNED THEE WEEKS AGO AND IN THIS SHORT TIME I HAVE SEEN AND FELT AN OUTPOURING AMOUNT OF ENCOURAGEMENT, LOVE AND APPRECIATION.

SO I'M SO EXCITED I GET TO REPRESENT ALABAMA.

I'M SO -- I ADMIRE GOVERNOR IVEY AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE BOLD STEPS SHE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TAKING THIS AREA SO WE CAN CONTINUE CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR EVERYONE LIVING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HER SPEECH.

IT'S GOING TO START HERE IN A MINUTE.

I KNOW THAT PART OF THE CROWN IS BEING A ROLE MODEL.

THAT'S JUST PART OF THE DEAL.

YOU'RE ATTENDING THE SEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT HERE IN ALABAMA TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUNG PEOPLE -- ESPECIALLY YOUNG WOMEN, BEING ENGAGED IN GOVERNMENT.

>> YEAH, THE WAY I SEE MS. AMERICA IS SHE IS A LIGHT, ROLE MODEL AND INSPIRATION.

SHE HAS THE ABILITY TO ENGAGE AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF AGE AND BACKGROUND.

THE MS. AMERICA ORGANIZATION IS THE PREMIER EMPOWERMENT PLATFORM FOR YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS THE NATION.

IT'S EQUIPPING WOMEN WITH SKILL SETS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL BEYOND THE YEARS OF THE CROWN.

AS MISS AMERICA I GET TO ENCOURAGE THAT AND SERVE AS ABOUT AMBASSADOR FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND SHOW YOUNG WOMEN THEY TOO CAN CHASE THEIR DREAMS WITHOUT LIMITS AND CREATE A PLATFORM AND UTILIZE THEIR VOICE AND KNOW THAT CARRIES WEIGHT.

ALSO WITH MS. AMERICA I HAVE GET TO ADVOCATE FOR MATTERS IMPORTANT TO ME AND ONE OF THOSE IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT.

THE MS. AMERICA ORGANIZATION IS APOLITICAL.

WE HAVE NEVER LEANED WITH ONE SIDE OVER THE OTHER.

WE'RE THE MS. AMERICA FOR EVERYBODY.

BUT I BELIEVE YOUNG PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW IT'S CRUCIAL TO UTILIZE THEIR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SACRED RIGHTS WE HAVE IN OUR NATION SO I GET TO USE THIS POSITION 20 ENCOURAGE VOTING, ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER IN ORGANIZATIONS THAT THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT OFFER SIMPLY STAY INFORMED WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR STATE OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK THIS WILL HOW US TO STRENGTHEN AND UPHOLD OUR DEMOCRACY AND ALSO ENSURE IT REMAINS TRANSPARENT, IN CHOOSE I HAVE AND RESPONSIVE.

>> I WAS ACTUAL VISITING WITH A FRIEND OF YEARS HANNA, ABOUT THE INSTITUTE AND ALL THEY'RE DOING SO I DO THINK THIS GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS GOING TO BE MORE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED AND I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THAT.

OK.

YOUR PLATFORM.

IT AIMS TO BRING HOPE, INSPIRATION TO THOSE AMERICANS WHO ARE DEAL WITH ONE WAY OR THE OTHER CYSTIC FIBROSIS.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PLATFORM?

>> WHEN I WAS IN THIRD GRADE, I MET MATTIE, AND SHE LET UP THE STAGE WITH HER SMILE AND LAUGHTER.

I NOTICED SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT ABOUT MATTIE.

SHE WAS ALWAYS IN THE NURSE'S OFFICE AND HAD A COUGH THAT NEVER WEPT AWAY AND SHE WOULD CARRY A ZIPLOC BAG WITH HORSE PILLS THAT SHE WOULD TAKE BEFORE MEALS AND SNACKS.

I DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE SERIOUSNESS OF HER CONDITION UNTIL I WENT TO VISIT HER IN THE HOSPITAL.

IT WAS IN THAT MOMENT THAT I LEARNED MATTIE SERVES FROM A GENERIC GENERICALLY INHERITED DISEASE KNOWN AS CYSTIC FIBROSE.

I MADE A PROMISE TO HER THAT I WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO FIGHT FOR HER AND TO FIGHT FOR OTHERS THAT HAVE THIS TEASE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I INTEND TO.

BY FIGHT WITH CF GOT INVOLVED AT THE AGE OF NINE.

WHEN I STARTED COMPETING IN THE ASSOCIATION I MADE THIS MY PLATFORM.

LAST YEAR I PARTNERED WITH THE CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION AND SPEARHEADED MY OWN FUNDRAISER THAT RAISED 195 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR CF IN ONE NIGHT.

I WAS HONORED TO BE NATURE THE 2024 HERO OF HOPE.

I WAS ABLE TO GO TO WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ROBBIE FOR HEALTH CARE LEGISLATION FOR PATIENTS.

NOW SINCE BEING CROWNED MS. AMERICA I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE CEO OF THE NATIONAL CF FOUNDATION AND THIS YEAR I WILL BE THE NATIONAL AMBASSADOR THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO AMPLIFY MY IMPACT SO I'M MORE HOPEFUL NOW THAN EVER THAT "CF" WILL ONE DAY STAND FOR "CURE FOUND."

>> HOW CAN OUR AUDIENCE BE ENGAGED ON THE ISSUE OF CYSTIC FIBROSIS?

>> YOU CAN GO TO CF.ORG AND CHECK OUT THE TRIALS AND RESEARCH AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DONATE AND THERE'S A STATE CHAPTER FOR THE FOUNDATION IN EVERY STATE ACROSS THE NATION AND EACH HOLD LOCAL EVENTS FOR AWARENESS, FUNDRAISING MEASURES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

MAY IS THE CF AWARENESS MONTH AND THERE'S A LOT OF EVENTS HAPPENING IN JUST A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN MAY AND YOU CAN GO AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT HOW TO ATTEND THOSE EVENTS.

>> WE WILL REMEMBER THAT IN MAY >> THANK YOU.

>> AND HAVE -- LOOK I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET TO YOUR SEAT IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER.

YOU A BUSY SCHEDULE.

EVERYBODY IS WANTING YOUR ATTENTION.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE YOU ON THE COURT THIS YEAR, RIGHT, AS THE TIGER PAW?

>> YOU WILL.

FEBRUARY19 I'M DANCING WITH THE TIGER PAWS AT THE GAME.

>> I WAS GOING TO SAY YOU'RE MISSING A HECK OF A BABBLE SEASON.

>> I WILL BE THERE WHEN THEY PLAY ARKANSAS.

>> I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET-TO-YOUR SEAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATULATIONS.

WE'RE HONORED TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

STAY WITH US.

>> YOU'RE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS.

>> WELCOME BACK TO OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF DRIVE'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

GENTLEMEN, PRETTY COOL MEETING MISS AMERICA WASN'T IT?

NOT TOO BAD.

>> I WAS WALKING IN THE DOOR AND I WAS LIKE IS THAT MS. AMERICA WITH WALKING?

>> WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HER.

FINAL MINUTE.

ANY THOUGHTS GOING INTO THE SPEECH.

>> THIS IS A NEW START OF THE 2025 REGULAR SESSION.

THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO GIVE HER IDEAS OF WHAT SHE WOULD HIKE TO SEE THEM TALK ABOUT AND I'M QUITE SURE AS SPEAKER LEDBETTER SAID TODAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE LISTENING FOR WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

IF SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE I SPOKE TO SAID THE SAME THING.

THEY WANT TO HEAR WHAT SHE SAYS AND COMPARE NOTES AND MOVE FORWARD.

SO IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING NEXT THREE MONTHS.

>> WELL, LET'S GO TO THE OLD HOUSE CHAMBER WHERE I THINK THERE ARE SOME CORRALS GOING ON GAVEL.

[GAVEL SOUNDS] >> THIS JOINT SESSION OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.

DOORKEEPER I ASK THAT YOU ADMIT OUR GOVERNOR, HER EXCELLENCY, KAY ELLEN IVEY.

(APPLAUSE) (APPLAUSE) >> THERE ARE THE JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT, THERE WITH THE ESCORT COMMITTEE BEHIND HER.

THAT'S STEVE LIVINGSTON, MAJORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, BOBBY SINGLETON, MINORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE.

REPRESENTATIVE TERRY COLLINS.

MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS AND MAJORITY LEADER.

THAT'S GARLAN GUDGER BEHIND THE MEMBERS THIS.

NEW PRO TEM OF THE SENATE.

THE LT.

GOVERNOR WILL ANSWER WORTH AND I THINK I SAW LT.

GOVERNOR CHRIS PRINGLE.

LET'S TUNE IN AND LISTEN TO THE GOVERNOR BE WELCOMED BY THE CROWD AND AS SHE STARTS HER SPEECH, STATE OF THE STATE, 2025.

(APPLAUSE) >> GOV.

IVEY: PLEASE BE SEATED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AINSWORTH, PRESIDENT PRO TEM GUDGER, SPEAKER LEDBETTER, SPEAKER PRO TEM PRINGLE, MEMBERS OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE, CHIEF JUSTICE STEWART, JUSTICES OF TH ALABAMA SUPREME COURT, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND MY FELLOW ALABAMIANS!

(APPLAUSE) IT IS AN HONOR TO JOIN YOU ALL THIS EVENING AS WE BEGIN ANOTHE PRODUCTIVE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FROM RAINSVILLE TO CULLMAN, HUNTSVILLE TO BIRMINGHAM, TUSCALOOSA TO THE LOVELIEST VILLAGE ON THE PLAINS,FROM THE BLACK BELT TO THE WIREGRASS,FRO OUR CAPITAL CITY TO MOBILE, AND YES,ALL THE WAY TO THE GULF OF AMERICA,WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST STATE IN THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH.

ALL OF OUR WORK MUST CONTINUE T FOCUS ON MAKING SURE ALABAMA REMAINS THE BEST STATE IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY.

Y'ALL, IF THERE IS ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT US ALABAMIANS, IT IS TO NEVER COUNT US OUT.

YOU CALL US A FOOTBALL STATE, AND WE MIGHT JUST BECOME A BASKETBALL STATE.

[LAUGHTER] (APPLAUSE) YOU SAY WE ARE NOT INNOVATIVE, AND WE WILL RIGHTFULLY EARN SPACE COMMAND HEADQUARTERS.

YOU SAY WE ARE STUCK AT THE BOTTOM IN EDUCATION, AND OUR STUDENTS WILL SHOW YOU THE HIGHEST GAINS IN THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS NOTHING -- I MEAN NOTHING -- AN ALABAMIAN CANNOT ACHIEVE.

AND IT REMAINS THE HIGHEST HONO OF MY LIFE TO SERVE OUR PEOPLE AS GOVERNOR THESE NEXT TWO YEARS.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS STRONG, AND OPPORTUNITY ABOUNDS FOR ALL OF ALABAMA.

THERE'S MORE WORK AHEAD, BUT LIKE I SAID: DON'T EVER COUNT U OUT.

YOU CERTAINLY CAN'T COUNT OUT ABBIE STOCKARD.

GROWING UP, ABBIE PROBABLY DID NOT IMAGINE SHE WOULD ONE DAY REPRESENT ALABAMA ON THE MISS AMERICA STAGE.

AND SHE DIDN'T JUST REPRESENT US; SHE WON IT!

A PRODUCT OF THE VESTAVIA HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ABBIE IS CURRENTLY PURSUING HER NURSING DEGREE FROM AUBURN UNIVERSITY.

COMPETING IN THE MISS AMERICA PROGRAM EARNED ABBIE TENS OF THOUSANDS IN SCHOLARSHIP MONEY ABOUT WHICH I AM SURE MOM AND DAD ARE GLAD - AND IT HAS ALLOWED HER TO CHAMPION CYSTIC FIBROSIS AWARENESS.

ABBIE WILL NOW TAKE HER MESSAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND SHE IS ALREADY REPRESENTING ALABAMA AN AMERICA WELL.

(APPLAUSE) AND WHILE YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISS ALABAMA TO US, WE ARE SO THRILLED TO WELCOME OUR OWN MIS AMERICA, ABBIE STOCKARD, TO THE ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL THIS EVENING!

ABBIE, PLEASE STAND AND LET US RECOGNIZE YOU.

I AM ALSO GRATEFUL TO THE MCGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR FOR TRAVELING FROM MOBILE TO BE HERE WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR GOD-GIVEN MUSICAL TALENTS THIS EVENING.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO THE ALABAMA STATE CAPITOL (APPLAUSE) >> THIS PAST FALL AS WE KICKED OFF ANOTHER ACADEMIC YEAR, I, AGAIN, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISITSEVERAL SCHOOLS AROUND OUR STATE, INCLUDING ST. MARY'S, RIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM MCGILL-TOOLEN.

WE WERE PROUD TO CELEBRATE THE PASSAGE OF THE CHOOSE ACT - ALABAMA'S EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT PROGRAM.

BEGINNING NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, THESE ESAS WILL GIVE MORE ALABAMA FAMILIES GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN CHOOSING AN EDUCATION THAT SUITS THEIR CHILD'S INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE FUNDING STUDENTS, NOT SYSTEMS.

ALREADY IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE APPLICATION PERIOD, WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING 18,000 STUDENT APPLICANTS, AND WE HAVE RECEIVE THEM FROM EVERY SINGLE COUNTY.

THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY GROW IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY BECOMES FULLY UNIVERSAL.

CLEARLY, TAXPAYING ALABAMA FAMILIES WANT SCHOOL CHOICE!

AN THANKS TO YOUR WORK, THEY ARE GETTING JUST THAT.

(APPLAUSE) WE ARE MOST SUCCESSFUL WHEN WE ENGAGE PARENTS IN OUR STUDENTS' EDUCATIONAL JOURNEYS.

AFTER ALL, OUR PARENTS ARE OUR FIRST TEACHERS.

DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY IS HELPING US PUT BOOKS DIRECTLY IN THE HANDS OF ALABAM FAMILIES EACH MONTH.

SINCE WE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED TH PROGRAM IN OUR STATE, ONE MILLION BOOKS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THE MAILBOXES OF ENROLLED FAMILIES, AND I AM EXCITED TO REPORT THAT WE NOW OFFER THIS PROGRAM IN ALL 67 COUNTIES.

OUR FRIEND DOLLY IS NOT JUST WORKING NINE TO FIVE FOR ALABAMA, SHE IS OPENING THE WORLD OF READING TO SO MANY FAMILIES ACROSS OUR STATE.

THANK YOU, DOLLY!

AS GOVERNOR, I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET THOUSANDS OF OUR STUDENTS, AND I ALWAYS REMIND ESPECIALLY OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS, THE IMPORTANCE OF READING WELL.

FIRST, YOU LEARN TO READ, AND THEN YOU ULTIMATELY READ TO LEARN.

AFTER ITS FIRST YEAR OF FULL IMPLEMENTATION, THE ALABAMA LITERACY ACT IS PROVING IT IS WORKING.

THE NATION'S REPORT CARD SHOWED OUR 4TH GRADERS, ONCE AGAIN, HAVE INCREASED THEIR READING SCORES - AND IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS ALL PROFICIENCY LEVELS AND DEMOGRAPHICS.

ON THIS OCCASION LAST YEAR, IT WAS A SPECIAL PRIVILEGE TO HOST ABC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FROM MY HOME COUNTY OF WILCOX WHO MADE TREMENDOUS READING GAINS.

HAVING A QUALITY EDUCATION IS GOING TO BE THEIR TICKET TO A SUCCESSFUL LIFE.

IN ALABAMA, THAT IS OUR PRIMARY GOAL - ENSURING EVERY CHILD IN EVERY ZIP CODE CAN RECEIVE A STRONG EDUCATION.

THANKS TO BOTH THE LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTS, OUR EDUCATORS AR UNLOCKING STUDENTS' POTENTIAL T REACH THEIR DREAMS.

AS WE PLACE HUNDREDS OF MATH COACHES IN SCHOOLS AND WORK OUR WAY TOWARDS FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NUMERACY ACT, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING THE RESULTS.

NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL OF US ARE BLESSED WITH AN ENGINEERING BRAIN LIKE OUR FRIEND SENATOR CHAMBLISS, AND W REMEMBER HOW DIFFICULT AND FRUSTRATING MATH CLASS COULD BE THIS EVENING, I AM EXCITED TO HAVE WITH US SOME STUDENTS WHO HAVE MATH FIGURED OUT, AND THEY DANVILLE-NEEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN MORGAN COUNTY.

Y'ALL, THESE STUDENTS MADE THE HIGHEST MATH GAINS IN THE STATE LAST YEAR JUMPING UP A WHOPPING 35 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

BOYS AND GIRLS, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

PLEASE STAND AND LET US RECOGNIZE YOU.

(APPLAUSE) >> IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK OF TEACHERS AND COMMUNITIES, LIKE DANVILLE-NEEL, ACROSS THIS STATE THAT ALABAMA SAW THE LARGEST JUMP IN MATH SCORES IN THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR.

OUR TURNAROUND SCHOOLS INITIATIVE IS ALSO DELIVERING REAL RESULTS.

SCHOOLS THAT WERE ONCE AMONG OU LOWEST PERFORMING ARE NOW OUTPACING THE AVERAGE GROWTH RATE AT OTHER SCHOOLS.

THANKS TO THIS INITIATIVE, WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE FAILING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS IN ALABAMA.

WE BEGIN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION WITH GREAT MOMENTUM FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON OUR HISTORIC READING AND MATH GAINS.

WHEN I TOOK OFFICE, ALABAMA RANKED 49TH IN READING.

TODAY, WE ARE 34TH.

AND IN MATH, ALABAMA RANKED 52ND.

TODAY, WE ARE 32ND.

(APPLAUSE) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES ARE CHANGING THE NARRATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION IN ALABAMA.

WE ARE, IN FACT, NOT JUST A FOOTBALL STATE.

ALABAMA IS AN EDUCATION STATE.

IT IS VITAL WE CONTINUE INVESTING WISELY IN PROGRAMS THAT DELIVER RESULTS: PROGRAMS LIKE THE CHOOSE ACT, THE DOLLY PARTON IMAGINATION LIBRARY, THE LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTS, AS WELL AS OUR TURNAROUND SCHOOLS INITIATIVE.

WE WILL CONTINUE ALLOWING THESE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION REFORM POLICIES TO TAKE SHAPE WHILE TAKING AN ACTIVE APPROACH TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT OU STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY, 7 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY REPORTED THAT CELL PHONES ARE DISTRACTING STUDENTS.

WE HAVE ALSO LEARNED FROM PARENTS THAT TEENS ARE SPENDING AN AVERAGE OF ALMOST FIVE HOURS EVERY DAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AND IT IS HAVING A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THEIR WELLBEING.

DON'T GET ME WRONG: OUR PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA ARE FANTASTIC TOOLS, BUT WE HAVE TO KNOW THE TIME, THE PLACE AND HOW TO USE THEM.

SCHOOLS IN OUR STATE ARE ALREAD TAKING ACTION, AND WE WANT TO SUPPORT THAT STATEWIDE.

SENATOR DONNIE CHESTEEN AND REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH HULSEY WIL CARRY A BILL TO PUT A BAN ON CELL PHONES IN SCHOOLS.

THE LEGISLATION WILL ALSO REQUIRE LOCAL BOARDS TO ADOPT INTERNET SAFETY POLICIES AND PROVIDE STUDENTS SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING.

LET'S CREATE THE BEST LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS AN GET THIS BILL TO MY DESK SO I CAN SIGN IT INTO LAW.

(APPLAUSE) IN ALABAMA POLITICS, WE DON'T EXACTLY FOLLOW THE RULE OF NEVE ASKING A LADY HER AGE,AND THAT' OK.

SO WHILE WE ARE ON MY AGE, I WILL SHARE ONE OF ITS MANY BENEFITS: "MEEMAW" WILL TELL YOU EXACTLY LIKE IT IS!

(APPLAUSE) FIRST, IF A TEACHER WANTS TO START A FAMILY, SHE SHOULD HAVE THE PROPER MATERNITY LEAVE.

THAT IS WHY I AM PROUD TO HAVE SENATOR VIVIAN FIGURES AND REPRESENTATIVE GINNY SHAVER JOINING FORCES THIS YEAR TO PAS A GOOD, RESPONSIBLE PARENTAL LEAVE BILL TO SUPPORT BOTH OUR STATE WORKERS AND TEACHERS.

NEXT, THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS: MALE AND FEMALE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO FINALLY PUTTING MY SIGNATURE ON THE WHA IS A WOMAN BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN DUBOSE.

AND LAST, THERE IS A PLACE FOR THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND OTHER KEY HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS IN OUR CLASSROOMS.

WE WILL ALWAYS BE A STATE THAT SUPPORTS OUR STRONG ALABAMA VALUES.

PART OF WHAT MAKES ALABAMA THE BEST STATE IN WHICH TO LIVE, WORK AND RAISE A FAMILY IS THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO EARN A SOLID WAGE AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

THIS EVENING, I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT SINCE I HAVE BEEN GOVERNOR, OVER $55 BILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN OUR STATE, CREATING SOME 93,000 JOBS AND COUNTING.

IN ALABAMA, WE UNDERSTAND HOW T MAKE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CLIMATE.

OUR NEW SENATE PRO TEM GUDGER I A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HIMSELF, AND I HAVE BEEN PROUD TO PARTNE WITH HIM, AND ALL OF YOU, TO HELP BUILD ON OUR ECONOMIC MOMENTUM.

PART OF BUILDING A STRONG ECONOMY IS HAVING STRONG INFRASTRUCTURE.

TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND WATE AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE ARE TACKLING IT ALL.

I AM PROUD TO REPORT THAT THANK TO REBUILD ALABAMA ALONE, WE HAVE EMBARKED ON NEARLY 500 ROA AND BRIDGE PROJECTS ACROSS EVER SINGLE COUNTY IN THE STATE.

ALABAMA IS ALSO BEING RECOGNIZE AS A NATIONAL MODEL FOR BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT.

SINCE TAKING OFFICE, WE HAVE SUPPORTED OVER 200 EXPANSION PROJECTS, WHICH WILL ALLOW MORE THAN 142,000 MORE ADDRESSES TO BE CONNECTED TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE STATE HAS DIRECTED FUNDING TOWARDS 49 WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS STATEWIDE, AND THAT IS LARGELY THANKS TO THE WORK OF ADEM DIRECTOR LANCE LEFLEUR.

AND AFTER 15 YEARS OF SERVING OUR STATE IN THIS CAPACITY, LANCE WILL RETIRE IN MAY.

LANCE, WE COMMEND YOU AND WISH YOU WELL.

(APPLAUSE) THE ALABAMA MOMENTUM IS REAL.

AND WHILE WE ARE CREATING A RECORD NUMBER OF JOBS AND MAINTAINING LOW LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO INCREASE OUR LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION RATE.

THROUGH OUR PASSAGE OF THE WORKING FOR ALABAMA LEGISLATION LAST YEAR, WE ARE ESTABLISHING THE NEW ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE TO REPLACE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

I AM EXCITED TO HAVE SECRETARY GREG REED LEADING THESE EFFORTS WE MUST ENSURE A PATH FOR EVERYONE WHO WANTS A JOB TO GET ONE, ESPECIALLY OUR VETERANS.

TO OUR ALABAMA VETERANS: YOU HAVE OUR UTMOST RESPECT AND ADMIRATION.

YOU HAVE TAKEN CARE OF US, AND SO NOW, WE MUST TAKE CARE OF YOU.

WE WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES READILY AVAILABLE.

I AM PROUD TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION FROM SENATOR ANDREW JONES AND REPRESENTATIVE ED OLIVER TO MAKE THE DEPARTMENT O VETERANS AFFAIRS PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET.

WE WILL ALSO RESTRUCTURE OUR BOARD SO THAT OUR VETERANS - OF ALL ERAS ACROSS EVERY MILITARY BRANCH - ARE BEST REPRESENTED.

THE GOAL IS TO HAVE A BOARD THA IS A TEAM PLAYER WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND CAN FIERCELY AND EFFECTIVELY ADVOCATE FOR THE UNIQUE NEEDS O VETERANS OF EVERY GENERATION - AND THEIR FAMILIES.

OUR VETERANS ARE NOT ONLY PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR GREAT NATION.

THEY ARE OUR FELLOW ALABAMIANS.

THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR COLLEAGUES, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

HERE WITH US FROM HUNTSVILLE THIS EVENING IS AN ARMY VETERAN JAE BARCLAY, ALONG WITH HIS BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.

JAE WAS SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN WHEN A LAND MINE EXPLODED AND ENGULFED HIS BODY IN FLAMES.

THAT SAME DAY WAS HIS AND HIS WIFE, SIERRA'S, FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

AND JUST SEVEN DAYS LATER, THEY WELCOMED THEIR FIRST DAUGHTER, ADDISON.

IN NATURAL FIGHTER FASHION - IN ALABAMIAN FASHION - HE NOT ONLY SURVIVED, HE CAME HOME AND OVERCAME UNIMAGINABLE OBSTACLES AND LIVES AN OUTSTANDING LIFE.

HE HAS A GREAT JOB AND A LOVING FAMILY.

HE IS LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM AND IT IS BECAUSE OF BRAVE VETERANS LIKE JAE THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

JAE, WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO HAV YOU HERE WITH US.

PLEASE STAND AND LET US THANK YOU FOR YOUR OUTSTANDING SERVIC TO OUR NATION.

(APPLAUSE) THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR PEOPLE IS PARAMOUNT.

A TOP SECURITY CONCERN OF EVERY AMERICAN IS PROTECTING OUR BORDERS.

SECURING THE SOUTHERN BORDER IS SECURING ALABAMA'S BORDER.

AND TODAY IS A NEW DAY IN AMERICA WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE HELM.

HE HAS WASTED NO TIME IN LEADIN ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE.

OUR OWN U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRIT IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT CHAMPION O SECURING OUR BORDERS.

SHE IS SHOWING WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT ALABAMA MEANS BUSINESS.

THE LAKEN RILEY ACT IS NOW LAW WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SIGNATURE, AND I AM URGING CONGRESS TO PASS SENATOR BRITT' WALL ACT THAT WILL HELP FINISH BUILDING THE WALL AND ELIMINATE FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR ILLEGALS.

IT'S TIME TO RESTORE COMMON SENSE.

HERE IN ALABAMA, WE ARE SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP IN HIS MISSION.

I HAVE DIRECTED MY CABINET AGENCIES - INCLUDING THE ALABAM NATIONAL GUARD AND ALEA - TO CONTINUE STANDING READY TO LEND ASSISTANCE WHERE NEEDED.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW EVERY STATE IN THE NATION IS GRAPPLIN WITH INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES, BUT I BELIEVE ALABAMA CAN LEAD ON TACKLING THIS PROBLEM.

BOLSTERING PUBLIC SAFETY IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY THIS SESSION, AND I AM PROUD TO PARTNER WITH SPEAKER LEDBETTER AND A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LEGISLATORS IN PUTTING FORWARD PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WILL 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 AND EFFECTIVELY - WITHOUT FEAR OF MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING I THE COURTS.

WE WILL SUPPORT LONG-SERVING LA ENFORCEMENT FAMILIES THROUGH DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIPS.

Y'ALL, OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN BLU PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE.

THEY NEED TO KNOW: ALABAMA HAS THEIR BACKS.

(APPLAUSE) WE WILL CRACK DOWN ON INNER CIT VIOLENCE BY ENHANCING PENALTIES FOR DANGEROUS FELONS WITH GUNS.

WE WILL EXPAND ANIAH'S LAW, BOOST OUR SUCCESSFUL METRO AREA CRIME SUPPRESSION UNIT, BAN GLOCK SWITCHES, AND WE WILL ENHANCE SUPERVISION OF HIGH-RIS JUVENILES.

WORKING TOGETHER, WE WILL CREATE A SAFER ALABAMA.

FINALLY, WE MUST NOT JUST BE STRONG ON CRIME - BUT ALSO SMAR ON CRIME.

WHILE WE ARE MOVING FORWARD IN BUILDING TWO NEW MEN'S PRISONS AND GRADUATING A RECORD NUMBER OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS, WE MUS ALSO SEE THAT DOC RESOURCES ARE RESERVED FOR THE WORST OF THE WORST OFFENDERS.

THAT IS WHY I AM SUPPORTING THE SECOND CHANCE ACT.

THIS COMMONSENSE REFORM WILL HELP US FOCUS OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON THE MOST PRESSING PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS.

A SAFE ALABAMA IS A SECURE FUTURE FOR ALABAMA, AND A SECURED FUTURE IS OUR GOAL.

SO, NOW, LET'S LOOK AHEAD AND KEEP MAKING GREAT STRIDES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO CALL ALABAMA HOME.

LET'S PASS RESPONSIBLE BUDGETS THAT DO NOT GROW GOVERNMENT.

LET'S SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND FAMILIES.

LET'S SUPPORT OUR ECONOMY AND HIGH-WAGE JOBS.

LET'S ENSURE MORE MONEY STAYS I OUR TAXPAYERS' POCKETS.

LET'S SUPPORT OUR VETERANS.

AND LET'S FOSTER SAFE COMMUNITIES.

Y'ALL, I AM PROUD OF ALABAMA.

I AM PROUD OF OUR CITIZENS.

I AM PROUD TO CONTINUE LEADING OUR STATE FORWARD.

AND I AM HUMBLED TO BE A GOVERNOR OF ALL THE PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA DESERVE OUR VERY BEST.

FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ALABAMIAN DESERVE OUR HARDEST WORK TODAY.

THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.

SO LET'S NOT WASTE A MOMENT.

THANK YOU.

AND MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS EACH OF YOU AND THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA.

(APPLAUSE) >> TODD: THERE YOU HAVE IT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY GIVING HER 2025 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA YOU HEARD AT THE END THE CHALLENGE TO THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

SO MUCH OF THE SPEECH WAS DIRECTED TO THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE, BUT SHE REALLY CHALLENGED THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

LET'S NOT MISS THE MOMENT, WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THIS BEGAN AT NOON TODAY.

RANDY?

JEFF?

ANY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THIS PRETTY EXHAUSTIVE SPEECH?

>> SHE DID COVER A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS FROM CRIME TO PROTECTING AND BACKING THOSE WHO FIGHT CRIME IN THE STATE TO EDUCATION.

REMEMBER, SHE IS A FORMER TEACHER, OR AS SHE SAYS ONCE A TEACHER, ALWAYS A TEACHER AND SHE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THINGS THAT COULD HELP HER WITH JOBS COMING TO THE STATE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY SHE WANTED TO MAGIC SURE THAT PEOPLE KNEW THAT THEY ARE OF THE ONES THAT THEY WANT TO PROTECT FIRST AND FOREMOST.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS PAIR MOUNT IN THE STATE >> JEFF, I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING THAT SHE CLOSED HER SPEECH WITH REALLY SOME OF THE MOST TALKED ABOUT ISSUES, CRIME AND IMMIGRATION.

INTERESTING THAT THAT WAS HER CLOSING ARGUMENT >> IT IS INTERESTING WE TALK ABOUT CRIME IN THE STATE AND CRIME SUPPRESSION UNITS THAT THEY WANT TO INSTALL IN SOME OF THESE CITIES WITH THE HIGHER CRIME RATES AND OF COURSE WE'RE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION IN THE STATE.

BUT OVERALL I WANT TO GO PAC TO THE POINT THAT UNLIKE WHAT WE SEE WITH THE PRESIDENT'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS, THIS IS MORE OF A BIPARTISAN TONE SHE STRIKES WITH THE ADDRESSES, ESPECIALLY WHETHER IT'S PATERNAL LEAVE THAT WILL HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

THE SCHOOL PHONE BAN WILL BE INTERESTING WHEN IT COMES TO THE LEGISLATURE HERE IN A FEW WEEKS >> I WILL BE TALKING WITH STATE SUPERINTENDENT ERIK MACKEY A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE BROADCAST.

TO I'M GOING TO ASK HIM ABOUT THAT BECAUSE HE KIND OF HINTED AS A CELL PHONE BAN THE OTHER DAY.

IT DIDN'T GO ALL THE WAY BUT IF THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE IS BEHIND IT MAY MAKE HIS JOB EASIER >> SHE SAID SOMETHING THAT COULD BE INTERESTING -- SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THAT COULD BE A WHOLE CAN OF WORMS THAT IS NOT A BIPARTISAN ISSUE >> AND ALSO OWNING THE TERM ME MAY.

>> SHE TALKS ABOUT HER AGE SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT HER AGE >> WE WILL PROBABLY HEAR ABOUT THIS TOMORROW FOR THE REST OF THE SESSION.

THAT'S HEADLINE MAKER.

WE WILL GET TO MORE LATER BUT NOW WE WANT TO GO TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE TO THE STATE OF THE STATE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING.

I AM REPRESENTATIVE ONTARIO TILLMAN FROM ALABAMA HOUSE DISTRICT 56 AND, ON BEHALF OF THE ALABAMA HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, I AM HONORED AND HUMBLE TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT THE STATE OF OUR STATE AND OUR UNITED VISION TO MOVE ALABAMA FORWARD.

SINCE THE CONCLUSION OF OUR LAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, MY COLLEAGUES AND I HAVE SPENT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY, ON HAVING DIRECT, FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PEOPLE AND FAMILIES IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, TO ENSURE THAT THE LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC POLICY W SUPPORT ADDRESSES THEIR NEEDS, THEIR CONCERNS, AND THEIR COLLECTIVE WELL-BEING.

ALTHOUGH DIVERSE IN THEIR TONE AND SUBSTANCE, WHEN WE ASKED TH PEOPLE WE SERVE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE STATE, THEIR VOICES SHARED A COMMON MESSAGE, AND THAT MESSAGE WAS - THAT THE STATE OF OUR STATE IS MIXED.

MIXED, IN THAT WE HAVE SO MANY BRIGHT SPOTS AND SUCCESSES THAT ARE OFTEN OVERSHADOWED BY DARK SPOTS AND FAILURES.

BRIGHT AND SHINING SPOTS AS REFLECTED IN OUR OVERALL ECONOMIC GROWTH, LOW UNEMPLOYMENT, AND OUR BEST IN THE NATION PRE-K PROGRAMS - DAR AND FRUSTRATING SPOTS LIKE THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT CRIPPLES OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE MISGUIDED HURTFUL EFFORTS TO IGNORE OUR DIVERSITY, TO REVOKE OUR EQUITY AND TO DENY OUR INCLUSION.

THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA PERSONALL UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES WE FACE AND THEY ARE READY TO MARC FORWARD TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

AFTER LISTENING INTENTLY TO THEIR CONCERNS AND AMBITIONS, AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE MAN DIVERSE VIEWS ON THE MIXED STAT OF OUR STATE, WE PUT TOGETHER A PRACTICAL PLAN IN WHICH WE OUTLINE IN OUR 2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ENTITLED, "FORWARD FOR FREEDOM."

THE TITLE OF OUR AGENDA IS A DIRECT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE TIMELESS VALUES WE TREASURE AS CITIZENS OF THIS GREAT STATE AN NATION.

OUR FOCUS IS ON EXPANDING FREEDOM, LIBERTY, AND OPPORTUNITY IN ALL OF ALABAMA'S 67 COUNTIES.

WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT FREEDOM AS BEING FREE FROM SOMETHING, BUT FREEDOM ALSO MEANS THE FREEDOM TO DO SOMETHING, LIKE BEING FRE TO ACHIEVE YOUR INDIVIDUAL DREAMS AND GOALS WITHOUT UNDUE HINDRANCE, OR RESTRAINT.

THAT BEAUTIFUL IDEA OF FREEDOM IS WHAT HAS BROUGHT US TOGETHER AS A NATION AND AS A STATE.

FREEDOM AS ENVISIONED BY PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT WHEN HE FAMOUSLY SPOKE OF THE VITAL AND SACRED IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, FREEDOM FROM WANT AND FREEDOM FROM FEAR, WHICH ARE INDISPENSABLE AMERICAN VALUES AND IDEALS.

AND WHEN WE THINK OF FREEDOM, W ALSO THINK ABOUT THE FREEDOM RIDERS, ESPECIALLY HERE IN ALABAMA.

THEY SHOWED US THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF NONVIOLENT PROTEST WHICH LED TO THE END OF THE TERRIBLE INJUSTICE OF "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL" AND THE SCOURGE OF RACIA SEGREGATION.

THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE SO MANY GREAT MEN AND WOMEN, MANY FROM RIGHT HERE IN ALABAMA, HAD THE COURAGE, IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE AND BRUTALITY, TO MARCH FORWARD FOR FREEDOM.

FREEDOM, AS POWERFULLY EXPLAINE BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA WHO SAID, "WE, THE PEOPLE, RECOGNIZ THAT WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES A WELL AS RIGHTS; THAT OUR DESTINIES ARE BOUND TOGETHER; THAT A FREEDOM WHICH ONLY ASKS WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME, A FREEDOM WITHOUT A COMMITMENT TO OTHERS, A FREEDOM WITHOUT LOVE OR CHARITY OR DUTY OR PATRIOTISM, IS UNWORTHY OF OUR FOUNDING IDEALS, AND THOSE WHO DIED IN THEIR DEFENSE."

TODAY, WE CONTINUE TO MARCH FORWARD FOR THOSE FREEDOMS.

WE ASK FOR YOU TO JOIN US IN OU MARCH FORWARD BECAUSE OUR FREEDOM IS NOT BEHIND US, IT LIES AHEAD AND WE MUST MARCH FORWARD TOWARD ITS MANY BLESSINGS.

WHEN WE MARCH FORWARD FOR FREEDOM, EACH STEP BRINGS US CLOSER TO FULFILLING THE PROMIS OF OUR DEMOCRACY AS WE MAKE DELIBERATE STRIDES TO CREATE A MORE PERFECT UNION BY EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY AND SUPPORTING GROWTH.

YOUR FREEDOM AND YOUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON AN EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT THAT PROMOTES FAIRNESS AND PROSPERIT FOR ALL.

WE BELIEVE IN AN EQUITABLE, TRANSPARENT, AND ACCOUNTABLE LEGISLATURE THAT PROTECTS PERSONAL LIBERTY, ENSURES PUBLI SAFETY, AND HELPS EVERY ALABAMA CITIZEN PURSUE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

FOR ALABAMA TO THRIVE AND PROSPER, TOGETHER, WE MUST MOVE FORWARD FOR FREEDOM.

TO ENJOY THE "FREEDOM FROM WANT", AS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ONCE DEFINED, WE SUPPORT BUILDING AN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMEN THAT BENEFITS HARD-WORKING ALABAMIANS LIKE YOU.

THAT MEANS PROMOTING JOB GROWTH RAISING WAGES, AND INCREASING INVESTMENTS IN CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION, APPRENTICESHIPS CAREER TRAINING, AND HOUSING FO YOU, FOR YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE IN EMPOWERING NEW BUSINESSES TO SUCCEED BY INCREASING ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND CREATING A "PRO-GROWTH" AND PROFITABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

FINALLY, WORKPLACE SAFETY MUST ALWAYS BE A TOP PRIORITY FOR EVERY EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE.

INCREASING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IS PARAMOUNT, BUT AS THE SAYING GOES, "WHAT GOOD IS WEALTH WITHOUT HEALTH?

TO MARCH FORWAR FOR FREEDOM WE MUST BE HEALTHY AND IT IS WHY WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.

THAT MEANS WE MUST CLOSE THE COVERAGE GAP, ELIMINATE HEALTHCARE DESERTS, PREVENT MOR ALABAMA HOSPITALS FROM CLOSING, AND INVEST IN EMERGENCY SERVICES.

WE FULLY SUPPORT INCREASING PREVENTATIVE CARE, MENTAL HEALT SERVICES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT AND RECOVERY, AND RESOURCES THAT ENHANCE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS.

AS WELL AS IMPROVING MATERNAL AND INFANT CARE.

MOREOVER, MAINTAINING A STRONG QUALITY OF LIFE DEPENDS ON INVESTING IN CLEAN DRINKING WATER, UPGRADING OUR SEWAGE, AN WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, WHILE PROMOTING SOUND, SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY.

WE ALSO APPRECIATE THE WISDOM OFFERED BY OUR OWN NATIVE SON, DR. GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER, WHO SAID, "EDUCATION IS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE GOLDEN DOOR TO FREEDOM."

THEREFORE, TO UNLOCK THAT GOLDE DOOR WE MUST INCREASE OUR INVESTMENTS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION WHICH WILL EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ALABAMIANS.

WE MUST IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND RAISE OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.

WE SUPPORT INCREASING PAY FOR TEACHERS, OFFERING STIPENDS TO STUDENT-TEACHERS AND ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES AN SUPPORT THAT IS NECESSARY TO HELP OUR CHILDREN SUCCEED.

WE MUST PRIORITIZE SCHOOL SAFETY, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, SUPPORT STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES.

WE MUST ALSO STRIVE TO EXPAND CAREER AND TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, JOB-SHADOWING PROGRAMS, AND MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, WHILE MAKING THE DREAM OF HIGHER EDUCATION MORE AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL.

WE KNOW THAT OUR FREEDOMS ARE PROTECTED BY OUR DEMOCRACY AND CONSTITUTION; AND THAT A STRONG DEMOCRACY REQUIRES PARTICIPATIO AND ENGAGEMENT.

THAT IS WHY WE BELIEVE THAT ALL CITIZENS MUST BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE WITH EASE AND CONFIDENCE IN SAFE, SECURE, AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

WE SUPPORT EFFORTS TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND OPPOSE UNNECESSARY ROADBLOCKS TO VOTING, INCLUDING VOTER SUPPRESSION, GERRYMANDERING, AN UNNECESSARY MANDATES.

WE MUST ALSO COUNTER THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION RELATING TO THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS AND PROTECT OUR ELECTION WORKERS FROM HARASSMENT AND THE THREATS OF VIOLENCE.

WHEN WE LOOK TO SOLVE THE EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE THAT THREATENS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT ALABAMA, WE MUST ENSURE THAT OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM IS FAIR AND HUMANE.

WE CAN RESPECT SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND STILL PASS COMMON SENSE GUN LEGISLATION THAT KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE AT SCHOOL AND OUR FAMILIES SAFE AT THE GROCER STORE OR CHURCH.

WE MUST BALANCE OUR DESIRE FOR FREEDOM WITH OUR SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT THE FREEDOMS OF OTHERS.

WE MUST REPEAL PERMIT-LESS CONCEALED CARRY AND END THE GUN VIOLENCE CRISIS THAT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH OF ALABAMA CHILDREN.

WE STRONGLY SUPPORT REFORMING ALABAMA'S PRISONS AND TRANSFORMING THE PARDONS AND PAROLES PROCESS TO ENSURE FAIR SENTENCES FOR NONVIOLENT CRIMES WHEN WE MARCH FORWARD FOR FREEDOM, OUR DESTINATION IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE THAT IS A LAND OF UNTOLD LIBERTY.

WE OFTEN USE THE WORDS FREEDOM AND LIBERTY INTERCHANGEABLY, BU THERE IS A DIFFERENCE.

"FREEDOM" IS OFTEN DESCRIBED GENERALLY AS SELF-DETERMINATION AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, WHEREAS "LIBERTY" MAY BE BEST DEFINED AS THE STATE OF BEING FREE WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

YOU SEE, LIBERTY IS ABOUT THE RESPONSIBLE EXERCISE OF CHOICE.

THAT IS WHY WE SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF ALABAMA'S DRACONIAN ABORTION BAN, WHICH HAS NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST.

WE BELIEVE THAT GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE IN PERSONAL FAMILY PLANNING DECISIONS.

THIS IS ALSO WHY WE SUPPORT DECRIMINALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA AND IMPROVING THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSING PROCESS.

LASTLY, WE MUST REPEAL THE BANS ON DEI (DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION) AND END SYSTEMIC DISCRIMINATION.

AS CORETTA SCOTT KING PROCLAIMED, "FREEDOM AND JUSTIC CANNOT BE PARCELED OUT IN PIECE TO SUIT POLITICAL CONVENIENCE.

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU CAN STAND FOR FREEDOM FOR ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE AND DENY IT TO OTHERS."

ALABAMA CANNOT AFFORD TO GO BACKWARDS, WE REFUSE TO YIELD THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE AND W MUST BE HONEST ABOUT OUR SHORTCOMINGS.

WE CANNOT IGNORE OUR HISTORY, NOR TURN A BLIND EYE TO ITS LESSONS.

WE ALSO CANNOT AFFORD TO STAND STILL BECAUSE WE KNOW THE PROBLEMS WE FACE WILL NOT SOLVE THEMSELVES.

WE MUST BUILD ON OUR SUCCESS AN COMMIT TO A COMMON VISION THAT ENSURES A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL OF US.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO PULL TOGETHER, MOVE FORWARD, AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE BEFORE US.

WE ARE EXCITED TO BEGIN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, TO WORK ON FINDING COMMON GROUND WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE PRINCIPLES WE HOLD DEAR, AND TO MOVE FORWARD TOGETHER, FORWARD FOR FREEDOM.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> THERE YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE FROM ONTARIO TILLMAN.

JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION DR. ERIK MACKEY.

THANK YOU FOR COMING OVER.

I KNOW YOU JUST LEFT THE HOUSE CHAMBER BUT THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE >> THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD NEWS AND TO TALK ABOUT >> I THOUGHT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT SHE STARTED HER SPEECH TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION.

THE REASON THAT IS SO SIGNIFICANT, THINK ABOUT ALL OF THE ISSUES ON THE TABLE, IMMIGRATION, CRIME, THIS BUILDING -- SHE WENT FOR EDUCATION FIRST AND TALK ABOUT .

SCORES AND THE PROGRESS BEING MADE.

THAT'S GOT TO GO ENCOURAGING FOR YOU AS A STATE SCHOOL LEADER >> GOVERNOR IVEY MADE IT CLEAR, SHE IS THE EDUCATION GOVERNOR AND SHE'S REALLY DONE MORE FOR EDUCATION THAN ANY GOVERNOR IN ALABAMA'S HISTORY AND SHE HAS MADE THAT HER MISSION AND I THINK THAT NOW WE'RE SEEING SOME REALLY GOOD SCORES COME BACK BOTH IN IN THE STATE FEST AND ON THE NATION'S REPORT CARD.

IT'S A VALIDATION OF ALL OF THE WORK SHE HAS DONE.

SHE MENTIONED SHE WORKED HARD TO PASS BE BIG BILLS, THE LITERACY ACT AND NUMERACY ACT, TURNING AROUND AND GETTING THE SCHOOL INITIATIVE GOING.

SHE'S DONE A LOT OF THE WORK AND SO IT'S GOOD TO SEE IT COME TO FRUITION AND I'M GLAD SHE CO-CELEBRATE WITH STUDENTS FROM MORGAN COUNTY TOO >> IT'S INTERESTING AND SIGNIFICANT -- PEOPLE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THIS -- IT'S THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER REMEMBERED THE GOVERNOR, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, THE BOARD AND THE LEGISLATURE ALL PRETTY MUCH ALIGNED ON THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION >> I AGREE COMPLETELY.

SO THAT HAS TAKEN SOME WORK, AS YOU KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON THAT BIT THE LEGISLATURE HAS COME AROUND.

I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THREE BIG WORDS -- STRATEGY, FOCUS AND INVESTMENT.

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT STRATEGY AND WE DO.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON AT THAT TIME STRATEGY AND WE ARE.

AND WE HAVE TO INVEST IN IT.

FOR THAT TO HAPPEN YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE, THE BOARD, THE GOVERNOR, THE SUPERINTENDENT IN OUR DEPARTMENT ALL LINED UP, AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, IN MY 30 PLUS YEAR CAREER I THINK WE ARE BETTER ALIGNED THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN >> NATE, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE PROGRESS, BEG NEWS COMING OUT LAST WEEK.

REALLY ENCOURAGING NEWS ON THE FOURTH GRADE LEVEL.

WHAT ARE THE BASICS THAT ALABAMIANS NEED NO KNOW ABOUT THE NATION'S REPORT CARD AND THE RESULTS THAT WERE RELEASED >> IT'S A NATIONWIDE TEST GIVEN TO ABOUT 3 PERCENT OF OUR STUDENTS.

A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BEEN ASKING ME HOW DID MY SCHOOL DO OR COUNTY DO?

IT'S A SAMPLING OF THREE PERCENT OF OUR KIDS.

WE DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHICH KIDS TAKE THE TEST.

I MEAN, THERE IS A WAY OBVIOUSLY TO FIGURE THAT OUT BUT WE DON'T KEEP UP WITH THAT.

THERE'S NO WAY TO TRACK BACK WHICH STUDENTS AND WHICH SCHOOLS, WHAT SCORES THEY MADE.

SO WE DO GET STATEWIDE RESULTS AND NATIONAL RESULTS.

A COUPLE OF THINGS WE KNOW IS NATIONALLY, WE HAVE REALLY HIT A PLATEAU SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

READING WAS ALREADY GOING DOWN NATIONALLY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC SO ALABAMA.

HAS REALLY BUCKED THE TREND AND WE'RE ONE OF ONLY TWO NATIONS THAT HAS REBOUNDED AND IS ABOVE WHERE WE WERE PREPANDEMIC IN READING AND ONE OF ONLY FIVE STATES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THAT HAVE REBOUNDED IN MATH.

AND OF COURSE AS THE FOSTER MENTIONED TODAY, WE LEAD THE NATION IN MATH, THE HIGHEST GROWTH EVER IN ALABAMA' LEFT, HIGHEST GROWTH IN THE NATION AND ALSO RANKING 3 2ND IN MATH WHICH IS THE HIGHEST RANKING ALABAMA HAS EVER HAD IN ANYTHING.

WE ONE TIME BEFORE AND RANKED 33 IN READING BACK WHEN THE FIRST READING INITIATIVE WAS GOING WELL.

32 AND 34 NOW.

FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED AND LOTS MORE WORK TO BE DONE >> EVERYBODY WOULD LIKE TO BE IN THE TOP FIVE OR 10 BUT HISTORICALLY SPEAKING THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE PROGRESS.

DO YOU THINK -- WELL, ONE THING I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN REMINDING US OF ARE THE STANDARDS THAT -- THE CHANGE TO THE MATH STANDARDS YOU SPEARHEADED I GUESS BACK IN 2019.

SO BETWEEN THAT, LITERACY ACT AND NUMERACY ACT, A LOT OF POLICY GETS WRITTEN IN THIS BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET.

WHEN YOU SEE RESULTS LIKE THAT IS IT PROOF POSITIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE, TO THE STATE BOARD TO SAY, SEE, IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT POLICY, I KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO PASS THESE THINGS BUT IT ACTUAL CAN RESULT IN PROGRESS.

I MEAN, DO THE SCORES HELP YOUR ARGUMENT SOMETIMES?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY THEY HELP OUR ARGUMENT BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO THAT FOCUS, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE WORDS I WAS TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S HARD TO STAY FOCUSED FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT IS -- UNFORTUNATELY LOOKING HISTORICALLY THAT'S ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAD.

WE HAD A GREAT READING INITIATIVE WE SAW AMAZING RESULTS.

WE WERE LEADING THE COUNTRY 20 YEARS AGO.

THEN WE KIND OF LOST FOCUS.

SO WE SAW REGRESSION.

AND THE ONE THING ABOUT READING AND MATH TOO, BUT I ALWAYS SAY WITH READING, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW WELL, YOU DID THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR YOU WILL HAVE A NEW GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ AND YOU HAVE TO START OVER EVERY YEAR.

AND WE'RE LASER FOCUSED TO ALL WORK TOGETHER AND RAISE ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALABAMA STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN -- THE FIRST DAY OF THE LEGISLATURE TODAY.

I HAVE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THIS.

WE HAVE THE MOMENTUM AND WANT TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM EVEN TOMORROW GOING IN THE BUDGET HEARING WE WILL TALK ABOUT STRATEGY AND FOCUS AND IT'S TIME TO INVEST IN THAT STRATEGY >> THE ONE CONCERNING OF BIT OF NEWS WAS MIDDLE SCHOOL BECAUSE THE 8 GRADERS ARE PART OF THE TEST.

MAYBE IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

BUT STAG IN THAT EVENT THERE BUT IT'S ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHERE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 8 GRADERS ARE STRUGGLING.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH TO ASK BUT WHAT IS THE ANSWER HERE?

WHAT CAN WE DO IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS TO REALLY GET OVER THIS CURVE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO A LOT OF THINGS.

NATIONALLY WILL MIDDLE SCHOOL WE DO SEE -- WE SEE STAGNANT GROWTH ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND, IN FACT, MANY STATES LOST SIGNIFICANT GROUND.

IN ALABAMA WE DIDN'T LOSE GROUND BUT DIDN'T GAIN GROUND HERE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL.

IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WE GIVE THIS TEST IN FOURTH AND 8 GRADE.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT.

ONE OF THEM THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED TONIGHT.

SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BANE OF MIDDLE SCHOOL.

WE SEE CHILDREN, 10, 11, 12 YEARS OLD, ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S DISTRACTING AND PROBLEMATIC AND THE GOVERNOR SAID WE'RE GOING TO TEACH KIDS HOW TO MANAGE SOCIAL MEDIA, TAKE THE PHONES OUT OF THEIR HANDS DURING THE DAY AND THERE'S REALLY NO REASON FOR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS TO BE SCROLLING THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

SO I HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO COME ALONG AND HELP US GET A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO THAT.

THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT SHE ALREADY HAD SPONSORS FOR THOSE BILL.

THE OTHER THING IS PRACTICING READING.

I HATE TO SAY THAT BUT I TALK TO PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, READ TO YOUR CHILDREN, READ WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND IF THEY'RE YOUNG CHILDREN LISTEN TO THEM READ.

WE KNOW READING, JUST SITTING DOWN WITH A BOOK AND READING IS DOWN SINCE THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IT'S NOT JUST SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

THE PANDEMIC SEEMED TO ACCELERATE THINGS.

BUT SINCE ABOUT 2013, 14, THOSE MIDDLE SCHOOL KIDS ARE JUST READING LESS.

AND READING IS A SKILL THAT HAS TO BE PRACTICED AND WE HAVE GOT TO GET STUDENTS BACK TO PUTTING THE PHONE AWAY, TAKING A BOOK OUT AND READING >> SHE, DID SHE MADE A PIT OF NEWS BY TALKING ABOUT 5 BAN ON CELL PHONES >> AS A STATEWIDE POLICY THAT WOULD BE A BIG DEAL.

AT LEAST DURING THE SCHOOL DAY COULD THAT BE BENEFICIAL IN TERMS OF -- READING YOUR AND SCROLLING YOUR INSTAGRAM IS NOT READING, RIGHT?

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN READING LITERATURE.

COULD THAT BE HELPFUL >> WHAT IS YOUR FEEDBACK FROM THE SCHOOL LEADERS ACROSS THE STATE?

>> SOME OF THEM ARE A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE ABOUT 20 DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BANS ACROSS THE STATE AND A NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT HAVE SOME SORT OF BAN.

BUT SOME OF THEM ARE A LIGHT BA SO THEY BAN CELL PHONE IN THE CLASSROOM BUT NOT IN THE HALLWAYS.

AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO SAY AS THEY WORK THROUGH THAT, SEE THE GOVERNOR'S BILL FILED -- I DON'T THINK SHE HAS FILED IT YET SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT BUT I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SAY SHE TAKES A HARD LINE ON THAT AND AS IT WORKS THROUGH THE PROCESS A LOT OF THOSE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE TALKED ABOUT.

PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEIR OPINIONS WE HAVE HEARD FROM PARENTS WORRIED ABOUT CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM CELL PHONES, WHAT IF I NEED THEM DURING THE DAY.

BUT WE CAN ALLEVIATE THAT.

WE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.

IF THEY'RE OFF ON FIELD TRIPS AND SPORTING EVENTS AND THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND I THINK THERE WILL BE CAVEATS FOR THAT >> IN MY GENERATION IT WAS BEEPERS.

THERE WAS A SCOURGE OF BEEPERS IN SCHOOL AND POLICIES WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

>> WE STILL HAVE STATE LAWS ON BEEPERS >> EVERY GENERATION HAS IT'S OWN TECHNOLOGY.

WE ONLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, BUT WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS SECESSION IN TERMS OF THOSE INVESTMENTS YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

DO YOU SEE THE LEGISLATURE DOUBLING DOWN ON FUNDING FOR LITERACY ACT, NUMERACY ACT AND OTHER INITIATIVES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO LITERACY IN MATH.

THOSE ARE OUR TOP PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN OUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR SEVEN YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN THIS ROLE AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUR TOP PRIORITIES, LITERACY AND MATH.

YOU WILL SEE US REQUEST -- AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF FULLY FUNDING THE LITERACY AND HE NUMERACY ACT.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT THAT IS WE HAVE TO PICK UP FUNDING.

WE HAVE BEEN USING FEDERAL FUNDS TO PAY FOR SUMMER SCHOOL, AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING, LOTS OF THINGS.

WE WILL HAVE TO PICK THOSE UP WITH STATE FUNDS NOW AND WE HAVE BEEN IN DEEP CONVERSATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

SHE REALIZES THAT YOU HAVE TO INVEST IN THESE PROGRAMS TO KEEP THEM GOING.

YOU'RE GOING TO SAY US DOUBLE DOWN ON MIKING SEWER THAT WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WORKING WITH THE DEP OF METHOD TO GET THERAPISTS IN SCHOOLS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED.

YOU SEE US DOUBLING DOWN ON AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER SCHOOL CARE, WHAT WE CALL EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR.

WE HAVE AN OFFICE, A SMALL OFFICE WITH JUST ONE PERSON, BUT TO TRY TO COORDINATE AND FOCUS ON EXTENDED LEARNING SO WHAT ARE WE DO TO HELP BEFORE SCHOOL, INTERCESSION, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO SEE US FOCUS ON HIGH SCHOOL, BUILD BUILDING OUT CAREER TECH FOR ALL CHILDREN MAKING SURE ALL KIDS HAVE A PATHWAY FORWARD.

I THINK IT WILL BE A GREAT SESSION.

HAD REALLY GOOD CONTACTS TODAY AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED >> NEXT TIME I WANTED TO HAVE YOU ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" SOON BECAUSE WE NEED TO GO DEEP ON THIS IF I NEEDING MODEL AND WHAT MIGHT WE SEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

DR. MACKEY, A BIG NIGHT FOR EDUCATION.

SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THIS SESSION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME >> THANK YOU.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE COVERAGE OF GOV.

IVEY'S 2025 STATE OF THE STATE.

>> AS THE FIRST INCORPORATED TOWN IN ALABAMA, HUNTSVILLE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE BIRTH AND GROWTH OF THE STATE, SETTLED IN 1805, THE FERTILE LANDS LURED PIONEERS MIGRATING TO THE MISSISSIPPI TERRITORY.

HUNTSVILLE BECAME THE CENTER OF EARLY SAFETY POLITICS AND SERVED AS A INTERIM FIRST CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

PRESENT DAY HUNTSVILLE IS BEST KNOWN AS ONE OF THE SOUTH'S LEADING TECHNOLOGY HUBS.

>> SINCE 1997 ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION HAS PROVIDED PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RESOURCES TO CHILDCARE PROFESSIONALS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

VISIT APT.ORG/EDUCATION TO LEARN MORE.

>> YOU'RE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS.

>> TODD: BACK TO 579'S COVERAGE OF GOV.

IVEY'S 2025 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

A LOT OF CONVERSATION TONIGHT ABOUT CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY.

JOINING ME NEXT TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS THE ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SECRETARY, HALL TAILOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> WELL, YOUR AGENCY AND YOUR ISSUES WERE REALLY FRONT AND CENTER TONIGHT IN TERMS OF CRIME, PUBLIC SAFETY.

I WAS KIND OF STRUCK BECAUSE IT'S PROBABLY BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THAT ISSUE, PUBLIC SAFETY, CRACKING DOWN ON CRIME, HAVE BEEN THIS PREVALENT IN TERMS OF TALKING ABOUT IN THE LEGISLATURE, A PROMINENT PLACE IN THE STATE OF THE STATE.

DOES THAT KIND OF SPEAK TO HOW SERIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE TAKING THIS AROUND THE STATE >> YES, TODD, I THINK IT DOES.

YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT.

THERE'S SO MUCH GUN VIOLENCE RATE NOW, AND SO MUCH PEOPLE WITH GUNS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED BY THE GUNS.

AND WITH THESE SWITCHES THAT MAKE THEM A FULLY AUTOMATIC GUN, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING SHOT BY STRAY BULLETS AND WE NEED TO GET THOSE OFF THE STREETS.

AND I THINK THERE'S SOME LEGISLATION IN PLACE TO TRY TO DO THAT AND WE NEED THAT.

AS LAW ENFORCEMENT WE NEED THAT THOSE MACHINE GUNS -- WE DON'T NEED MACHINE GUNS ON THE STREETS >> THAT SWITCH TURNS A REGULAR GLOCK OR ANY OTHER HANDGUN INTO PRACTICALLY A MACHINE GUN SO DO YOU HEAR FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND TROOPERS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THAT THAT SPECIFIC GLOCK SWITCH IS?

>> I DO AND FROM THE FEDS AS WELL.

WITH ATF, THEY HELP US A LOT WITH OUR FEDERAL CASES AND GUN CRIMES.

THEY HELP WITH US TAKING GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN A CRIME AND SEEING IF IT WAS USED IN ANOTHER CRIME.

THEY HAVE OF THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

AND WITH THE SWITCH, IT IS, LIKE YOU SAID, MAKES IT FULLY AUTOMATIC, FROM PULLING IT EVERY TIME TO ONE TIME.

AND IT'S SO HARD TO HOLD AND HANDLE THAT IT'S JUST GOING EVERYWHERE AND A LOT OF INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE GETTING KILLED >> WOW.

WELL, THAT'S INTERESTING.

BECAUSE THE FACT THAT SHE MENTIONED IT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE, THERE'S BEEN, THE QUESTION OF CAN PEOPLE THAT ARE HUGE SUPPORTERS OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, GUN ENTHUSIASTS SUPPORT ANY KIND OF MEASURE ON GUNS BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE HER COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING IT AND THE SLUR LEGISLATURE IS MOVING, THIS MIGHT BE THE YEAR FOR THAT >> I HOPE IT IS.

I APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT, AND SPEAKER LEDBETTER'S SUPPORT AND ALL OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY HELPFUL WITH ME, ESPECIALLY WITH THE TASK FORCE THAT WE HAVE HERE, MAXIMUM HAS WORKED REALLY WELL AND WE HAVE HAD THAT WITH THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY AND SHERIFF CUNNINGHAM, THE COUNTY, THE AG'S OFFICE AND ATF AS WELL >> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

SHE MENTION DIZZY IT IN THE SPEECH AND WE KNEW IT WAS COMING.

WALK ME THREE WHAT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN DOING ALREADY.

IT'S BEEN MAKING HEADLINES, BUT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH RECENTLY.

TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING ON THE TASK FORCES AND HOW IT HAS IMPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY >> SO HE WE HAVE GOT PROBABLY 30 PEOPLE ON THE TASK FORCE AND WE ARE TARGETED BY THE CRIMES, BY THE OFFENDERS, PEOPLE WITH STOLEN GUNS, CARJACKING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

WE HAVE ABOUT 2 THOUSAND TRAFFIC STOPS.

WE HAVE INITIATED OVER 6 HUNDRED ARREST WARRANTS.

WE HAVE ARRESTED OVER 250 OUR SELF.

WE HAVE TAKEN 160 GUNS OFF THE STREETS.

WE FOUND 75 OF THE MACHINE DEVICES THAT MAKE THE GUNS FULLY AUTOMATIC.

AND HAVE FEDERAL CHARGES ON THAT.

WE HAVE A HUNDRED TOTAL.

SO WE'RE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE IN ERS, THE DOCTORS AND NURSES AND THEY'RE NOT SEEING THE GUNSHOTS, THE VICTIMS THAT ARE THE SHOT COMING IN, THE COST FOR VITAL CRIMES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE WAY DOWN HERE IN MONTGOMERY SO IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE HERE IN MONTGOMERY FOR SURE >> SO IS THE IDEA TO REPLICATE THAT IN OTHER CITIES, OTHER AREAS THAT NEED IT >> THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THE SPEAKER AND THE GOVERNOR WANT TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE THAT CAN GO ANY TIME -- IF BIRMINGHAM CALLS OR ANOTHER CITY IN THE STATE OR COUNTY AND NEEDS HELP IS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THAT REPLICA THAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND GO TO THAT CITY OR COUNTY AND START HELPING THEM IMMEDIATELY >> IT ALSO COST MONEY SO THERE WILL BE BUDGET LINE ITEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT >> CORRECT >> IS IT TRUE THAT WE HAVE POLICE SHORTAGES THAT HAVE TROUBLE RECRUITING POLICE AND MAY NOT HAVE THE MANPOWER TO DEAL WITH VITAL CRIME?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY IT, TODD.

WHEN WE GO INTO AREAS WHERE NUMBERS ARE DOWN TO TRY TO HELP THEM WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO HIRE AND GET THEIR NUMBERS BACK UP AND GET MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE STREET THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO THEN THEM ANSWER CALLS, WORK WRECKS, DO WHATEVER WE CAN, THAT'S WOULD WE'RE DOING IN MONTGOMERY TO HELP THEM WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THEIR NUMBERS BACK UP >> WE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT AS AN ISSUE.

I THINK THE SPEAKER HAS TALKED ABOUT IT AND YOU HEARD THE GOVERNOR TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT, ABOUT THE TROUBLE THAT MAYBE -- NOT JUST HERE BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY -- IN TERMS OF RECRUITING POLICE OFFICERS, WHAT'S BEHIND THAT, AND HOW DO WE GET -- BECAUSE Y'ALL HAVE HAD PRETTY GOOD NUMBERS OF CLASSES LATELY AT THE ENTRY LEVEL, BUT HOW DO WE GET AROUND THIS HUMP IN TERMS OF RECRUITING MORE POLICE OFFICERS?

IS IT A CULTURAL SHIFT THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN >> IT KIND OF IS.

AND THE OTHER THING, I HEAR HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO KNOW DO YOU HAVE ANY BACK?

FIGURE OUT HERE AND I HAVE A USE FORCE CASE, DO YOU HAVE MY BACK?

OR AM I GOING TO END NEWSPAPER JAIL FOR SOMETHING THAT I DID THAT WAS; RIGHT?

SO THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE NOWADAYS IS YOU SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO END UP IN A COURT -- YOU KNOW IN COURT OR IN -- >> DRUG THROUGH THE PRESS >> DRUG THROUGH AND THEY END UP IN JAIL, WHERE THEY POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAD A GOOD USE OF FORCE CASE BUT THE OUTCOME IS DIFFERENT.

SO WHEN PEOPLE SEE THAT IS THEY THINK I DON'T WANT TO BE A POLICE OFFICER, I DON'T WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW THE PAY IS GOOD.

WE HAVE THE PAY UP.

THE GOVERNOR AND SPEAKER HELPED US GET THE PAY UP THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT IT IS JUST KIND OF A CULTURE THING THAT, WHEN I CAME ALONG AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORK WITH ALEA NOW, IT WAS THEIR FAMILY.

THERE ARE GENERATIONS THERE THEIR DAD, THEIR UNCLE, THEIR DADDY AND GRANDDADDY MAY HAVE BEEN A TROOPER AND WORKED THERE AND YOU SEE A LOT OF THAT BUT YOU DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE WITH NEW HIRES >> THAT'S INTERESTING.

THE BLUE BLOODS SHOW ON -- IT'S GETTING LATE BUT I WANTED ASK YOU ABOUT THE ISSUE OF JUVENILE CRIME.

SHE MENTIONED THAT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF JUVENILES GETTING INTO CRIMINAL SITUATIONS?

IS THAT GANG RELATED?

>> SOME OF IT IS, TODD.

WE, LAST WEEK OR THE FIRST TO THE MIDDLE PART OF JANUARY, WE HAD TWO 13-YEAR-OLDS AND IS A 14-YEAR-OLD THAT WE ARRESTED FOR SECOND DEGREE BURGLARY.

TWO WEEKS LATER WE HAD TWO TEENAGERS, 17-YEAR-OLD AND 18-YEAR-OLD IN A CARJACKING.

SO SOMEWHERE WE HAVE GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET TO THESE JUVENILES, WHEN IT'S GET THE PARENTS INVOLVED, SCHOOLS OR SOMETHING TO TRY TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS BECAUSE WE HAVE ARRESTED 19 TOTAL.

OUT OF THAT -- OUT OF THE 250 THAT I TOLD YOU AND OUT OF THE 6 HUNDRED ARREST WARRANTS BUT THEY'RE OUT HERE AND WE HE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THEM OFF THE STREETS AND HELP THEM >> THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO A CULTURAL THING.

I THINK YOU CAN SAY AFTER TONIGHT AND ALL OF THE TALK THAT HAS PRECEDED ON THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, ON THE ISSUE OF CRIME, FOCUS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF ALABAMA WHO HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT VITAL CRIME, THEY CAN KNOW THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR AND YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND TAKING ACTION.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT >> THANK YOU.

WE DEFINITELY ARE >> LOOK, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON WE WILL BE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU BECAUSE THIS IS A BIG ISSUE WE DON'T WANT THE STATE OF THE STATE, JUST TONIGHT TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT.

WE WANT TO FOLLOW-UP AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE GOING AS THE POLICY GETS FACED.

THANK YOU >> THANK YOU, TODD >> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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♪ ♪ >> TUSCALOOSA SERVED AS THE SECOND CAPITOL OF BAM FROM 1826 TO 46 WHEN HE THE CAPITOL MOVED TO MONTGOMERY THE GREEK REVIVAL FEDERAL STYLE BUILDING WAS LEASED TO ALABAMA FEMALE COLLEGE AS A USE OF CONCERT HALL AND CLASSROOM UNTIL IT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1923.

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>> YOU'RE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS.

>> AND WELCOME BACK TO ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S LIVE COVERAGE OF GOV.

IVEY'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

JOINING ME NEXT ARE TWO REPORTERS WHO COVER THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND REALLY ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR A LIVING, MARY SALE AND BRYAN LYMAN OF THE ALABAMA REFLECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHO >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US >> I KNOW IT'S A BUSY NIGHT FOR REPORTERS TRYING TO WRITE THE STORIES AND GET THEM OUT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT BUT Y'ALL HAVE A PERSPECTIVE OF SEEING MANY OF THESE SPEECHES OVER THE YEARS.

DIFFERENT GOVERNORS AND ALL OF THAT SO I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION.

BRYAN, STARTING WITH YOU WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN TAKE AWAYS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND WHAT SHE SAID TONIGHT >> THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF SURPRISES I DON'T THINK.

WE WERE EXPECTING TO TALK ABOUT CRIME AND GOT THAT.

WE WERE EXPECTING TO TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND WE GOT THAT.

THE SPEECH -- THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECHES TEND TO BE DIS CURSIVE AND COVER A LOT OF GROUND AND THROW A LOT AT THE WALL.

BLOTCH BUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR JUST FELT LIKE -- IT SEEMS TO REFLECT THE SESSION.

LIKE MARY AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS BUT IT SEEMS TO REFLECT THE SESSION WHERE THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FOCUS AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, LIKE LAST YEAR WE WERE TALKING ABOUT GAMBLING AND WE KNEW A GAMBLING BILL WAS COMING THROUGH.

PREVIOUS YEARS WE KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT, HEY, WE HAVE A TOP OF MONEY, LET'S SPEND IT IN A CERTAIN WAY, YOU KNOW >> BIG INITIATIVES COMING INTO THE SESSION THAT WE'RE JUST NOT SEEING >> WE'RE NOT SEEING THAT, AND I FEEL LIKE -- WHEN YOU TALK TO THE BUDGET CHAIRS, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE PAID AND SUPPOSED TO DO.

HOWEVER THIS YEAR THEY'RE A LITTLE SPOOKED ABOUT THE END OF COVID MONEY, SOME OF THE GENERAL FUND IS SPOOKING THEM, THE MONEY FROM INTEREST RATES IS SPOOKING THEM AND THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT THE BRAKES ON BIG PROJECTS I FELT LIKE IVEY'S SPEECH -- IT WAS MORE ABOUT HITTING SOME, I GUESS, POPULAR REPUBLICAN TALKING POINTS AND SO OUTLINING LIKE A REALLY DIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR >> MARY, SOME OF YOUR TAKEAWAYS >> YEAH, I AGREE.

IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IS NECESSARILY A PAD THING.

I JUST THINK WE HAVE HAD SUCH A FOCUSED SESSION THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ARPA FUNDS, SCHOOL CHOICE >> PERCENT, GAS TAX -- ALWAYS SOMETHING >> AND SO IT'S NOT A BAD THING BUT MAYBE WE'RE JUST HITTING A FEW OTHER TOPICS THIS YEAR.

CRIME IS CERTAINLY A CONCERN FOR PEOPLE.

IMMIGRATION IS A HOT TOPIC BUT THIS SEEMS MORE OF LIKE A BIRD SHOT KIND OF SESSION AND THAT WAS SORT OF A BIRD SHOT SPEECH.

SHE COVERED -- SHE TOOK SOME VICTORY LAPSE ON A FEW THINGS, TEST SCORES, DESERVEDLY SO.

BUT, YEAH, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET CELL PHONES OUT OF SCHOOL AND TEN COMMANDMENTS IN.

SO LET'S GO.

>> AND ALSO POKED A LITTLE FUN 59 HERSELF WITH THE MEMAW COMMENT >> I APPRECIATED THAT >> WE WERE WATCHING HERE AND WE LAUGHED >> GOOD FOR HER >> YOU MENTIONED CRIME.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

I WAS JUST TALKING WITH SECRETARY TAILOR BECAUSE PROBABLY NOT IN MY LIFE OR MEMORY HAS PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIME BEEN SUCH A PROMINENT ISSUE.

THE STATE OF THE STATE, HAVE YOU EVER HEARD ABOUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, WHAT LEVEL STATE OF THE STATE?

OBVIOUSLY LAWMAKERS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.

AND BIPARTISAN, BY THE WAY.

YOU HAVE BOTH PARTIES TALKING ABOUT DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.

MIGHT WE SEE, BRYAN, SOME COMMON GROUND ON THIS, WITH WHATEVER BILLS END UP COMING OUT, YOU KNOW THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GLOCK SWITCHES AND THE TASK FORCES CAN WE SEE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON CRIME?

>> YOU CAN LOOK AT THE GLOCK SWITCH BILL WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE LAST YEAR WITH -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY OVERWHELMING REPUBLICAN SUPPORT BUT BETTER THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT FOR REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

SO THE GLOCK SWITCH BILL, I THINK THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING THERMOMETER OF WHERE THE SESSION IS.

LIKE IF THEY CAN GET THAT THROUGH THE HOUSE AGAIN, THEN THEY GO TO THE SENATE, YAWN, WHERE IT'S MUCH EASIER FOR ONE PERSON WHO DOESN'T LIKE THAT BILL TO DERAIL IT, YOU KNOW, TO GO FORWARD.

I THINK IT'S MORE POSSIBLE LIKE WHEN THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE PASSING BILLS ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS' QUALITY OF LIFE, WHICH I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ANYBODY IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD OPPOSE SOMETHING LIKE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR KIDS OF POLICE OFFICERS.

AND I DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE REALLY RADICAL IDEAS THAT WERE BEING-FOOTED LAST SUMMER, ESSENTIALLY LIKE LET'S LET GOV.

IVEY AND ATTORNEY GENERAL MARSHAL TAKE OVER A CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW.

THAT WOULD HAVE INSTANTLY POISONED THE WELL IF THAT HAD BEEN IN THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

SO YOU KNOW, I -- THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF IT.

I'M JUST -- I REALLY THINK WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE GLOCK SWITCH BILL, THAT WILL LET YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN BUILD THAT OR IF WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO THE NATIONAL POLITICS >> BUT ALSO SIGNIFICANT THAT SHE MENTIONED IT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE AND I THINK THAT GIVES ATE LITTLE MORE JUICE THAN IT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE HAD.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT -- DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT?

>> I THINK I'M A LITTLE MORE OPTIMISTIC AN THESE BILLS, LIKE THE GLOCK SWITCH BILL.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE LAST YEAR.

IT HAS REPUBLICAN AND SENATE SUPPORT SPONSOR.

BIG 10 MAYORS WERE ASKING FOR THIS TWO YEARS AGO >> POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE ASKING FOR IT >> I THINK THIS ONE GOT BLINDSIDED BY THE GAMBLING BILL LAST YEAR.

I THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN MORE DISCUSSION ON IT IN THE SENATE AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THE OTHER LEGISLATION HE YET BUT JUST BROAD SPOKES, EXPANDING ANIAH'S LAW AND THAT SEEMS LIKE A PRETTY EASY LIFT THERE BE OPPOSITION TO IT BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A HARD LIFT TO ME.

ONCE WE GET INTO THE MEAT OF THIS MAYBE THAT CHANGES BUT I DON'T SEE THESE AS HEAVY LIFTS >> WHAT THE SPEAKER TOLD ME IS THAT HE HAD MEMBERS FROM BIRMINGHAM, IN THE INNERCITY DISTRICTS COME AND SAY WE NEED THIS, WE NEED THE SUPPRESSION STUFF AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING HOW IT PLAYS OUT AND LIKE YOU SAID THERE MIGHT BE THINGS THAT ARE THE PARTISAN BUT I'M SEEING A LOT OF AGREEMENT ON THE BASICS HE EVER.

THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS >> MARY YOU HAVE DONE REPORTING ON IMMIGRATION.

WE TALKED WITH CHRIS ELLIOT THE OTHER DAY.

HE MENTIONED AS MANY AS 17 BILLS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE -- >> WELL, SIX OF THEM ARE IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW >> ALL RIGHT.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHERE ARE WE GOING AND HOW FAST ARE WE GETTING THERE?

>> SEEMS LIKE WE'RE GOING PRETTY FAST.

SEVERAL OF THESE PILLS HAVE BEEN FILED.

I WAS SCROLLING THEM EARLIER TONIGHT.

THEY WILL GET THEIR FIRST COMMITTEE VOTE AND THAT'S CHRIS ELLIOT'S COMMITTEE SO I IMAGINE THAT'S A SUPPORTIVE CROWD.

AND THESE ARE SORT OF WIDE RANGING.

AND I KNOW YOU HAD ELLIOT ON THE SHOW.

SORT OF AS THE GOVERNOR SAID WANTING TO BACK UP AND COMPLIMENT TRUMP POLICIES NOW.

SOME OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH LIKE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND IF YOU GOT A DRIVER'S LICENSE IN ANOTHER STATE WHERE THEY DON'T VERIFY YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS, THAT DRIVER'S LICENSE IS NO GOOD HERE IN ALABAMA.

STUFF LIKE INCREASING PENALTIES FOR FORGED INSTRUMENTS AND WIRE TRANSFERS.

IF YOU ARE TRANSFERRING MONEY TO ANOTHER COUNTRY, THERE WILL BE A FEE INCREASE ON THOSE.

IF YOU'RE A TAXPAYER, YOU GET A TAX CREDIT FOR THOSE FEES.

IF YOU DON'T PAY TAXES YOU LOSE FUN >> THAT'S LIKE THE WESTERN UNION TYPE >> EXACTLY >> TRYING TO MAKE THE DISTANCE >> SO THERE'S A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT BILLS!

BRYAN, WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE WE WERE IN DIFFERENT ROLES THEN BUT 2011 WAS PART OF THE HANDSHAKE AGENDA, THE TOUGHEST IMMIGRATION LAW IN THE COUNTRY CELEBRATED BY REPUBLICANS.

I HAVE BEEN SAYING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, THAT REALLY ALMOST FELT LIKE AN EXPERIMENT, LIKE OUT OF A THINK TANK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SAY, ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY THIS ON ALABAMA, MAYBE ARIZONA, BUT IT WASN'T REALLY -- THIS TIME SEEMS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU HAVE YEARS OF OTHER STATES IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE THINGS.

DO YOU THINK THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF WHATEVER THEY DO THIS YORE ON IMMIGRATION ACTUALLY STICKING AND NOT GETTING STRUCK DOWN BY THE COURTS >> IT'S A DIFFERENT JUDICIAL ENVIRONMENT THAN 2011, SO IF WE DO GO TO COURT, IT MAY BE -- THE LAW MAY FIND AUTHOR SYMPATHETIC JUDGES PERHAPS.

I KEEP COMING BACK TO THIS, EVERY SINGLE IMMIGRATION BILL WE PASS IN ALABAMA -- ALABAMA'S FOREIGN BORN POPULATION IS 4 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.

IN THE UNITED STATES IT'S 14 PERCENT.

I AM STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS HERE.

YOU KNOW, LIKE A STATE THAT IS AGING RAPIDLY, A STATE THAT NEEDS TO BUILD ITS WORKFORCE, YOU KNOW, A STATE WHERE YOU REALLY -- LIKE I'M SURE LIKE YOU WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE, MORE PEOPLE IN THE PHRASE AND THINGS LIKE THAT -- LIKE EVERYTHING IN THIS STATE SHOULD POINT TO A GOVERNMENT THAT IS ENCOURAGING IMMIGRATION NOT PASSING BILLS TO PUNISH.

AND IT'S JUST -- I MEAN, I'M NOT SAYING HIKE, OKAY, IF THERE ARE CRIMINALS AMONG IMMIGRANTS YOU LET THEM GO FREE.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.

BUT PASSING ALL OF THESE PUNITIVE MEASURES WHEN WE ARE JUST SIMPLY NOT A STATE WHERE IMMIGRANTS COME.

IT'S BAFFLING TO ME AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE JUST LOOKING AT THE WRONG END OF -- WE'RE LOOKING AT THE WRONG END OF THE ISSUE I THINK >> INTERESTING STATISTIC FOR SURE.

MARY, MIGHT WE SEE SOME OF THOSE ARGUMENTS FROM DEMOCRATS?

BECAUSE LIKE IF IT WAS LAST YEAR, IF IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO, DIFFERENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, MAYBE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF THE ARGUMENTS AND EVERYTHING, POST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION, DIFFERENT KIND OF VIBE GOING ON NATIONALLY.

DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

SO DOES THAT CHANGE THE ARGUMENTS THAT YOU MIGHT HERE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR AND THE SENATE FLOOR?

WILL THEY BE AS ROBUST AS YEARS AGO >> THE BILLS THAT I MENTIONED AT THAT THE ARE IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW, SENATOR RODGER SMITHERMAN IS A CO-SPONSOR ON SOME OF THEM SO THERE HAS OPINION SOME EFFORT TO GET IN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.

YEAH I'M SURE THAT WE WILL HAVE SOME DEBATE.

AND AGAIN THESE ARE THE FIRST VERSIONS.

BILLS CHANGE, AMENDMENTS ARE TACKED ON.

BUT AS THEY STAND NOW THERE HAVE BEEN CONVERSATIONS WITH DEMOCRATS >> LET'S GET TO THE MOST IMPORTANT AND YET THE MOST BORING PART -- BUDGETS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY HERE TO DO, RIGHT?

VERY LAST PART OF THE SPEECH, GOVERNOR IVEY ENCOURAGED THE LEGISLATURE TO PASS GOOD BUDGETS OR WHAT HAVE YOU.

WHERE ARE WE?

I KNOW THAT THE COVID RELIEF DAYS ARE OVER SO THAT'S MAYBE IN FLUTED SOME OF THE BUDGET NUMBERS.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING BUDGET-WISE I KNOW YOU TALKED TO THE CHERYL AND EVERYTHING.

ARE WE OKAY ON BUDGET GROUND?

>> WELL -- THAT'S MY OFFICIAL RESPONSE.

I LOOKED UP THE NUMBERS FOR JANUARY AND THE ETF IS ACTUALLY DOWN 2 PERCENT FOR THE YEAR AND THE GENERAL FUND IS MAYBE UP 2 PERCENT.

SO SOLID GROUND?

YOU KNOW OFFICIALS AREN'T THAT WORRIED ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE NEVER SPEND AS MUCH AS WE HAVE.

SO THE BUDGETS FOR THIS YEAR ARE FINE.

BUT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN WE'VE SEEN.

I THINK THERE'S SOME DEFINITE CONCERN >> AND THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT WE HAVE COMMITMENTS TO BUILD THE PRISONS WHICH THAT IS GOING TO BE IN COMMITTEE TOMORROW AS WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- WE HAVE COMMITMENTS TO BUILD A NEW STATEHOUSE, MEDICAID COULD MAKE ITS FIRST EVER BILLION DOLLAR STATE REQUEST, SO I THINK -- >> PEEHIP >> EVERYONE IS LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS AND JUST THINKING, LIKE, LET'S IT SHOW LIKE MAYBE WE NEED TO PULL BACK OR SOMETHING.

BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE ANYONE THINKS THERE'S DISASTER AFOOT BUT -- NO, NOT THE FREE WHEELING DARES OF YEARS PAST?

>> YES >> LOOK WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

REALLY INTERESTING NIGHT.

AND IT'S THE START OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

I KNOW Y'ALL WILL BE COVERING IT AND YOUR STAFF SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR COVERAGE AND FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

>> GLAD TO DO IT >> MY PLEASURE >> THAT DOES IT FOR THE 2025 STATE OF THE STATE AND OUR COVERAGE HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CATCH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

WE'RE NIGHTLY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THAT'S MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY AT 10:30 P.M. AFTER YOUR HOLE NEWS HERE ON APT AND OF COURSE OUR "WEEK IN REVIEW" SHOW IS ALWAYS FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 7:30 AND SUNDAYS AT NOON.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM HERE AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, I'M TODD STACIE.

WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

♪