This week on Capitol Journal , the Alabama Legislature's 2026 regular session is underway.

We have highlights of Governor Ivey's State of the state address and the latest developments from the House and Senate in the first three days of the session.

And Alex Engle reports from Washington on how U.S.

Senator Katie Britt is once again in the middle of thorny negotiations, this time on the issue of immigration enforcement.

That's all next on Capitol Journal's.

Is from our state House studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol Journal's week in review.

And what a week it has been here in the capital city.

The Alabama legislature began its 2026 regular session on Tuesday, and also met Wednesday and Thursday for a fast start to this election year session.

Of course, the session kicked off with Governor Kay Ivey's State of the state address, her ninth and final address to the legislature at the start of the session.

One prevailing theme of th governor's speech was momentum.

She listed off a series of accomplishments over the last several years on everything from education and economic development to infrastructure and broadband internet.

She called on lawmakers to continue and build on the state's momentum in this, her last year in office and beyond.

Alabama consistently ranks among the top ten states for doing business.

We are prioritizing workforce development, going, guaranteeing site readiness, and remaining steady and reliable for economic growth.

Existing businesses are thriving, legacy sectors are growing, and still our economic landscape is transforming.

With new partners like Lilly Madison, and we are aggressively working towards future projects that will benefit our state for generations.

In 2019, we saw another opportunity when President Trum officially formed Space Command.

We immediately got to work in promoting Huntsville to become its home.

Now, finally y'all, it's official.

SpaceX command headquarters is coming to Sweet Home Alabama.

When I took office in 2017, Alabama's education system needed immediate attention.

In fourth grade math, we ranked dead last at 52nd.

In fourth grade reading, we were 49th.

As a former teacher, I kne there was no greater opportunity then to improve our students education.

I introduced my first policy as governor an education initiative.

Strong start, strong finish, and we got to work.

We are now 32nd in math and 34th in reading.

We ranked first in the nation in math recovery and third in reading.

We significantly increased our pre-K classrooms.

We are a top five state for computer science.

Doctor Mackey, I'll keep that going on right here.

We double the special schools with the addition of the cyber technology and Engineering School and the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences.

We have our.

How has highest ever college and career readiness rate.

We have tied for the lowest percentage of chronic absenteeism.

Our teachers are earning high marks and we added 500,000 more credentialed men and women to our workforce.

And to ou young people across the state.

I encourage you to consider preparing yourself for a career in public service.

Attend Bowie State or Girl State if you can.

Alabama deserves a generation of young people willing to pick up the mantle and continue our legacy to serve the people of our state responsibly.

Y'all, I am proud of Alabama.

I am proud of our citizens.

I'm 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 Alabamians deserve our hardest work.

Today, this is our opportunity.

Let's not waste a moment.

Thank you.

And may God continue to bless each of you and the great state of Alabama.

And after the pomp and circumstance of the state of the state, it was time to ge to the business of the session on Tuesday, starting with the budgets.

Under the state constitution, the governor must submit her proposed general fund and education trust Fund budgets on the second day of session.

House and Senate members gathered for a joint hearing here in the state House to hear from state budget leaders about their spending plans.

That started with Kirk Fulford of the Legislative Services Agency offering lawmakers an economic outlook.

After all, the budgets tend t rise and fall with the economy, Fulford said.

The latest data shows Alabama's economy is strong.

So the Alabama economy is still strong.

We still are experienced experiencing above average growth, although like everyone else, our growth is moderating and coming back down to a more normal growth rate.

Our unemployment rate is below what the U.S.

rate is, is 2.7% is down from a September rate of 2.8.

These figures are from November.

Because of the shutdown and the delay of getting information, state level information out.

There's only 65,000 unemployed people in Alabama, from that information, compared to 66 in September and 78,000 last year.

So there's a drop of over 13,000 and the number of unemployed people year over year.

Our labor market participation rate is still 57.7.

And after the budge hearing, state finance director Bill Poole sat down with reporters to walk through Governor Ivey's budget prioritie and the principles behind them.

Poole said the budgets reflect a conservative approach that invests taxpayer dollars on programs that are producing results, especially in education.

We have more Alabamians working than ever in the state's history.

Our average income for Alabamians is the highest in the history of the state.

Our population is growing, which is substantial as it relates to our economic prospects.

We are seeing, in the credi markets by the credit analysts is a state that is improving all of its, economic metrics.

And I think that speaks to a lot of hard work.

We have built budget reserves that didn't exist and surpassed prior levels, to ensure that the state budgets are solid in the event of an economi downturn or other implication.

And we've talked about a little bit of those in the general fund context.

But we know, you know, economic cycle increase and then they decrease.

And so those are prudent, savings for the state of Alabama.

A lot of credit goes to the legislature, for making sur that those reserves are intact.

This has been the longest period of time in state's history without proration by a long shot.

The state has not experience proration since, I think 2010.

And that is a remarkable run for the state.

That is unprecedented.

And I think here again, that speaks to the leadership of the state, speak to the strength of our economy.

It speaks to our citizens and their resiliency and the success we've had across Alabama.

So let's take a closer look at what's in Governor Ivey's proposed budgets that were released this week.

We'll start with the general fund, which pays for no education agencies and programs.

The governor's total budget is $3.6 billion for fiscal year 2027.

That's a slight decrease from the current fiscal year, less than 1%.

The budget includes a 2% pay raise for state employees and specific to agency.

The proposal call for 1.17 billion for Medicaid.

That's level funded from the current fiscal year, 867 million would go towar the Department of Corrections.

Again, that's the exact same amount it has in this year's budget.

The Department of Mental Health is slated for 243 million about a half percent decrease.

And the Alabama law Enforcement agency would get 143 million also level funded.

Now to the Education Trust Fund, which pays for the range of education programs from pre- all the way through higher ed, the total proposed budget is $10.4 billion, which would be a new record for the state and a 5.75 increase over the current fiscal year.

It also includes a 2% pay raise for teachers and other education employees.

Breaking down the budge by category K through 12 schools would receive $5.8 billion, a 6% increase over the current fiscal year.

State universities would get 1.88 billion, a 5.84% increase.

The Alabama Communit College System would receive 685 million.

A 5.75 increase.

The state Department of Education would get nine 955 million.

A 3.5% increase.

And early childhood education which includes the first class pre-K program, would get 226 million.

A 6.29% increase.

And this week was just the firs step in the budgeting process.

Lawmakers will now begin marking them up in committee with input from all kinds of stakeholders, and then eventually sending them to the floor.

That process usually takes a couple of months.

The House and Senate have a tradition of taking turns on the two budgets.

This year, the general fund will start in the House and the Education Trust fund will start in the Senate, and we'll be following every step of the way.

Here on Capitol Journal, we continue our legislative coverage in the Alabama House of Representative House, where lawmakers greeted the opening of the session with anticipation and a desire to move quickly to get their work done.

They wasted no time diving into issues including some controversial ones.

Capitol journal's Randy Scott reports from the House.

The house will come to order.

And just like that, the 2026 regular session starts the Alabama Hous complete with three new members.

Wasted little time getting to work.

Fresh off the heels of Governor Carvey's State of the state address, in which she points out several issues lawmakers will work on including crime and punishment.

Representative Matt Simpson and send them to April.

We will will carry a bil and imposing the death penalty for those who rape of sodomized a child.

I was proud to quickly offer my full and total support.

It didn't take long for this bill to appear in a House committee, House Bill 41, but Representative Matt Simpso addresses punishment for those found guilty of rape, sodomy or sexually abusing children.

Such a tense bill.

It caused a lot of fireworks t kick off this regular session.

This bill would allow for the potential use of the death penalty in cases where children are the victim of rape, sodomy or sexual torture.

I, you know, obviously have some reservations about your bill.

Questions were raised if the punishment is appropriate for this crime.

When you're talking about executing someone or charging someone with a capital murder that did not, where the victim is not dead or been killed, then requires the victim and also the victim's family to be involved in the decision of whether or not that person dies.

So it's not a mandatory death penalty issue.

It's not something where you're saying every single person that's charged i this route will get this charge.

It is a too in the belt of the prosecutors to use for the worst of the worst as they go through as prosecutor for practical terms.

Having the death penalty on the table in that situation, even as a possibility, will encourage people who've been victimized in families who are taking care of kids who've been victimized to come fort because they know, potentially, that prosecutor could say, I'm seeking the death penalty because it's not because of what?

Just what happened?

Because this guy's just a bad person, and you're just going to have to help me get that done.

People that rape childre all the time tell the children, if you tell on me, I'm going to get in trouble.

If you tell on me, I'm going to go to prison.

If you on me, we'll teleport.

Tear apart families.

Yeah, but you're saying you don't want people to go to prison, because that way they won't use that to threaten the children of.

If they say we can't go to prison.

Because if you tell on me, that means I'll go to prison.

That's the same rationale in line of talking.

You're talking about it, telling me about it.

But you've got to understand there's a difference between me telling you I'm going to prison forever.

Are you directly responsible for putting me to death?

I don't agree with you on that aspect.

I don't, because a lot of these times, what these people do, are they are repeat abusers.

They see the victim as a resource that they use multiple times.

It's not like a one and done.

It's not like drug where they use the victim once and they use that substance once.

They use those victims multiple times.

These are manipulators that will do whatever and use whatever language that they possibly can.

They say, yeah, but you tell your mom, the your mom is going to get hurt.

They tell this, you know they tell people all the time.

If you tell me then I'll have to go to prison.

Or if you tell this, then your dad will get in trouble.

You know, they tell it to all kind of.

You can also say, hey, read this.

State of Alabama will put me t death.

Some people need to die, and that's the point.

House Bill 41 was approved at the state House.

Randy Scott, Capital Journal.

Thank you.

Randy.

The House also took up legislation dealing with elections.

House Bill 95 from State Representative Jo Loven of Auburn, would require probate judge to conduct a post-election audit after each county and state election to determine the accuracy of the original reported results of that election.

The bill would require each county's canvasing board to randomly select at least one precinct, and at least one statewide or county race to be inspected two weeks after the election.

That audit would report on problems and discrepancies encountered and recommendations for corrective action.

Finally, the Secretary of State would be would be required to report all county audit results to the governor and the legislature within 30 days of receiving them.

Loven said the goal is to increase the public's trus in the integrity of elections.

The bill passed, but not without Democrats questioning the need for it and the potential costs.

The bill is filed.

Would, match what we did last year.

I added one amendment in committee to make it match what the Senate committee did last year.

So it is right in line with that.

It does not change election results.

It only checks them for the post audit of the machines at random.

This audit can't overturn an election, right?

Because the election would already have happene and would have been certified.

And they will kind of be going on through the process.

So this audit would be to accomplish away.

If it's not to overturn election, it would be to primarily test the machine procedures that we're used in making sure everything's working right, and give some people the peace of mind that we've we're checking everything we can.

It's a very interesting bill.

I don't know why.

They decide they want to d an audit after every election.

They say the cost i only $35,000 for the whole year.

And when you divide it up between 6 to 7 counties, it's $522.38 per county.

No county can do an audit.

For that amount of money is going to be way more than what I think they suggested.

The House also passed legislation that would support the Dolly Parton imagination.

Libraries work inside the state to provide books to childre and promote childhood literacy.

State Representative Terry Collins said the progra is already making a difference and needs more support from the state to reach more children.

House Bill 50 is the bil that we talked about last year about Imagination Library, and it's the Alabama program, and we are actually working on this now.

We are funding it at the state level.

It has a 50% local level match.

We are working.

I think that even may have come finally gotten it in all 67 counties.

I've heard nothing but positive things about it.

It's to promote the love of reading in our young people and what it does.

Her Imagination Library sends a book a month once a child is born, until they start school.

And it's just a wonderful program, supported by any, there is a reportin that goes out at the end I like, and it's the number of programs where they are, the number of children that are reach, the number of books that have gone out.

And, who the local partner is.

We now move to the Alabama Senate, which is off to a relatively calm start for the session.

But lawmakers on both sides remember the turbulent end to last year's session an are looking to avoid a repeat.

Republicans say their approach could be determined by whether or not Democrats continue delay tactics from last year, and Democrats say their approach will be determined by the amount of red meat issues that are pushed on the floor.

Capitol Journal's Jeff Sander has more from the upper chamber.

Allison, the first wee of the session for the Alabama Senate has largely been uneventful, with lawmakers moving quickly through a light calendar and avoiding the kind of floor fights that marked the end of last year.

But Republican leaders say tha calm doesn't mean complacency.

The key is for communication.

And as I've always said, without communication, there's no potential for growth.

Republicans remain frustrated over Democratic filibusters late in the 2025 session that ultimately killed a slate of local bills.

GOP leaders say that experience is driving changes in strategy this year, including moving local legislation earlier and revisiting Senate rules.

Senate president Pro Tem Garland Gunter says communication will be ke as those conversations continue.

So the filibuster is a tool for both sides of the aisle, number one.

And then number two, as we move forward, there will be times where we're going to have heavy debate out here, as we usually do.

But the key is that's what this process is about, is like everyone's voice be heard.

The state of Alabama, which is there representative here in the Alabama State Senate to be able to talk back and forth and express what their views are.

Back home, Democrats acknowledg Republicans hold a supermajority in the Senate and have the votes to make rule changes if they choose.

Senator Marica Coleman says they are watching closely to see whether the session stays focused on broadly supported issues or shifts towar divisive election year politics.

You know, the things that divide us, we can stay away from that stay.

Economic development and jobs will be doing the great things that we nee to do for the state of Alabama.

Coleman says Democrats are also drawing clear lines on issues they believe could stall progress in the state House.

That is going to be the challenge for those folks that are more on the progressive side.

You know, all of that stuff coming out where Republicans are speaking to their base that are things that we don't necessarily support.

As for governor, he says the lessons learned last year have helped sharpen his leadership approach as he enters his second year as pro tem.

But when you're in your own moment and you hear that whisper coming to your ear and it's the right thing and you feel like there's all this, this is what you need to do.

The key is to act on it then.

And I'm trusting my gut more.

And I think a lot of people in Alabama stat Senate are doing the same thing.

And so we're blessed to have good people out here that represent their districts and in doing the same thing.

Now, it typically takes a few days before a debate on legislation heats up on the Senate floor behind me.

Which means come next week.

The already rapid pace of this 2026 session will kick into a higher gear.

Reporting from the Statehouse in Montgomery.

I'm Jeff Sanders for Capitol Journal.

Thank you.

Jeff.

Looking ahead toward issues that we'll see coming down the pike.

One bill is being worked on that aims to protect kids at summer camps around the state.

Last year's tragic floods in Texas claimed the life of a young girl from mountain Brook who was attending camp mystic.

State Representative Davi Faulkner represents that area, and he's working on legislation that would add an extra layer of protection for summer camp facilities here in the state.

So the bill we're going to bring, for camp safety is going to be requiring thing like criminal background checks.

It's going to be requiring that you have an emergency response plan.

It's going to require that you have that training, that you have the ability to communicate in a time of emergency.

Even if there's no internet, that you have the ability to communicate with your cabins and the campers will be following that one.

The Senate Judiciary this week took up a bill named in memory of a young man whose family says legal silenc contributed to his tragic death.

Senator Matt Woods is sponsoring today's law, which would make non-disclosure agreements unenforceable in civil cases involving sexual abuse.

The bill is named for Trey Carlock, a Texas native whose family says being barred from speaking about his abuse played a role in his death by suicide.

Some committee member raised concerns about possible unintended consequences after his abuser was sentenced to three terms in 2010.

Trey pursue justice to hold others involved accountable through civil litigation.

The Retraumatize process ended with a settlement agreement that included a restrictiv non-disclosure agreement barring Trey from ever speaking about his abuse and the camp's role in it.

Sadly, at age 28, Trey died by suicide after telling a therapist they will always control me and I'll never be free.

I'm worried that the consequence may be when we're talking about not the offender, but rather an entity that certainly has liability.

But I'm concern that.

I'm concerned that we're really going to negatively impact settlement amounts.

I think you cannot put up a price on a person who has gone through trauma, particularly a child.

And to me, part of the healing proces is to be able to talk about it.

And then I think about in them sharing their story, they can help so many other people.

That Bill advanced out of committee and now goes to the full Senate.

We're going to take a short break and be right back with more Capitol Journal.

Stay with us.

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

aptv.. org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

The Kahala Lily, name for the Harbor River, is an aquatic plant native to the major river systems of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina and Alabama.

Its best known natural habitat is the shoals of the Cahaba River.

Lily is known for the striking beauty of its three inch wide white flowers.

Each flower, six petals, surround a thin corona which connects the lower portions and the stamens.

Lily.

Scientific name Nicholas corn area, translated as beautiful crown like membrane, accurately depicts these characteristics.

The lily requires a very specialized habitat of swift flowing wate over rocks and an open canopy.

The plants, bulbs and seeds spend the winter buried in the rocky riverbed.

Leaves began to emerge above the water line in mid-April.

Flowering commences in mid-May, reaching its peak in late May and early June.

The showy flower attract a variety of pollinators as well as large numbers of canoers and kayakers during the spring blooming period.

Welcome back to Capital Journal.

Thanks for staying with us.

We turn now to Washington, where Congress is well on its way to averting another government shutdown.

The House and Senate approved more spending bills this week before the funding deadlin comes at the end of the month.

But funding for the Department of Homeland Security has become a thorny issue amid the aggressive tactics from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as Ice.

Our own Alex Angle reports fro Capitol Hill about how Senator Katie Britt is in the middl of those funding negotiations.

Lawmakers have begun to reasser Congress's power of the purse.

With only a couple weeks left before the January 30th funding deadline.

Both chambers have passed six out of the 12 annual appropriations bills.

On Wednesday, the House passed two more, all with bipartisan support.

Senator Katie Britt, who is an Appropriator, is optimistic that Congress can avoid another shutdown.

I feel good about being able to keep the government open, but after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot Ren Good in Minneapolis last week, some Democrats vowed not to vote for a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security without reforms.

We can not support additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security without seriously meaningful and significant reforms to the way that federal authorities conduct activity in our cities, our communities, and our neighborhoods.

Britt says Republican sent a counteroffer to Democrats to try and reach a deal on the DHS bill.

She added that the focus should be solel on funding the agency right now.

This is not where immigratio enforcement legislation occurs.

That's through the Judiciary Committee.

Appropriators are hoping to add the Homeland Security one to the final package of bills that could be released over the weekend.

That minibus is set to include some of the most controversial bills, including the ones that fund the Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services.

So we're going to keep working because our hope is, is that we can catch a ride on that last package before January 30th and be included.

But if for whatever reason, that doesn't occur, we're going to continue to look for pathways to make that happen.

If Congress can't pass the remaining bills before the end of the month, lawmaker could turn to a stopgap measure to fund those specific agencies as part of the packages.

Alabama is set to receiv hundreds of millions of dollars for projects.

Reporting on Capitol Hill, Alex Engle, Capitol Journal.

Thank you Alex.

So great to have her there on the ground in the United States Capitol.

Back here to the statehouse, we had a special treat on Capitol Journal.

Rodney Smith, who was a special guest of Governor Kay Ivey at the state of the state address, joined me here in studio as part of our live broadcast that night to talk about his nonprofit, raising then Lawn Care.

About ten years ago, the Huntsville native felt a calling to star a volunteer service organization that encouraged young people to mow lawns for the elderly, veterans and others in need.

His organization has grown to have volunteers in all 50 states, instilling the virtue of service to young people all over the country.

I've been following Rodney since his early days and I really admire his work.

We talked about what inspired the organization and what it means to those people who participate.

Here's part of our conversation.

Then I went to Fort Lauderdale, Florida tonight because I wanted to do something with computers.

Don't.

The six months that I was in Florida, I had a hard time adjusting.

And I remember one night calling my mom, saying, I'm I'm having a hard time adjusting and I want to come home.

And I remember one night I just asked, I pray to God and ask him to use me as a vessel.

He did give me an answer that day.

Not a month later, not even a year later.

It will happen a few years later.

And here I am now in Huntsville, Alabama, getting my bachelor's degree in computer science.

And I was in my senior year and I was leaving school one day, and I came across an elderly man outside mowing his lawn.

So I did what anyone would do.

I pulled over and helped him out.

Little did I know that once more that kind of would change my life forever.

And it was at that moment I realized that a few years before you ask God to use you as a vessel.

And it felt like like that moment right there was that moment that he was preparing me for the whole time.

And ever since that moment, I've been doing free lawns and eventually turned to a nonprofit organization.

And today we have over 6000 kids across the country taking part.

In your wildest dreams, you think, oh, I'm going to be sitting here and you know, the old House chamber of the state go I would never had imagined when I first started where I'd be today, you wouldn't be here.

You know I didn't expect it to be here.

When I got asked to come, I know I was very surprised, bu also honored at the same time.

We see a lot of negativity on the on the news or on online and but if you turn that off and you just get outside in your community, you will see it's so much good out.

There are people out there helping peopl and we need to see more of it.

A remarkable person, I encourage you to watch our whole interview.

You can catch that on our YouTube channel as part of our coverage of the Alabama State of the state.

Well, lawmakers this week pause to honor the life and legacy of Montgomery native Claudette Colvin, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 85.

If you're not familiar with Colvin's name, there might be a good reason why.

She was just 15 years ol in 1955, when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus.

That happened nine months before the more high profile arrest of Rosa Parks, which of course sparked the Montgomery bus boycott.

And in many ways, the entire civil rights movement.

Colvin was never as well know as parks, but in recent decades her story has become bette known in the annals of history.

Today or this week, rather on the Senate floor.

Lawmakers reflected on her courage and the legacy that it leaves.

When we were signing our paperwork, I had the opportunity just to talk with her and I, and I asked her what was going through your mind that day.

I mean, how often d we get a chance to hear directly from someone who was a part of the fabri of the history of this country?

So I said, what was going through your mind that day?

What you know what what gave you that courage?

And she told me, she said we had some great teachers, and we had just been studying about the role that Africa and Americans had playe in Africans all over the world.

And she said, I was just fille with pride, and I can't imagine doing something like that at age 15 when I was 15.

And she stood for righteousness and justice.

And so many of us in this chamber today, and also in the House chamber and across the state, stand on her shoulders, tha we would not be in the positions that we're in today.

For he not making that courageous move.

A remarkable legacy.

We're going to take another short break and be back with House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, who joins me here in studio.

Stay with us.

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Birmingham's Ric Whitfield is the nation's oldest operating ballpark and served as the home field of the Birmingham Barons, Birmingham Ace and the Birmingham Black Barons for decades.

The Birmingham Barons inaugurated the new field on August 18th, 1910, by defeating the Montgomery Climbers.

The Black Barons played there between 1924 and 1950.

Rick Wood hoste Birmingham's minor league teams for several season through 1987, from 1967 to 1975.

The Barons were owned by Ensley native Charlie O. Finle and were part of the Kansas City and later Oakland A's organization.

More than 100 members of the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame have played at the field, including Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth Satchel Paige, and Willie Mays.

Today, the historic field is managed by Friends of Record and hos local amateur and college teams.

The Birmingha Barons still play a ceremonial throwback game at the ballpark every year.

The Rick Wood Classic, which celebrates Barons teams of the past and this historic field.

You're watching Alabama Public Television celebrating 70 years of service to Alabama.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is State Representative Nathaniel Ledbetter, but better known as speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Mr.

speaker thanks for coming on the show.

It's always good to be on top.

Thank you for inviting me.

Absolutely.

Well, appreciate your time.

The Fast and Furious start to the legislative session, a three day week.

Y'all had, you gaveled in on Tuesday.

State of the state was Tuesday night.

Committee da and a session day on Wednesday.

And, you know, Thursday also a session today.

So real fast start to the session.

How do you think it's gone so far?

I think it's went great.

Tell somebod I wish the rest of the session to be like this week.

So I don't know.

I'm tired already.

Well, it's been good.

The members have done a really good job.

You know, they've been working during, the off season, getting everything prepared for the bills.

And an we had some good movement today, and I think some legislation passed.

It was going to be positive for the state.

And that's where we go for the whole session is make sure that we get legislation out, send it to the Senate.

That's going to be positive.

So I think it would got off to a good start.

I, I was watchin when you gaveled in on Tuesday to start the session and it was interesting you had you took your speaker's prerogative, if you will to have a few opening remarks.

You talked about you know, the end of this term.

This is the fourth year of this term quadrennial.

Some call it right.

It's also the end of your term as speaker.

Right.

And so talk about that.

I mean, you came in, you had to I mean, there's no training manual fo how to be speaker of the House.

I had John Treadwell, the clerk of the House, here on show earlier this week, and he was talking about how great it was to work with you had a lot of great things to say.

How's it been adjusting to that role as speaker?

Looking back from where you started?

Talk about that in terms of getting into this role and how you've ended this term.

Yeah.

You know, I'm humbled.

I mean, it's humble to be in the position of man.

And, you know, I never thought that this wasn't an aspiration of mine.

You know, we come in to try to serve the people in my district and and a lot of things going on when I first come i 2014 and a lot of turmoil.

And, of course, I was a freshman elected to majority leader first for the first time ever.

And in that role for six years worked with Matt McCutcheon, the former speaker, really close.

And, you know, I don't think anything can ever prepare you for the speaker's role because it's different than what you see.

You know, what you see on the outside is kind of like an iceberg.

You just see the tip of it.

Okay.

Because what we do in sessio days has very little to do what goes on the rest of the time.

But it's been, it's been great.

I mean, you know, we we've got a tremendous staff, a great leadership team.

We've been blessed with good people.

And, the body has been very active.

I mean, you know if you look at what's happened over this quadrennial, I mean, we've had the largest tax cut in Alabama's history.

We've tax we've cut taxes to like $1.5 billion.

You know, we've improved the bills that we've passed and timing, education, at a rate that we've never seen it happen in this state.

The economy has grown faster than anybody's lifetime in our state, with job growth and the number of companies coming into our state.

So, you know, it's it's kind o surreal, to be honest with you.

And it's hard to believe this is the fourth year.

It seems like we just got started.

But, you know, working with the staff and the people, we were of course John.

John does a terrific job.

I mean, he really does.

And we kind of when we came in, we gave him probably more authority, over employees and kind o put that more on his shoulder.

You know, we move some of the, the bylaw, some of the laws around where that the committee chair could work the bills more, they do more of the work now in there than they used to do with delegating some of that.

Yeah.

I mean, we've done that.

We've delegated some of the authority and it's been very positive for us.

I think the the what we're able to do on the House floor and certainly have conversatio like we did today was positive.

Everybody gets a chance to do that.

But we also we try to move in a timel manner, always starting on time.

So I think it's jus the combination of everything.

And I'd like to take credi for the success that we've had.

But it's really it' really the members and the staff and what they do and, and I' just blessed to be a part of it.

It was interesting.

At our breakfast event, the other day, we were talking a little bit about this.

How look, politic and a representative government is naturally adversarial.

It's that way for a reason.

You're supposed to debate bills as well.

We have rules and debate and all that kind of stuff.

You're supposed to.

So that's naturally a part of the process.

Somehow y'all, been able to, in the house, avoid some of the real knock down, drag out, bitter personal kind of attacks that maybe we've seen, you know, over the decades.

So how do you as a, as a speaker, as a leader of the body?

Because I'm a couple of times I've seen you say, all right, there's a lot of debate on this bill.

Y'all go into a room and work it out.

Yeah.

And and then if you get a problem, work out here.

So how do you maintain that robust debate, which is natural and good for the process for avoiding the the bitterness and animosity that can really break down the process?

I think, you know, the thing we got to remember and we don't need to take anything happens here are all in th chamber.

In the chamber person.

And I, I do think that, you know, the way that I try to lead is in that manner.

I mean, you hardly.

You'll never see me say anything about a member, in public.

I mean, you'll never see me say anything negative toward the governor.

And we don't always agree.

Are the lieutenant governor.

I mean, we I think that setting that tone of, you know, treat peopl the way you want to be treated.

My mom told me that growing up, you always treat people well.

You won't be treated.

And, for the most part.

I think our body has done that.

And, you know, Leader Daniels does a great job, and he and I come in at the same time.

We were majority leader together.

He's a good friend of mine.

And, you know, we don't have to agree on policy, and we don't we don't agree on policy, but we're able to work it out.

And if it comes to a sticking point, then we need to stop and and reroute it and come back at a different time.

So that's kind of what we've done.

And that's kind of just I an from my standpoint, that's kind of who I am and how I see that the leadership role is.

But I want everybody that's in my chamber to feel like they've been treated fairly.

You know, and the thing is everybody don't get their way.

And it's the the can' because it's not made that way.

And the debate is good.

I think it's healthy as long as it's civil.

When it gets past that points when we're going to change, you know, the direction, you know, we'll either adjourn or call him, tell him to go work this out.

And, we've done that.

And, I mean, we stopped in the middle of the session before and and.

Listen, we're going curious Bill, over y'all going to my office, and when you come out, have the solution or we're going to go on.

So I do think that, that has been positive for the way we lead.

You know it might not be for everybody, but it's been it has been for us.

You mentioned education, an that was a big theme of Governor Ivey's state of the state.

Talking about momentum, she mentioned.

And as you have Literacy Act numeracy, some of these reforms that have been passed, they take time to develop.

But we're finally startin to see some of the fruits of it.

And you mentioned improvements and reading improvements in math.

So I and I saw the budget come out there.

Are those are funded great because if you, you know, show me your priorities.

Show me your budget.

That's right.

You talked about also career and technical education, maybe as the next investment.

You have already made some investments.

But you talked about that is the demand is so high out there it requires additional.

Do you think career and technical education, especially in those middle grades, is maybe one of those new things like numeracy, literacy that the state is going to focus on?

Because I know you've talked about a package of bills.

Yeah there's no question about that.

You know, we've started we've been talking about it.

We started that with the career pathway.

The lieutenant governor had.

You know, last year we pulled 100 million at ATF to expand and build new career tech facilities.

I didn't realize I talked to doctor McKee.

We've got 130 taskforces in the state.

We don't have 80 career tech facilities.

So the goal is to try to get it wherever he had an opportunit to go to a career tech facility if they want to and have a chance to be successful and a career pathway, you know, we're doing it different this time.

We're not going to do it the same way we've always done it.

We'll have a meeting next week of industries all across the state that'll come in and tell us our needs.

And I've asked Secretary Reid to look at all segments of our state, to dissect i and see what West Alabama needs versus east Alabama or south Alabama versus north Alabama, because we got to quit doing it the same way we've always done it, because that's ho we've always done it, you know?

And in the West Alabama they may need somebody training for Mercedes or in northeast Alabama, maybe a supply chain for automobiles, or maybe if it's in mobile, the ship building our, our submarine or our ARB.

So we got to look at those segments and that's what we got to start teaching the kids.

Because if you look at our numbers, Alabama, there's only about 32 to 34% of the kids that finishes with a college degree.

So there's 68% of the kid that I feel like over the past few years.

And I said this, I guess the other day, we've almost lost.

We've lost a generation of kids, but not prepared now.

And I think if we will continue what we're trying to do with career tech, expand those programs, make sure we get programs as positive.

We've asked for another hundred and $50 million this year, and we'll do the same thing with expanding and building new facilities.

And certainly Baldwin Academies, a great example of that.

And I it's to me, it's exciting to see different segments of our economy in different industries.

You know, ABC, the building contractors have got their own school.

Forestry has come to me wanting to do a school.

We've done the health care science and I guess and West Alabama.

And then we got to Stem school in Huntsville.

So, that's kind of exciting to me to see us starting to really give kid an opportunity to be successful in a pathway.

And, you know, let's face it, it's kind of like forgotten dirty jobs.

I mentioned that, the days that kids are spending money they don't have on degrees that no longer exist.

So we're trying to figure out what we can do to make sure that we can make them successful in whatever trade they decide to go in.

Sure.

And making those options, I don't know, aware making people aware of those options well before, because I feel like the way it had been in the past is folks, you know, kids get through high school or something, and now what?

Yeah.

Right.

And then it's, oh, I've got to figure out what to do.

You mentioned Baldwin Prep.

Really I think a lot of counties and cities and so up the state are looking at that.

That's wow.

Yeah.

Trish was down there and followed some of the folks down there and took pictures in one of her pictures I saw was of these students working on a motor.

I think it may have been a diesel motor.

I don't know, I don't know all those very, very well.

But these students, let's say they were 10th grade, ninth grade, 10th grade level grade.

They didn't look like they were at school.

Yeah.

Right.

They were just loving it.

Yeah.

Because they're I mean I had friends I grew up with.

If they're working on motors, they're working on cars they're in heaven.

That's right.

And so I really think that that really struck me because it does have to be an option in getting kids figuring out those pathways earlier rather than wake up one day.

And, oh I didn't make it into college.

So now what?

So is that kind of your that's our goal.

That's our goal.

I think they've done a really good job of that.

You know, Airbus has done a program the last few years where they you get a gran and they send tools to schools for fifth graders where they work on what would be, mechanical or something on an airplane.

So I do think it's important that we do that, because if you think about those kids that you say or she' seen this working on an engine that was really involved in it, loving it, they probably bored to death i math class, are bored to death in science class.

But so this gives them opportunities to have somethin that they really enjoyed doing and be successful at i and make a good living doing it.

And when they do that they become productive citizens.

And then they, you know, they put back into what, the economy and, and I think it's positive for everybody.

So, yeah, I'm excited about it.

I'm excited to see what comes out of next week.

You know, I mean, we've got industry from Pepsi and Coke and, of course, Yellow Wood and the road builders and all those folks are coming in to town and they're going to sit down and tell us what they're looking for and what they need and to see some of that going on and talking to the road builders.

And they're wanting to get a simulator so those kids can learn how to be on a bulldozer or be on a tractor.

So the thing we got to show kids, there's a lot of other opportunities out there.

And, you know, when you're in school, everybody else around has got college degrees.

And I think they always like, well, these kids are going to go the same pathway.

They're going to get college degrees.

And statistically we know that's just not true.

So we've got to kind o reinvent the wheel a little bit to make them understand that you can be just a successful doing a welding job as you can, maybe teaching.

And we still got to have the college educated people.

Don't get me wrong.

We do.

Oh sure.

And that's.

Yeah, absolutely.

And we have amazing university institutions of higher education.

And that's what I found interesting.

You know, we had the, innovate Alabama thing in December that you, got to visit with Condi Rice, talking about all the amazing things we're doing on the high end of all that research and stuff like that.

Right.

But there's also the other end of the spectrum making it all work together.

Well, I think that's the key.

Is this what you sa is making it all work together?

I mean, Alabama's fastly becoming one of the fastest growing research states in the country, with huts Alpha and Southern research an some things going on with them.

So but we got to have the people that's able to work on those products to get them to the to the market, to.

So, you know, the, the industries in our state needs people that can put their hands on, build a motor or can put your hands on welding or plumbing or electrician.

And I've said this a lot, you know, in my district, I dare say that a plumber electrician for certified product can make as much money as a lawyer.

So we need to take those kids that that enjoys it, that sees a future in that and give them the opportunity to be successful.

Certainly the two year college system's done a great job.

I really have.

And and if we can mirror u to them with these younger kids, like you said starting in those younger grades when they're impressionable and trying to impress them into a trade that I think, man, this is pretty cool.

I'd like to do this for the rest of my life.

Yeah, I mean, what how cool would that be that we're able to do?

And that's our goal.

Yeah, well, I've got you, we've got this construction project across the street.

Well, we're kin of surrounded by construction.

Yeah, I know, yeah.

We've got the new state house going on.

You mentioned that in your introductory remarks to open the session.

Really?

Coming along, I keep hearing the term bittersweet because, you know, this building that we're in has been around for 40 years.

It was always meant to be temporary.

That's right.

And yet, 40 years later, here we are.

Talk about that because, it's bittersweet, but what the opportunities that will exist in that new building this time next year, we'll be in that new drawing.

You'll be gabbling in, you know, assuming some things there.

Talk about the opportunities that that really are going to come with this brand new state House.

Yeah.

Well it's exciting.

I mean, we talked about that room the first day, you know, when our goal is to let our members go to the old state House inside the Capitol and have a session day and to go to the new one.

So that would give them a chance to have served in all three.

So, you know, if you look at what happened when they were renovating the Capitol, I don't think it's been so long ago that people have forgotten that term.

But when they were renovatin the Capitol, they moved to the what is the Highway Department building?

Just to temporarily an so they could redo the Capitol.

And the temporary has been for years and, you know, it was just one of those things when we first started looking at it as Legislative Council, fixing the utilities and th infrastructure of this building being the sewer, water, electrical and all the stuff that was in this building is obsolete.

It doesn't exist anymore.

And the number they gave us just to fix the belly of the building, not for any cosmetics, was $200 million.

Goodness.

Great.

So, I mean, if you look at, you know, we're probably going to be in this building with the parking deck fo just a little bit north of 400.

So not only is it something, it's going to not need any kind of maintenance for probably a few decades, which will save us a ton of money.

But for the first time ever, with the growth of ou state, we're going to have rooms that's larg enough for committees to meet.

And, you know, I've went down the hall on the second floor and people be out in the hall because I can't get in the committee rooms.

And in this, not every year that happens every year.

And in the streaming, we'll be able to stream in every room here.

I think we've got three maybe but ever committee room, we'l have that capability, you know.

And not only that, this room, the mold and stuff is in it.

Over the years with the flooding and everything that's occurred.

I mean, the pool we're sitting right now was under water at one time.

Think about that.

So the mold and everything in this building, it's, members told me this week, man, my sinuses is messed up.

Happens every year when I come in.

So we're excited.

I mean, I think it's somethin that the state can be proud of.

The people the state can be proud of.

I mean, Alabama's in a situation where our state is growing at a pace we've never seen in our lifetime.

And to have people to com into the new state House and see that, we're moving in a grea direction is really important.

And I think it's going to be positive for the state.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

It's really been fun to watch it come up and really take shape as a building.

And, so I would love to go on one of those tours.

Maybe we'll take our viewers on a on a tour at some point and they go, I don't know what's going on, Mr.

Speaker I know you got a lot going on.

I really appreciate your time.

Absolutely.

And, we'll be following the session.

We're now coming up on day four.

I mean, goodness gracious.

That's right.

Roland.

Roland.

That's right.

Well, I appreciate you having me on talk.

Yes, sir.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

Tuskegee University is the second oldest historically black college in Alabama, and one of the largest in the United States.

Founded in 1881 as the normal School for Colored Teachers at Tuskegee, the school quickly became a driving force in the developin industrial education movement.

Under the leadership of noted educator Booker T Washington, its first president in its early decades.

Tuskegee Institute made significant contributions to agriculture and improving the lives of rural black farmers.

Tuskegee has played an integral role in Alabama history and education.

It pioneered the movable school, served as the training ground for the Tuskegee Airmen, and students and faculty were heavily involved in the civil rights movement.

In addition to its many notable alumni and academic developments, it was the first HBCU to have a marching band.

Tuskegee University was recently ranked as the top black college in Alabama, and the sixth nationally.

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

aptv.. org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

That's our show for this week.

But before we go, I wanted to let you know about a special opportunity this holiday weekend.

Monday is, of course Martin Luther King Junior Day, which honors the life and legacy of the great civil rights leader whose work right here in Alabama literally changed the world.

To mark the day the Equal Justice Initiative is offering free admission to all of its legacy sites here in Montgomery.

That includes the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, sometimes known as the Lynching Memorial.

The Legacy Museum, which is now located next to the Biscuit Stadium and Freedom Monument sculpture Park along the Alabama River.

More informatio is available at their website.

E.J., I talk and thank you for joining us for Capitol Journal's Week in Review.

We'll be back on Tuesday at 11:00 after frontline, with more coverage of the Alabama Legislature right here on Alabama Public Television for our Capitol Journal team, I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.

To.