From ou statehouse studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

Big news today from Governor Kay Ivey.

The governor announced this morning that she has commuted the death sentence of Charles Sonny Burton, who was schedule to be executed later this week.

Burton's death sentence was reduced to life in prison without possibility of parole, marking just the second time the governor has grante clemency to a death row inmate.

Burton was sentenced to death for the 1991 shooting of a customer, Doug Battle, during a store robbery.

But Burton didn't pull the trigger and rather was convicte as an accomplice to that murder.

That fact played into Ivey's decision.

She said, quote, I cannot procee in good conscience with a life with the execution of Mr.

Burton.

Under such disparate circumstances, I believe it would be unjust for one participant in this crime to be executed, while the participant who pulled the trigger was not.

She also noted that Burton and the trigger man will now be subject to the same sentence.

The governor received praise from a wide range of criminal justice groups who have been pleading for clemency.

She also got a thank you fro Burton himself through a lawyer.

Burton said, quote, she has proven to the people of Alabama and the world that she is a responsible governor, and I thank her.

Just saying thank you does not seem like does not seem like much, but it's what I can give her.

And I do thank her.

Thank you governor.

End quote.

But it wasn't all praise for Ivey.

Attorney General Steve Marshall said he was deeply disappointed in the decision, pointing out Burton's long criminal record and the fact that Alabama law recognizes the liability of accomplices.

He said, quote, while the medi has done its best to paint Mr.

Burton as a harmless, decrepit old man, he is a murderer.

He organized an armed robbery held a gun to the store managers head, and callously doled out the proceeds of the robbery.

Once Douglas battle an Army veteran, was dead, end quote, back here to the statehouse, where the Alabama legislature met for the 20th day of this 2026 regular session.

We'll start in the House, which took up legislation that would mandate the Pledge of Allegianc be observed in public schools, and then an hour be set aside for students to participate in prayer.

House Bill 511 from State Representative Reed Ingram of Pike Road, is a constitutional amendment that will require that would require a vote of the people on the House floor.

Ingram fielde many questions from colleagues.

So we worked on this bill for two years.

This is nothing that's new.

We've been trying to get this prayer back in school.

Like I say, we actually bee working on it for three years.

Brought a bill last year.

Brought a bill this year.

I wasn't satisfied with it last year, so I didn't, pursue it.

I think it needed more work and needed more input.

We had, both sides of the aisle, as you saw, we had Republicans and Democrats that brought amendments, some that passed, some that didn't, wasn't friendly amendments and they didn't pass.

I just wanted to make sure that, religion or even prayer was not mandated in schools.

I just believe, to follow Christ, that whosoever will.

And so I do believe that the essence or even, the opportunity for prayer to be in schools is so important.

It's one of the characteristics and one of the elements that is missing within our school system or within our homes and communities on today.

The bill ultimately passed 9 to 3 and now goes to the Senate.

And I'll be talking in mor depth about this bill with Mr.

Ingram later in the show.

The House also took u legislation that would broaden what's considered doxing under state law.

Doxing is the act of finding private or identifying information about someone and then posting it online with malicious intent.

House Bill 106 from State Representative Donna Givens of Loxley, would take out the part of a 2023 law that requires the victim to actually be harassed.

House Bill 106 is protecting Alabamians from online harassment known as doxing.

This bill is to further clarify the law that we have and to make the punishments more significant.

At the end of the day, we are still humans, right?

And we do have there is a level of respec that should be shown to anybody.

But in the last few years, as we run for elected office, people think they can come to our homes.

They think tha they can harass our loved ones.

They can come up with any type of graphic that depicts this and that.

I understand, and I understood the assignmen when I ran for elected office.

I'm a tough cookie.

It takes a lot to correct me.

A whole lot.

Not even a threat here on this chamber floor can have an impact on me.

I ain't never scared.

But I do believe that there is a process that needs to be adhered to.

That bill passed unanimously and now goes to the Senate.

On to the Senate, where the general fund budget got its first movement today.

Lawmakers on the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee met to conside changes to the original budget submitted by Governor Ive at the beginning of the session.

So let's wal through some of those changes.

This is what passed through committee today versus what the governor originally proposed.

The total general fund would be $3.688 billion.

That's an increase of 37 million over the governor's proposal.

Now, looking at some of the bigger agencies in the general fund, Alabama medicai would be funded at 1.79 billion.

That's no difference from the governor's budget.

The Department of Corrections would get 867 million, an increase of 400,000.

Mental health would get 240 million.

That's a decrease of 2.9 million from the governor's budget.

The Alabama Unified Judicial System would get 189 million, an increase of 5,000,100 and 156 million for the put for Department of Public Health, which is an increase of 2.6 million.

Aliya would be funded at 143 million, a $200,000 increase.

A Deca would get 46.7 million.

That's a $7.3 million plus up.

And the Department of Commerce would get 17.8 million.

That's 3.4 million over what the governor proposed.

State Senator Greg Albritton who chairs the committee, said some agencie didn't get what they asked for, but they still can.

If they respond to the committee's reporting requirements.

The agencies hav to show that they've done this or gotten to a particular point, a particular item before they get all of their money.

Now, all of those are geared toward of course, this doesn't come into effect until October 1st, and they'll get the we're not taking a whole bit, but they have to get some wa so they'll have more than a year to get to those atoms that we've stipulated.

Plenty of opportunities to get to the point where they need to be to get all these funds.

The only way we can control government is through the use of money, and that's what we're intending to do, to make sure that all the government free remains accountable to our taxpayers.

And that general fund budget could be on the Senate floor as soon as this week.

There' been another bump in the road.

In the complicated effort to resolve, there's a dispute over how Alabama distributes revenue from its online sales tax.

Last week, Senator Albritton announced what he called a good faith compromise between cities and counties to update the population counts used to divide.

That's simplified.

Sellers used tax from ever ten years to every five years.

But over the weekend, All Britain said some municipalities and lawmakers raised concerns that cities losing population could also lose revenue because of those worries.

All Britain carried the bill over today and plans to hold a public hearing next week.

We'r taking this one step at a time and trying to find our way to where we can possibly get to a solution, and there's not going to be an easy solution, but we're going to have to tak and have an open public hearing on recognitio of what the county actually does and the recognition that if we do this bill, that same effect will take effect sooner, but it's still going to take effect.

So are we willing to accept the point that we change it now or we don't change it, but we still got the problem or the issue that we've got to resolve, and how we're going to do that is simply another, complication in our society that we have.

And then we've got to deal with.

Another development today on the issue of energy affordability.

As he said he would hea on Capitol Journal a few weeks back.

Senate President Pro Tem Garland Gudger today announced new legislation aimed at reformin the Public Service Commission.

That's the body charge with overseeing public utilities like the power and gas companies.

What he's calling the power to the People Act.

The legislation would add four seats to the PSC, bringing the total of to seven members.

In all, those would be elected by congressional district, similar to the state school board.

It would also prohibit any energy rate increases for three years and it would create a cabinet level Secretary of Energy position that would oversee administrative functions of the commission, Guterres said in a press release.

Quote, by given Alabama citizens even more power and a louder voice in the operations of the Public Service Commission, we can make energy rates more affordable and ensure that a conservative pro-Trump Republican majority controls the PSC for years to come.

In, quote, Congressman Shomari figures was in the capital city today announcing new federal fundin meant to better connect Maxwell Air Force Base to Interstate 65 and downtown Montgomery.

Figures, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, joined Montgomery Mayor Stephen Reed for the announcement.

I'm proud to announce over $3 million that we've secured for the Montgomery region, specifically $2 million for the Alabama Capital Maxwell Gateway Project and 1.65 million for the Montgomery Regional Tech and Innovation ecosystem.

Just.

The funding for the long awaited gateway project will be used to address critical infrastructure needs and upgrades along I-65 to improve mobility and accessibility along the corridor, and ultimately to Maxwell Air Force Base.

In addition, this funding will kickstart our future growth in the area, including the development of workforce housing options to support military families and residents.

The funding for the Regional Tech initiative is a game changer.

It will be used to boost workforce development efforts across Montgomery and surrounding areas.

We all know that here in central Bama, we need a strong pipeline of skilled labor, especially in tech in emerging field sectors.

Investments in initiatives like this one will hel strengthen the talent pipeline and help ensure the region is ready for industry growth.

Turning now to Washington, where U.S.

Senator Katie Britt today accused he Democratic colleagues of playing politics with Department of Homeland Security funding.

That agency is still i a funding lapse, as Democrats in the Senate have blocked a funding package for moving forward, demanding that certain immigratio enforcement policies be changed.

Britt chairs the committee overseeing that funding, and she said Democrats have yet to come to the negotiating table.

We have seen what's happening across our country.

We also know that there is the ability to have increased threats and the agency whether it be coast Guard, TSA, Cisa, Secret Service, CBP and Ice have gone unfunded.

This is reckless and it's disingenuous.

Here they are telling you they want to see reforms, but I am here to tell you tha they have not come to the table.

Despite countless offers, to sit down and try to find a pathway forward.

They will not even have a conversation with us.

So you are 38, 39 days past when we decided this pathway forward and agreed to them to work on this, and they have not sat down one time.

Folks, that means that this is all about politics.

It was never about people.

We'll take a quick break and be back with tonight's guest, State representative Reed Ingram.

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 on Capital Journal's Facebook page.

Alabama's Gulf Coast is renowned for its white sand beaches bordering the Gulf of Mexico.

It is an important part of the quality of life for many of the state' citizens, and one of the state's greatest economic and environmental assets.

The white, sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Dauphin Island are popular vacation destinations for Alabamians and out-of-state tourists.

The fine quality of the san and gentleness of the surf make for some of the prettiest beaches in the world, and are the top tourist destination in the state.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is State Representative Reed Ingram from Pike Road Representative thanks for coming on the show.

Hey, thank you for having me.

Absolutely.

Well, you've got a big piece of legislation being considered today.

House Bill 511 has to do with requiring the pledge, but also prayer in public schools.

It's a constitutional amendment.

That's right.

There have been different iterations of this bill.

So I was hoping you would explain exactly what this one does.

And so I'm going to explain what the bill is going to finish up.

We've got a couple of amendments coming.

We work with the superintendents on also Eric Mackey, who's had some input.

And we've just listened to the people, you know, not only just the people that are connected to the politics, but the people in the in the regular citizens on both sides of the aisle.

So what we've come up with is it's already a law now that the school are supposed to do the pledge.

That's somethin that the speaker passed in 2015.

It just never had any teeth in it.

So it never was really, you know, concrete.

And so they would say estimated maybe 25% of the schools are not doing the pledge in the classroom.

So that's problematic to me.

It's a public classroom.

It's with, government dollars.

And I think that that needs to be always need to be, part of starting a day, just like it was when I started you know, when I was in school, we just said the pledge and we said the prayer.

And I think that, you know getting back to the prayer part, we supplement meals i the classrooms, in the schools because the students don' have that opportunity at home.

And I related the prayer to that same way.

We need to be able to have these students to integrate with kids that know that their faith, strong faith, and maybe have an influence on them.

And I think that the prayer would be a positive impact.

A lot of parents don't have time to take their kids to to school.

I mean, to, to church.

And a lot of times the parents don't have time to pray with them or don't aren't believers.

But you know, this school, this country was built on and God we trust.

And when we founded this country, it's always been a priority.

And as we g through our meetings every day here at the state House, we I don't open a meeting up without a prayer.

The speaker didn't.

None of the leadership does.

We pray before we vote on any bills.

And I just think that, you know kids at that age are learning, so much, whether it b the wrong way or the right way.

And I think it's something positive.

But back in the classroom, we've got so much mental health these days.

And this is a non-denominational prayer, and it would be on a, on a, on a volunteer basis for the student.

I'm sorry to be a for the student.

And it would be, you know, if they wanted to pray pray a prayer of Jewish prayer.

That's fine.

They wanted a prayer, prayer.

Christian prayer.

That's fine.

So it's led by the students, not over the intercom.

It's not anything that's going to be, put out, you know, falsely.

So if they don't want to be in the classroom, they don't have to be in the classroom.

They can step out of the classroom.

And that's what this bill does.

I think the nondenominational part is really important, because sounds lik you're not pushing a specific, you know, sect or religion.

But is it the state's place, like you mentioned, school breakfast and everything.

And that has been a thing.

Hey, should we fund this because they're not going to get it home.

Right?

And certainly a lot of folks, there's a funding bill this session talked about, hey, let's make up the difference.

So the kids aren't hungry.

I mean, I thin you've got a great point about, the benefits of spirituality and everything, but is it the state's place to require that prayer?

So it's not the state's place, it' the students that want to lead.

So if there's a student in there that wants to stand up and say the play, I mean the prayer, then that's the time to do it.

We're not mandat and it's done in the classroom.

We're mandating we're giving the child the opportunity to stand up.

We're not mandating it.

It must be done.

Okay.

We're mandating that the child has the right to do it.

We're not letting, doing anything against th people of the state of Alabama.

This is going to be a referendum.

Let the people vote on it.

You know, we're not.

I was going to ask you about that because you you mentioned the pledge is already required under law, right?

Is that why you're going the extra step to a constitutional amendment, voted on by the people?

That's correct.

Okay.

Because otherwise you could just pass another law, I suppose.

Right.

So this this is a pledge and a prayer bill.

And so it'll be a mandated law that the student has a right to be able to stand up and pray.

And that other student they didn't want to here has a right to step out of the classroom.

Okay.

What about the penalties?

I know that that was debated in committee quite a bi because it took in real money.

It's the 25% if they don't comply.

Talk about what that means.

I know originally it was if I'm a school board and I don't, I choose not to vote on this policy.

Then I up to 25% of my budget could be I guess, cut back by the state.

What other noncompliance.

So I put that in the bill to negotiate.

And we did negotiated over the weekend.

We got the superintendents, with the superintendent association.

We had words with Eric Mackey discuss that.

And, you know, if this goes into law, it'll be the law, and then that teacher will be dealt with if it's not the opportunity.

So we've pulled all of that out of the bill.

So there's no clawback at all.

Home dollars taking it out of the classroom.

Well, I would imagine that to, you know, that you hear from school groups superintendents, school boards.

I'm sure that was the real it was a real rub.

Okay.

So no, no penalties.

No, no penalties.

The only thing is, if it's if it's a law and that's not being taken care of, then that superintendent would deal with that teacher or that principal would be dealt with with the superintendent from a personnel.

That's right.

Well, this bill's moving.

I think it has great chance of passing this year.

Before I get let you go, I wanted to ask you about snap Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps.

Right.

You and your colleague Arthur Moore in the Senate have simila but not identical legislation.

That's right.

Essentially, restricting what can be paid for under that Snap program.

Right now, you would argue that it's way too inclusive of the strings like candy.

So luxury items.

So what does your bill do?

And does this issue have a chance this year?

So to answer your question, yes it does.

And I don't kno if it's going to have a chance as deep as my original bil that was pre filed in the fall.

But if I had my way, it would be to where, you know, nobody could be able to buy a luxury item with taxpayers dollars.

This is a supplement for health, and it's not what is intended to not to buy a Coca Cola candy bar or a pack of chewing gum.

That's not nutrition at all.

There's no nutrition in any of that whatsoever that needs to be taken out, and people need to have a healthier choice.

You know, we have such a food deserts with with, produce and healthier foods in the black belt and some of the unruly, some of the rural areas that aren't so populated that a lot of your dollar generals aren't handling any of the healthy food, or not much of the healthy food, like sweet potatoes and perishable stuff, produce and fruit because there's no need for them to handle it.

Because they're selling Coca-Cola's, they're selling TV dinners, they're selling this or selling that.

And I think that, you know, we have found out on this mission that we're the thir unhealthiest state in the Union.

We've also found we're the third worst live speakeasy in the Union.

We also found out that we'r in next to Mississippi, as usual with just decimals.

So our life specs, if we're white, is 73 and if we're nonwhite, it's a lot less.

And so we've got to help the people to make healthier choices.

We've got to educate them to instead of buying that Coca Cola to buy a banana or buy some produce.

So I think, to answer your question, yes, it's a must that we do this.

Yeah, I think there's mor momentum behind it than before.

I hear from the other sid though, saying, hey, why should you know those who are on snap who use food stamps have any other different experience in the grocery store than anybody else.

You know, they're they're buying the same products that anybody else would buy.

They're just paying for it a little differently.

How do you answer those?

Well, this was intended, you know, of course, when it was, was, food stamps, it was more for a healthier choice.

And it's gotten loosened up and loosened up and loosened up over the years.

We got to get back to the healthy food.

It's a luxury item to buy a Coca-Cola.

It's a luxury item to buy a candy bar or a pack of chewing gum.

That's not a necessity to survive.

I do think that ought to be loosened up a little bit to be able to buy heated up meals like, you know, a chicken that's already cooked in his heart.

And you can go home or si wherever you sit, don't tailgate or your car, truck or whatever and eat it.

If it's something that during work hours that you need something to eat.

But I think that as far as overall, we've got to cut out the parts that have high fructose corn sirup, start with sugar and all that stuff, because we're the we're one of the most unhealthiest states in the union in obesity and and diabetes or we're we're at the top of the list in the union.

Okay.

To really, key bills as we get toward the end of the session here.

We'll be watching them.

And I appreciate your time coming to explain.

Hey, thank you for having me Thank you for this great show.

Well, thank you, Todd.

We'll be right back.

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The USS Alabama is a World War Two era battleship that first served in the Atlantic theater, but was better known for helping to take Japanese held islands in the Pacific between 1943 and 1945.

During the battle of the Philippine Sea, the Alabama State of the Art radar alerted the fleet to incoming aircraft, providing the American enough time to scramble fighters and decimate the attacking force.

Later, the Alabama serve during the Battle of Lady Gulf and anchored in Tokyo Bay t unload Allied occupation forces.

In 1964, the state of Alabama took possession of the battleship Alabama.

School children raised $100,000 in nickels and dimes to help bring the ship to mobile an create battleship memorial Park.

The park features the Alabama, the World War II era submarine USS Strom, and an American military aircraft collection battleship memorial Park as one of the state's most visited attractions.

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

aptv.org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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

That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

We'll be back tomorrow night with more coverage of the Alabama Legislature here on APT for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacy.

We'll see you next time.