From the Alabama Public Television Studios at the statehouse.

I'm randy Scott.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

Tom Stacey has the night off.

Comin up, a look at some action today involving the ongoing Public Service Commission discussion and more reaction to both budgets moving through the House and the Senate.

But first, House and Senate majority leaders met with citizen for the weekly Business Council of Alabama's legislative breakfast.

The topics covered the legislative session and what lawmakers see.

Now that it's reached its halfway point.

Senator Stev Livingston and House, his House counterpart, Representative Paul Lee, are up to mystic, with the session's progress.

We'd like to pass the budget and go home.

There are some other issues out there we're working on.

Obviously, the cam safety bill is a high priority.

Some folks are there, but there's still some other issues out there.

We got to work on representing Lee.

Obviously getting the budget passed.

That's the one thing that we're required to do and we're working on that diligently.

Represent Lomax has a bill that deals with overtime pay.

We're trying to align that with the federal laws where there's $1,000.

Basically, it puts people, puts $1,000 in their pocket with any overtime.

And so that's important.

And then we are adding another $150 million to our technical arena where there's more opportunity for those guys that are teaching in the tech area to, let's get some people qualified and capable of the jobs that we're expecting and already see coming into the state.

the work day started early for lawmakers with meetings for House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee.

Meeting featured a discussion for a measure which seeks to require party registration for voters to take par in primaries or primary runoffs.

House Bill 541 is sponsored b Representative Ernie Yarborough.

I think it's really important to clarify, first of all, that there is it's a it's a it's a complete misnomer that this bill in any way disenfranchizes any voter whatsoever.

You pick your primary, you want to vote in, everybody votes in the general.

And what the bill does is i gives transparency and clarity so that if I'm a Republican or I'm a Democrat and I go to vote in my primary I know that what I'm voting for is an accurate representation of the platform that I'm supporting.

The bill itself doesn't actually stop crossover voting.

It just changes the timeline.

So really, this is political rhetoric.

And again, electioneering that creates a solution that does not have a problem.

A bill aimed at cutting energy costs for Alabama farmers is drawing both suppor and concern at the state House.

Senate Bill 159, sponsored by State Senator Jacqui Holmes of Willmar, would exempt certain agricultural operations, including poultry houses, irrigation systems and greenhouses from the state utility taxes.

Supporters say the measure provides targeted relief for farmers, raising rising input costs and tightening margins, especially in key sectors like poultry and row crops.

But some lawmakers are questioning where to draw the line warning.

They're expanding tax exemptions to broadly could have too much lon term impacts on state revenue.

But I'm concerned about where does this stop.

We want to help farmers.

But when the farm things come up about farm, anything that says farm, you can just start with the FHA and there's okay, let's go to tax exempt.

I think w I think we need to be cautious.

The public doesn't realize how, tight agriculture is right now.

Cotton, you're operating at a loss.

Peanuts.

In this state, you're probably going to be operating at a loss this year.

Most things have gotten really, really tight.

This is one of the things that we can do to help production agriculture.

Our chicken industry is, really, poultry industry is struggling so hard to stay afloat as our other farmers are.

I don't think people realize that we've lost 8% of our farmed state, Alabama, in the last two years.

The bill eventually passed by a vote of 29 to 1 and now heads to the House for consideration.

Citizens and lawmakers monitoring this legislative session know the timing is of the essence.

About seven days are left in this regular session and among the top of their to do list, past both education and general fund budgets.

Speaker of the Hous Nathaniel Ledbetter is confident they will succeed.

I thin it's been a successful session.

I think we signed that today.

We could be happy with what we've accomplished.

Certainly if you look at the conference in this quadrennial, it's quite amazing.

I've never been involved in quadrennial.

What we might impact fo legislation as much as this one, you know, with the budget budgets being what they are, what the tax cuts over a billion and a half dollars are tax relief to to the taxpaying citizens.

And, you know, all the bills that we passed with the prior protect is a big deal for me.

I think even kids opportunity to have a pathway so they can be successful is big.

I mean, I think, you know, we'll do a list after this session, but it's amazing.

I mean, the body's done a tremendous job, and and I can't applaud them enough for the work they're doing.

I mean, we got a few bills we need.

We got some things we need to tie up.

You know, we passed ou the law enforcement scholarship, last week here.

And I talked to the pro tem Tuesday, and I want to get out of the Senate.

If you remember, last year we passed it down here and it didn't get out.

The Senate kind of got caught up in the logjam at the end of the session.

So I want to see that one get out.

And I know they've got 2 or 3.

They want to get out.

So I think now once we get these budgets done, it's just that those loose ends coming up next, tonight's guest House Minority leader Representative Anthony Daniel and Representative Mark Gately.

Stay tuned.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers with access to free, curriculum aligned videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Media and all the PBS kids programs, parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

Tuscumbia native Helen Keller is popularly remembered as the deaf and blind child who learned sign language from her teacher and Sullivan at the Keller home.

Ivy Green.

But during her adult life, she was a tireless activist on behalf of workers and women's rights.

A prolific author and an unofficial U.S.

ambassador to the world, he most famous publication is her bestselling 1903 autobiography, The Story of My Life.

Through her work with the American Foundation for the blind, Keller advocated for broadened educational and employmen possibilities for blind people, and the State Departmen funded her international travel and advocacy of people with disabilities.

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson awarded her the Congressional Medal of Freedom.

A bronze statue depicting a young Helen Kelle represents Alabama in the U.S.

Capitol, and she is featured on our State Quarter.

We've officially reache the halfway mark of this year's regular legislative session, and it's been a busy one for legislators both in the Senate and out i the lower chamber in the House.

Now, joining me to talk about that from his perspective is Hous Minority Leader Representative Anthony Daniels from Huntsville.

Representative, good to see you again.

Good to see you too, Renee.

So it's been a busy first half of the session for you guys.

How busy has it been and what been some of the highlights.

And we'll get to one big one that you, you guys just took care of in just a moment.

But what are some of the highlights so far, sir?

Well, this has been a extremely, fast paced session.

You know there are a number of three day work weeks that we've had.

You know, I don't think the public really know that we go in on a Tuesday.

We do committee on Wednesday and then we go back in to deal with the business of the House, as we did on Tuesday.

On Thursday, with this year, there have been Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday work sessions in addition to the actual, committee meetings.

And so this is been a pretty fast paced session.

A lot of, got done, gotten done.

A lot of things are, still being debated.

And so we're just we're just trying to, focus on what we are sent here to do is, which is budgets.

And that's really what our sole responsibilities are as a legislator.

And when you say sole responsibility is legal, this is what you all supposed to do, both the Education Trust Fund budget and the general fund budget.

Absolutely.

That's, that's that's a requirement by law is that we pass budgets.

And so all the other things are just, you know, business that we, we, we really need to handle for from a state perspective, making the adjustment, passing other laws, making modifications to laws, updating laws to fit today's time, or sometime being, responsive to, things that we may not have seen or those that those that have come before us have never seen.

And so, you know, it's been an interesting session.

Now, you mentioned and we've been talking about the importanc of getting those budgets done.

The House has the duty of starting discussion and debate on the Education Trust Fund budget.

This year.

And it actually reached the House floor a couple of days ago.

Did it not, sir?

Absolutely.

And so this is a record year again, from a revenue standpoint, from the education Trust Fund budget.

There are a lot of growing priorities.

You know, you see a lot of the issues that are impacting, various communities, whether it's our public sector employees, our retired, employees, whether it's public sector, or in education.

And so whatever, whether it's state employees or education employees.

And so the RSA members have been, certainly there have been a huge, surprise, with regards to the health care.

And so we were able to put money in the budget for that, I think will satisfy, RSA, that we're making investments in to, to really cover some of the liability, fro a health insurance standpoint, there are some other things that a lot of our retired educators are push for, to try to be able to get some additional money for our retired educators.

We'll see what happens in the Senate.

They'll be dealing with their dealing with the budget now.

And so we'll see what movement, they make.

On the budget.

We'll be keeping a close eye on that.

You mentioned is a record setting budget 10.5 billion, as the governor would say, billion with a B budget for the education trust fund.

Absolutely.

And that's a lot of money.

And but you have to understand that, since Covid, the goods of, of services, products and services have increased tremendously.

So the value of that dollar before is less value, that same dollars less valuable now.

And so you need $2 where it is, before Covid you need one.

And so there are a lot of growing liabilities that exist within our budget.

From the K to 12 system all the way to through our it.

And so, there are a lot of, demands.

There are a lot of increasing calls and a lot of different things.

And so we have to be responsive to that.

And having more money, means that, you know you have more liability as well.

Now, this is something you, as a member of the education task force, I'm sorry, the education trust fund and also the education policy committee are.

Absolutely.

And this is something that you all are keeping watch on because as we go through time, that money that you have to deal with is getting a little bit tighter year by year by year, is it not, sir?

It actually is.

Because when you, you know, we can look at the price of eggs where before 2020 and look at the price of eggs today.

And so whereas it ma have cost you a couple dollars or a dollar and something for, for that, for, for that, you know, cart of egg and then now it cost you like 3 or 4 times that amount.

And so I think that we have to understand that, while your budget has is a record setting budget, but you also have to understand that if the same items that you bought before cost more, then we want to make certain that we're not reducing your ability to use the funding that we give you.

We want you to be able to use it at the same level, or even be able to make more investments to, to, to then in turn, increase what your returns are and so put you in a better position and whether it's K-12 an whether it's higher education, or community college.

And so I think that for us to, for years in the community colleges, that's where the workforce, development piece is and is very important.

And so we have the a we are recruiting more industry, we have to make certain that we have the workforce to be able to take those jobs so that we're not making investments and putting incentive in industries with no employees.

And then the other piece is from a K through 12 standpoint.

We changed the funding model last year.

And in changing that funding model, that local district that did not have the local tax revenue to do as much for the school system we've made that we've created opportunity to give system that don't have the tax, local tax revenue, the ability to receive more money to do the things that need to be done in order to aggressively, attack, the, closing the achievemen gap, which is good for everyone.

Now, this is something that you, yourself and the speaker, Speake Ledbetter have been vocal about, helping to make sure that those career schools, those schools of choice for some students who want to go t nowadays are prepared for them because the workforce is going to be tremendously important for the state in the next couple of years, along with making sure that we stay ahead of our neighboring states in terms of having a viable workforce, you, the speaker, and several other lawmakers in the lower chamber have talked about just how important that is.

I think there's no questio that there's a unifying effort, around the need to ensure tha we are preparing the workforce for the jobs of not just today, but the jobs of tomorrow and making certain that there's some accountability.

We look at, you know, we want to make certain that, individuals are going to go into whether there's a university, or whether a certification program that we have a very competent workforce that's well trained to fulfill the jobs, because from an industry standpoint, they're looking at what is the education training?

What is the the education training, whether it's, K through 12 or whether it's community college or whether it's workforce training in general for those that, left high school after high school, decided that they didn't want to go to four years, 2 or 2 years due to.

But they wanted to go get some type of training to go into the workforce.

And so I think that there's no question that everyone in the legislature wants to see those things happen, because those are those are taxpayers for us.

There's a future taxpayers for us.

And so in order to to really grow as a state, you have to have a continuous pipeline of taxpayers.

Otherwise, our budget will start to see, take a hit.

And so in order to keep the function of government and keep government moving and keep us, put us in a position to get further appropriate, in the areas that we need to appropriate and to ensure that local counties and cities, and local governments, state and local county governmen as well, the state, we're able to do the the business of the people of Alabama.

Well, may you like continue to speed along.

Representative Anthon Daniels, House Minority Leader, thank you, sir, for joining Well, thank you for having me.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Captain.

General, we'll be right back.

From 1820 to 1826, Cahaba was the first capital of the state of Alabama.

The capital city was located at the convergence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers.

Because Governor William Wyatt Bibb had arranged for a free gift of land for that purpose from the federal government.

An ancient India earthwork was found on the site, so the governor reused it as a dramatic centerpiece for the town plan.

The sale of Lots and Cahaba built the state treasury for the new state and paid for the first state house.

Soon, the frontier capital had two newspapers numerous businesses, a theater, and nearly a thousand inhabitants.

Despite the loss of the capital to Tuscaloosa in 1826 as a county seat grew into one of the wealthiest communities in the nation and did not become a ghost tow until well after the Civil War.

Cahaba was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Today it is known as the Old Harbor Archeological Park.

As we said earlier, we've reached the halfway part of this 2026 regular session.

Joining me now to give his take on things is representative Mark Gidley from Gats and representative.

Yes.

Thank you.

Great to be here with you this afternoon.

Good to see you, sir.

Sir.

Well, the house just really over finished overtime with the education budget.

Correct.

Your thoughts on that?

Because it was a huge part of what you and the rest of your house mates have to do.

Both budgets.

Exactly.

Well, it is a huge part.

You know, we don't, you know that's one of the main reasons why we're here, actually, is to place the two budgets, the House budget to the general budget.

I mean, the education budget, the general budget.

And of course, we got the ATF through the House last week.

And, let me just say, first of all, I appreciate Representative Danny Garrett, the chairman of the ETF, budget, chair does a great job.

And their team does a great job overseeing the, the education budget and really, watching out for and taking care of the money that has been given, to you to the state for that purpose.

A couple of thing I'll point out, of course, it's impossible to to go through everything because I don't even hav that information in front of me.

But yet a couple of things I want to point out.

And that's number one.

We give a 2% raise again to teachers this year.

I think that is extremely important that we're continuing to fund our teachers, in a in a very powerful and good way, to keep good teachers there.

The raise act, something that was passed, I believe, last year that we passed that now gives additional money t our schools based on their need.

That was funded very well again this year as well.

I think that is another very important part of what we've done.

Now, of course, you know, there's money given to, special projects to different things.

One of the things that is really, I think so important is the money we allocate to our community colleges and to workforce development and to those entitie that are really getting there to where our, our, our, our young people especially with dual enrollment going into workforce development and those kind of things.

And of course, higher education, all of those things are so extremely important.

And, and I think our, our, chairman does a great job, our ATF Budge committee does a great job.

And I think we've placed a great, ETF budget for this year.

Utilizing the funds we have and also making sure that we're taking care of those funds so that we can continue to fund our education in a very good and responsible way.

So a great, great year and a great time.

And I think we passe a tremendous education budget, a record setting budget, if I may add, 2.5 billion, as the governor says, wouldn't it be billion dollar budget, the largest ever?

Yes, it is, and we're very blessed in Alabama.

And another thing that is so important is we're seeing good economic growth in Alabama.

Just, recently, just a week and a half ago, in my area up in the Gadsden, Alabama area.

Brand new plant is going to employ between 14 to 1500 people.

The mint corporation, they work in the auto industry locating all the old steel plant properties there in Gadsden is now been closed for 25 years.

These are great advancements.

And it's not only happening in Gadsde is happening across the state.

So and you know, we are approachin being the leading auto producer in the nation.

Alabama is a that is a that's tremendous because that says a lot about what we're doing with education.

With training our students and, people that are going to be future employees that many industry partners are looking at.

How we're handling our budget here.

And, of course, the people of Alabama.

That's the top of the list there is, we have some great people here.

We have great opportunities to pull from workforce here.

So I think companies are really looking at us and that is absolutely amazing.

So great things are here.

Great things.

I believe are ahead for Alabama, in many different ways, because yoursel and other members of the House, including the speaker, have made no bones.

You are really, really working toward getting the best workforce Alabama can have.

We understand that it starts really when the students are in school, maybe going back as far as school to see what they want to do and make sure those opportunities are there for them.

Absolutely.

College preparation is so important.

I know in our education we put a lot of emphasis on college readiness, which is extremely important.

And finding the pathway for those students.

So for those students, a pathway to higher education, to, to four year institutions and beyond that for different things.

But then some students are their path is is in the workforce.

It's in, industrial development and those kind of things, learning those trades and those skills that can be placed and some of these factors that are locating in Alabama.

Another important part of our education program that we have in Alabama is helping keep our students here in Alabama.

And by offering the great things we're offering through a workforce development, through our higher education, through the different policies that we put in place in the state of Alabama, and help the, you know, the our budget that is helping to fund these things.

We're helping to keep students here, keeping our workforce here.

They don't have to go somewhere else to look for things.

They're able to find it right here in Alabama.

And I think that is absolutely tremendous.

Says a lot for our legislature and for those that lead these different areas of our state, and of course, those who work in that education sector, that are training those students and getting them ready to go to work right here in Alabama.

Keeping it best and brightest here with that.

Absolutely, absolutely.

Yes.

Anything else that you've been keeping an eye on as we get ready to start the second half of this session, sir?

Well, just, we have a number of bills.

Let me share a couple of things quickly that I have.

I have the Ten Commandments.

Bill.

Also, bill, protecting our children from sexual exploitation.

We've got the.

I've got that bill that I'm carrying.

So what, those chaplains bil for our schools, watching that.

But, but I just think some good conservative things that we're doing here in the state, I could go over the list a number of things, but, but I really appreciate Alabama, appreciate where we stand for pro-life, pro-family, pro-life, religious freedom, all of those things that we stand for in Alabama that I think create the atmosphere for the growth we're experiencing.

So it's been a good session.

And, you know, like any other session, we have things we have to deal with.

But yet and when it's all said and done, Alabama normally always puts forth very good legislation that helps grow the state.

And I think the, the senator's the proof is in the pudding.

We're seeing that growth come.

So I appreciate our legislature and the hard work that we that we all put in here and the Alabama legislature.

Okay.

Well, welcome to the second half of this year's regular session.

Yes, sir.

Looking forward to it.

Thank you so very much.

Thank you so much for joining us.

We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And Capitol Journal.

We'll be right back.

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

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Located in the heart of Alabama's aerospace industry, the U.S.

Spac and Rocket Center in Huntsville is dedicated to the U.S.

space program.

The collection spanned the history of spaceflight from early 20th century rocketry pioneer Robert Goddard to present day.

The permanent collectio includes the Apollo 16 command module and one of the thre remaining Saturn five rockets.

Although the center is well known for its historical collections, it is perhaps better known as the home of the original Space Camp.

This world class educational program began in 1982 as an effort to encourage children to explore careers in mathematics, science, and technology.

Space camp provides children and adults alike with an opportunity to experience what it would be like to be an astronaut.

In historical monument to the U.S.

space program.

The U.S.

Space and Rocket Center continues to not only preserve artifacts and archives, but to inspire future exploration and explorers.

Alabama Public Television is your place for quality educational services.

Free professional development for educators and childcare providers with access to free, curriculum aligned videos, lesson plans and instructional resources with PBS Learning Media and all the PBS kids programs, parents know and trust.

Learn something new every da with Alabama Public Television.

Visit us at AP tv.org/education to learn more.

And that's going to do it fo this episode of Capital Journal.

Thank you for joining us, Todd.

Stacy will be back with you tomorrow night.

I'm Randi Scott from all of u here at the Alabama State House.

Thank you for watching.

Stay tuned and be safe.