The annual meeting of theSouthern Legislative Conference kicks off Saturday in Mobile.
AL.com reports (http://bit.ly/13jEDsu ) the four-day conference includes state lawmakers from across the South and is expected to draw more than 1,000 people to the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. Policy discussions on economic development, agriculture, energy and other issues are planned.
Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is chairman of the Atlanta-based organization, which includes the presiding officers and key legislators from 15 southern states.
Hubbard says the bipartisan event could have a $1.8 million impact on the local economy.
Founded in 1947, the Southern Legislative Conference is the largest of four regional legislative groups operating under the Council of State Governments.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.