Alabama House

Alabama will soon join the states that have banned or restricted the presence of cellphones in schools. The Alabama Senate voted 30-2 for the bill to prohibit students in K-12 public schools from using phones during the school day.

Alabama lawmakers advanced legislation that would allow local law enforcement to enforce immigration law, as conservative legislators push for increased alignment with the federal government's crackdown on immigration. The bill was dubbed "Laken Riley Act," named after the 22-year-old Augusta University student who was killed last year in Georgia by an undocumented immigrant.

Alabama lawmakers are working on a bill that could bring more doctors to rural parts of the state. The measure would extend tax credits for physicians who practice in rural Alabama. It would eliminate earlier wording that denied that tax break to doctors who live outside the community they serve.

A bill moving through the state legislature could give the governor the power to appoint the head of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. The move comes after a public feud between the Gov. Kay Ivey and the former commissioner.

Gov. Kay Ivey’s special election date for House District 52, which covers parts of Jefferson County, is happening Tuesday, June 18. The seat was previously held by Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, whose resignation was effective back in March.

The Alabama Senate advanced legislation aimed at strengthening the state's weak open records law by setting deadlines to respond to requests to view public documents.

The longest-serving member of the Alabama House of Representatives, has resigned from the Legislature after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges. John Rogers will be sentenced on July 26

The Alabama Senate on Thursday began debating scaled-back gambling legislation. The proposal would authorize a state lottery and allow a type of electronic gambling machine at dog tracks and a few other sites around the state.

Alabama lawmakers have advanced legislation aimed at prohibiting universities, schools and public entities from maintaining diversity and inclusion offices or funding initiatives that teach what Republicans labeled as "divisive concepts."

Legislation that reduces the independence of public library boards in Alabama could be debated this week. The state legislature convenes on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Republican Senator Chris Elliott’s SB10 has already passed the Alabama Senate and now goes before the Alabama House.