Politics Archive

One year ago, the “Week One” issue of Capitol Notes for the 2015 Regular Session began as follows: “Alabama’s Legislature began its 2015 Regular Session last Tuesday at noon. By the end of the week, two things were crystal clear: Alabama’s budget problem is ...Read More

The Alabama Legislature began its second special session of 2015 last Tuesday. Gov. Bentley was forced to call the session because next year’s State General Fund budget, which funds all non-educational expenses, has yet to be enacted. Legislators must pass a budget for fiscal ...Read More

The Alabama Legislature’s 2015 Regular Session ended on June 4, when the House and Senate decided to close the session on its 29th legislative day. By all accounts, the session ended too early – not only could legislators have met for an additional legislative ...Read More

In Latin, the phrase “sine die” literally means “without day.” Normally, when the Alabama Legislature adjourns, it returns the following day or the following week for the next legislative day. But when the Legislature adjourns “sine die,” the session is over and the legislative ...Read More

With six legislative days remaining in this year’s session, next year’s General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets are taking center stage at the State House. The FY 2016 Education Trust Fund budget, which appropriates nearly $6 billion in state funds, passed the House ...Read More

Next year’s General Fund budget took the first step of its legislative journey last week as the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee favorably reported a substitute version of House Bill 135. Sponsored by committee chairman Rep. Steve Clouse (R-Ozark), the bill appropriates ...Read More

By the end of this week, the 2015 session will be two-thirds complete. Though there are numerous bills that have yet to gain momentum in the Legislature, none are more important than the State General Fund (SGF) budget for the next fiscal year. The ...Read More