Alabama Politics
Legislative Update
By Murray Edwards
Ivey delivers State of the State address
Gov. Kay Ivey’s 2025 State of the State address highlighted education and public safety as top priorities. She praised Alabama students’ achievements in reading and math, urging continued support for programs like the CHOOSE Act and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Ivey also announced plans to introduce bills focused on supporting law enforcement, combating crime, and implementing smart crime reforms.
Gudger unanimously elected Senate Pro Tem
Sen. Garlan Gudger (Cullman) was unanimously elected as Senate Pro Tem by the Alabama Senate on Tuesday. His wife, Heather, and their sons, Trip and Pierce, joined him during the swearing-in.
Gudger makes committee appointments
Sen. Pro Tem Garlan Gudger announced senate committee appointments during his first week in the role. Sen. Lance Bell (Riverside) is now chair of the Senate’s Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee; a position previously held by Gudger. Bell, elected to the Senate in 2022, is a practicing attorney. Additional changes announced include:
Keith Kelley (Calhoun County, Talladega County) – Finance and Taxation Education Committee
Josh Carnley (Coffee County, Covington County, Dale County, Pike County) – Confirmations Committee
Wes Kitchens (Blount County, Madison County, Marshall County) – Education Policy Committee
Jay Hovey (Lee County, Russell County, Tallapoosa County) – Tourism Committee
Legislation of Interest
Representative Ed Oliver (R-Tallapoosa) introduced House Bill 29. It mandates increasing job search requirements for unemployment claimants from 3 to 5 times weekly.
Representative Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) introduced House Bill 240, known as the Competitive Edge NIL Tax Cut Act, on Tuesday. This legislation seeks to exempt compensation earned by student-athletes for the use of their name, image, and likeness (NIL) from the state’s individual income tax.
State Senator Will Barfoot, (R-Montgomery), has introduced Senate Bill 119 that aims to expand the list of individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm in Alabama to include those convicted of any felony offense. Current law in Alabama prohibits firearm possession for individuals convicted of a violent crime, a misdemeanor domestic violence offense, or a violent offense. Additionally, those subject to a valid protection order for domestic abuse or deemed of unsound mind are also barred from possessing firearms, according to the bill’s text.
Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Morgan County), has introduced House Bill 246 banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity as well as changes to how students can use pronouns or change names. introduced by prohibits employees of public K-12 schools and colleges “from using names or pronouns inconsistent with a student’s legal name or biological sex without written permission from the student’s parent or guardian.”
Senator. April Weaver, (R-Brierfield), introduced Senate Bill 79, What is a woman bill. The bill passed in the Senate and was carried by Representative Susan Dubose in the House where it was passed on a vote of 77-12 with all no votes coming from Democratic representatives. The bill has been signed by Governor Ivey
Hot Issue
One of the most discussed issues during the first weeks of the 2025 Legislative session is the subject of addressing the Pharmacy Benefit Manager situation here in Alabama. Independent Pharmacies have been affected greatly by the processes and procedures that have been established by the PBM, to the point that many independent pharmacies are to the point of shutting their doors and others struggling to stay viable.
There are two bills being proposed to address the situation.
State Senator Larry Stutts (R-SD6-Colbert County, Franklin County, Lawrence County), seeks to curb the overreaching demands by PBMs. These organizations act as intermediaries between health insurers, pharmaceutical companies and consumers. According to Stutts, his Senate Bill 99 would remedy the PBM arrangement that threatens independent pharmacies.
State Senator Andrew Jones (R-SD10- Cherokee County, DeKalb County, Etowah County) has introduced Senate Bill 93. Jones argues that legislation is needed to address “unchecked” PBM practices affecting independent pharmacies. He states that SB 93 will mandate fair payments, which cannot be charged to patients. The bill also allows pharmacists to reject unprofitable prescriptions and have honest talks with patients.
Both bills have their proponents and opponents and both bills will be discussed in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Wednesday February 19th at 9:30AM in Room 320. It can be expected that discussions on these two bills will get heated as groups working to resolve this matter to the lobbyist for the PBMs wanting to keep the status-quo in place, will be pleading their case.
Here’s a comparison of the details between SB99 and SB93.
If you aren’t familiar with the issues being faced by the Independent Pharmacies across the state, please listen the following podcast:
Alabama Independent Pharmacies PBM Challenges
Hometown Pharmacies in Peril
Other news
State Rep. Randall Shedd to resign House seat to work for Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger.
Autaugaville High School will close at the end of the school year, confirmed by the Autauga County School Board. The board voted unanimously for the closure. The school’s latest state report card score was 59, its lowest ever.
Alabama lawmakers are considering borrowing an additional $500 million for prison construction after the cost of the state’s new large-scale prison increased to over $1 billion, affecting plans to build a second similar facility.
Multiple sources have confirmed that discussions are taking place between the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI) and lawmakers in the Alabama Senate regarding potential gambling expansion during the current legislative session. Although specific details of any proposed gambling legislation are not yet available, sources have verified that there are ongoing talks aimed at developing such legislation this year, following an unsuccessful attempt by lawmakers last year. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter noted that any gambling bill from the Senate must align with what the House approved last year for it to be considered, amid rumors of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians advocating for a gambling bill in the Senate.
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