Get the Daily News Digest in your inbox each morning. Sign Up

First week of session kicks off with budget hearings Monday

The 2024 legislative session starts Tuesday, but action begins today with a busy budget hearing agenda that starts at 10 a.m. today.

Agency leaders will make their 2025 budget requests and likely get questions from lawmakers about current spending and programs.

You can read our legislative preview story published Sunday here

Today

  • 10 a.m. – Cam Ward, director, Bureau of Pardons and Paroles.
  • 10:30 a.m. – Hal Taylor, secretary, Law Enforcement Agency
  • 11 a.m. – John Hamm, commissioner, Department of Corrections
  • 1:30 p.m. – Nancy Buckner, commissioner, Department of Human Resources
  • 2 p.m. – Kim Boswell, Commissioner, Department of Mental Health
  • 2:30 p.m. – Stephanie Azar, Commissioner, Alabama Medicaid Agency

 

Tuesday

  • 9:30 a.m. – Kirk Fulford, legislative fiscal officer, Legislative Services Agency
  • 10:15 a.m. – Bill Poole, finance director, Department of Finance
  • 1:30 p.m. – Jimmy Baker, chancellor, Community College System
  • 2 p.m. – Jim Purcell, executive director, Commission on Higher Education
  • 2:30 p.m. – Eric Mackey, state superintendent of education, Department of Education;
  • Logan Searcy, Alabama Public Charter School Commission

 

The Senate gavels in at noon Tuesday; the House at 2 p.m.

Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to roll out Tuesday during her state of the state address one of her big priorities for the session: a school choice bill. 

“I remain dedicated to ensuring that every child in Alabama has access to a quality education that meets their unique needs,” Ivey said in a recent statement. “This legislative session promises to be both eventful and successful. I look forward to working with our Legislature to ensure a bright outlook for Alabama today and tomorrow.

The annual address begins at 6 p.m. You can watch it on Alabama Public Television, where coverage begins at 5:30 p.m.

Our preview story highlighted some priority issues for the GOP supermajority, including the “ballot harvesting” bill. It’s on the agenda Wednesday in the Senate State Government Committee, as is legislation to reorganize and reappoint the Board of Trustees of the Department of Archives and History.

See you at the State House.

Get the Daily News Digest in your inbox each morning.

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Web Development By Infomedia