MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama House of Representatives stepped back in history Wednesday morning by meeting in the Old House Chamber in the Alabama State Capitol.
The ceremonial session sets up lawmakers reelected in November to be the only House members to serve in three separate buildings – the Capitol, the current State House and the soon-to-be-finished new State House.
This was the first time official legislative action took place in the Capitol since 2009, when flooding at the State House forced lawmakers across Union Street to the historic chambers to conduct business the old fashioned way.
Before 1985, the Legislature conducted business in the Capitol alongside the governor and other constitutional officers.
Sen. Jabo Waggoner, 89, will also achieve the feat if reelected in November. The Republican from Vestavia Hills was a member of the House when the Legislature still utilized the Capitol chambers. He is the longest serving member in the history of the Legislature.
The House did not discuss any bills but passed a ceremonial resolution to designate the new building as the State House beginning on Jan. 1, 2027. Construction is still underway, but leaders have said they expect to move across the street at some point this summer.
Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, called being in the old chamber “an honor.” He also thanked House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, for the idea.
“It’s humbling to me to sit here certainly in front of all of you, with the work that you do, but to sit here in the chamber on the shoulders of who built this state up,” Ledbetter said. “I think that’s the thing that we’ve all got to remember. We do what we do for the people back home and for the people in our history and across the state, and that should never go unnoticed. And I know by this body it does not go unnoticed.”
Rep. Barbara Boyd, D-Anniston, also offered a few remarks about her time in the Legislature. She has served in the House since 1994 and is not running for reelection.
“So much good you have given, I’ve learned so much,” Boyd said, addressing her fellow lawmakers. “And after the accident I said I was tired and I wanted to rest, but when God sat me down to rest, I said ‘oh my God, I can’t do this.’ It’s been a great learning experience for me. I’ve learned so much, and I’ve grown so much. And I hope that my students everywhere will continue to go where there is no path but to lead a trail.”
Boyd narrowly survived a car crash with an alleged drunk driver in 2024. She had multiple surgeries as a result of the accident and previously called herself “a living miracle.”
This is the Legislature’s last session in the current State House. Built in 1960 as the Alabama Department of Transportation headquarters, the building was retrofitted to house the Legislature in 1985. That was intended to be a temporary stay while the Capitol underwent renovations. Four decades later, they’re still in the temporary home and the list of issues with the building is lengthy and expensive.
There are accessibility issues for those with disabilities and many of the committee rooms only hold a dozen people. It’s common to see members of the public turned away from meetings.
The new building has 11 committee rooms. Three will hold at least as many people, about 220, as the current building’s largest room. Two other rooms will hold well over 100 people.
The new building will also have four caucus meeting rooms and a large multipurpose room for events.