Suspicious, pornographic material mailed to Alabama House members
State police identified Wednesday a person of interest and are investigating after suspicious letters including “a number of pornographic images” were addressed to members of the Alabama House of Representatives in Montgomery.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation responded to the incident.
Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said he was made aware Wednesday morning “that a handful of House members received packages in the mail containing expletive images and other inappropriate materials.”
“These packages have been handed over to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s State Bureau of Investigation.
“I appreciate all that ALEA does to protect members of the Legislature and have full faith in the agency’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation into this unfortunate matter.”
In a statement Wednesday, ALEA said no other information was available as the investigation continues.
State lawmakers are about two-thirds through their annual legislative session.
Bill gives state superintendent subpoena power
The state superintendent would have the ability to subpoena records and individuals as it relates to inquiries by the Alabama Department of Education under a bill approved in committee on Wednesday.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate Bill 292, by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham.
Smitherman said the superintendent needs to be able compel people to testify or turn over records.
The bill says the superintendent “may summon any witness to appear and give testimony, and summon by subpoena duces tecum any records, books, or other information of any kind relating to any matter which the State Department of Education or the State Board of Education has authority to administer or regulate.”
Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, questioned giving an appointed state official “powers of judiciary,” but some members said other state agencies, as well as that committee, have subpoena power.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
Bill establishing adult changing table requirement for public restrooms passes House
A bill that would mandate all new public restrooms install adult-sized changing tables passed out of the Alabama House Wednesday in a vote of 93-2.
Senate Bill 83, introduced by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would mandate that starting in 2028, new or fully renovated public restrooms in public building must include at least one adult-sized changing table, and was filed after Orr was approached by constituents who spoke to the difficulties of carrying for adults with special needs, particularly when out in public.
Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, is carrying Orr’s bill in the House, and introduced it on the House floor Wednesday as “a bill that will be extremely beneficial for adults who are disabled or their caretakers.”
“What this bill would do is beginning in 2028, for any public entity that constructs a new public restroom, it would require them to install a powered, height-adjustable adult-sized changing table that is capable of serving both a baby and an adult,” Almond said.
The bill would only apply to new construction or bathroom renovations that exceed $500,000 in cost, and would not apply to public K-12 schools or higher education institutions. It would also establish a grant program for businesses to apply for to help pay for the installation of adult-sized changing tables.
The bill passed out of the House, with Reps. Jennifer Fidler, R-Silverhill, and Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, being the sole dissenting votes. Having already passed in the Senate, the bill now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk for final approval.
Huntsville resident and mother June Wilson originally approached Orr about the legislation.
“The passage of Senate Bill 83 is more than a policy win — it’s a powerful statement that dignity, inclusion, and accessibility are not optional,” Wilson told Alabama Daily News. “Families like mine can finally leave home knowing there’s a safe, respectful place to care for our loved ones’ needs.”
Senate doesn’t vote on phone filter, app protections bills
Two bills that supporters say would protect minors from inappropriate content by putting more regulations on cell phone providers and app stores did not receive votes Wednesday in the Alabama Senate.
Senate Bill 186 requires starting in 2027 that Internet-enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets sold to minors come with an activated filter to block sexually explicit material. A similar bill in the House has stalled in a committee without a vote since a February public hearing.
Manufacturers, retailers and trade commissions have opposed the legislation, saying they would be unable to comply with the requirement if it became law.
Senate Bill 187 requires app store providers to verify the age of users. It also requires minors’ accounts be affiliated with their parents’ accounts, so minors would have to obtain parental consent to download apps.
Both bills are sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville. They were on the Senate’s calendar of bills to vote on Wednesday, but were carried over by leadership after Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, delayed action in the chamber. After Chambliss’ bills were carried over, the Senate was able to work through the rest of its calendar.
“I’m disappointed that the filter bill and app store bill were held up (Wednesday night), I am even further resolved and will do everything in my power to present these bills on the floor and have an up or down vote,” Chambliss told Alabama Daily News. “Protecting children from the perils of unprotected devices and unscrupulous apps is not only needed, but it is imperative.”
House committee advances bill expanding ban on gender identity instruction in preK-12 schools
The House Education Policy committee on Wednesday gave a favorable report to an amended version of House Bill 244, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Gadsden, which expands existing state law to prohibit classroom instruction or discussion related to gender identity or sexual orientation in Alabama public schools.
Current law only applies to kindergarten through fifth grade. Butler’s bill would extend the restriction from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
As amended, the bill reinstates language requiring instruction to be “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
The bill also prohibits public school employees from displaying “a flag or other insignia relating to or representing sexual orientation or gender identity in a classroom of a public preK-12 school.”
A previous provision that would have barred school employees from using pronouns inconsistent with a student’s sex assigned at birth was removed in the amended bill.
If enacted, the bill would take effect July 1, 2025. The bill now heads to the House floor.