>> GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, LAWMAKERS TODAY WRAPPED UP THEIR FIRST WEEK AFTER SPRING BREAK BY PASSING SEVERAL CLOSELY WATCHED BILLS.

THE SENATE TODAY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CURTAIL THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY TO EXTEND EMERGENCY ORDERS LIKE THOSE ENACTED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THE BILL ALSO GIVES THE POWER TO REQUEST A SPECIAL SESSION OVER SUCH ORDERS TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND LT.

GOVERNOR, BUT NOT THE MINORITY LEADERS.

THE LATTER BECAME A BONE OF CONTENTION TODAY, WITH TWO MINORITY SENATORS SAYING THEIR PARTY REPRESENTS SOME 25 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.

>> YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE AND IN COORDINATION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, LT.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AGENCY EXPERTS AND I THINK WE HAVE GOT SOMETHING THAT NOT EVERYBODY LIKE'S HUNDRED PERCENT BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GET INTO AN 08 PERCENT OR 90 PERCENT SOLUTION AND SOME BETTER THAN THAT, SO I THINK YOU HAVE GOT A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE CAN AT LEAST CONTINUE THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> WHY DOES THE LT.

GOVERNOR GET TO MAKE THAT CALL AS TO WHETHER WE GET TO COME BACK INTO SPECIAL SESSION?

HE IS A PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, NOT THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT SO I THINK NUMBER ONE THAT'S A CONFLICT RIGHT THERE.

>> I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT STATEMENT A LITTLE FURTHER TOO.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE YOU KNOW I HAD A LITTLE CONVERSATION A FEW MINUTES AGO IN THIS AREA, IN THE AREA.

SO WE JUST GOING TO FORGET 1.6 MILLION FOLKS?

WE DON'T MEAN NOTHING.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WITH TODAY'S SONATA APPROVAL OF THE EXECUTIVE POWERS LEGISLATION, IT NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE.

>> THE SENATE TODAY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD LIMIT THE POWER OF THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES TO CLOSE BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY CAUSED BY A PANDEMIC.

IF, THAT IS, THEY FOLLOW ALL OF THE SAFETY GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE STATE.

IT'S A BILL THAT WAS BEING CARRIED IN THE UPPER CHAMBER BY SENATOR GARLAND GUDGER OF CULLMAN WHO DEBATED IT TODAY WITH AMONG OTHERS SENATOR MINORITY LEADER BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO.

>> I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I FEEL THAT SOMEBODY WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES IS GOING TO COME INTO YOUR SMALL BUSINESS AND I WANT THEM TO BE SAFE.

I WANT THEM TO BE ALIVE.

I WANT THEN TO BE ABLE TO BUY FROM YOU.

>> I AGREE WITH THAT.

>> I WANT THEM TO COME IN AND BE REPEAT CUSTOMERS AND NOT A ONE TIME CUSTOMER.

>> THIS BILL ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BUY NECESSITIES FOR THEIR KIDS AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS.

>> I WANT THEM TO BE REPEAT CUSTOMERS AND NOT A ONE TIME CUSTOMER.

>> THE LEGISLATION IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OCCURRED EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC WHEN GOVERNOR KAY IVEY CLOSED CERTAIN BUSINESSES AND NOT OTHERS, SOMETHING SHE LATER SAID SHE REGRETTED DOING.

THE BILL WHICH HAS ALREADY PASSED THE HOUSE NOW GOES BACK TO THE LOWER CHAMBER BECAUSE OF THE SENATE ADDED AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE STATEHOUSE TO STAY OPEN DURING A PANDEMIC.

>> THE SENATE TODAY ALSO PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD SET UP A $200 LIFETIME PISTOL CARRY PERMIT.

THE LEGISLATION IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR RANDY PRICE OF OPELIKA WHO SAID IT WOULD ALSO CREATE A DATABASE OF THOSE PROHIBITED FROM BUYING ANY KIND OF PISTOL.

>> WHEN I GOT INVOLVED IN THIS SITUATION, I THINK ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER IS THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT PUT ON THEIR UNIFORM EVERY DAY TO PROTECT OUR FAMILY, THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THE THING THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF HERE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE THEIR LIVES SAFER.

SO BY PUTTING TOGETHER THIS NETWORK THAT'S GOING TO IDENTIFY THE BAD GUYS SO WHERE THAT OFFICER AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING WILL HAVE SOMEONE THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH, THIS BILL WILL HELP DO THAT.

>> UNDER PRICE'S BILL, MOST ASPECTS OF THE CURRENT PISTOL PERMITTING PROCESS WOULD NOT CHANGE.

THOSE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING A LIFETIME PERMIT WOULD APPLY AT THEIR LOCAL SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR A BACKGROUND CHECK AND FILL OUT THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK.

A HOUSE VERSION OF SENATOR PRICE' LIFETIME GUN PERMIT BILL HAS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE BUT IT PROPOSES A $500 FEE.

MEANTIME THE HOUSE TODAY PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO BE DELIVERED TO ALABAMA HOMES.

IT'S A BILL BEING CARRIED IN THE LOWER CHAMBER BY REPRESENTATIVE GILL ISBELL OF GADSDEN WHO SAID IT'S ABOUT CONVENIENCE FOR STATE RESIDENTS.

HE DEBATED THE BILL TODAY WITH, AMONG OTHERS, REPRESENTATIVE JUANDALYNN GIVAN.

>> THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT DELIVER FOR IT'S GROCERY STORE CHAINS, FOOD, GROCERIES.

THIS WILL ALLOW COMPANIES FROM ONE TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DELIVER AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER NOT ONLY GROCERIES BUT ALSO BEER, WINE, AND SPIRITS WILL BE COMING FROM THE PASSAGE STORES.

>> SO FOR INSTANCE, SO THEY CAN NOW -- IF THIS BILL PASSES THEY WILL BE ABLE TO INCLUDE ALCOHOL AS DEFINED IN THIS BILL -- >> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> IN THEIR DISTRIBUTION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S UP TO A 75-MILE RADIUS.

>> THE LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE A LICENSING PROCESS AND COMPANIES THAT WANT TO DELIVER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO HOMES BO HAVE TO APPLY FOR SUCH A LICENSE.

BUT ALSO MANDATE THAT DRIVERS CARRYING ALCOHOL BE AT LEAST 21 YEARS OLD AND WOULD BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A BACKGROUND CHECK.

THE BILL NOW GOES BACK TO THE SENATE BECAUSE OF A FEW CHANGES THE HOUSE MADE TO IT.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE.

>> NEXT UP, JEREMY GRAVE OPELIKA IS BACK WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO I'M.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, DON.

>> NICE TO HE SO YOU YES, I DO US A ALWAYS.

>> YOU TOO.

YOU HAVE MADE A LOT OF HEADLINES WITH YOUR YOGA BILL AND BROUGHT IT BACK.

TO IS THIS IT THIRD YEAR.

>> THIRD YEAR Y.

>> IT IS ADVANCING SLOWLY AND SURELY.

IT WAS IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW UNIQUE THAT IS.

BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO REVIEW FOR FOLKS THE PREMISE OF YOUR LEGISLATION.

YOU WANT LIFT THE 20-SOMETHING YEAR BAN ON YOGA IN STATE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

20 SOMETHING YEARS AGO, AMONG OTHER REASONS THAT WERE RAISED AT THE TIME, OFFICIALS WERE WORRIED ABOUT YOGA'S TIES TO EASTERN RELIGION AND YOU SAY TO YOU IT'S ALL ABOUT HEALTH AND FITNESS AND HELPING OUR STUDENTS.

YOU ACTUALLY HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH YOGA.

YOU DO YOGA.

YOU ARE AN ATHLETE IN A FORMER LIFE.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH YOGA.

>> IT WAS 1993 BAN.

I HAD NOT BEGUN TO HIGH SCHOOL I WOULDN'T KNOW IT WAS BAND BECAUSE WE DO IT IN SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

SO I START TO INTRODUCE YOGA THROUGH SPORTS.

NOT NECESSARILY UNDERSTANDING THE ORIGIN OF YOGA.

BUT EXERCISE HELPS WITH RECOVERY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

IT WAS ONLY AFTER I BECAME A YOGA INSTRUCTOR AT THE LOCAL GYM THAT I REALLY GOT THE CERTIFICATION AND I UNDERSTOOD, YOU KNOW, MORE TYPICALLY THAT YOGA CAN HELP ALSO WITH THE MENTAL CAPACITY AS WELLS A THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY.

AND SO I HAVE ACTUALLY PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT 10 YEARS, 10 TO 12 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WITH YOGA EXERCISE, AND I REALLY UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF IT AND I JUST FELT THAT IF HISTORICALLY WHEN YOGA WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO THE U.S., THE U.S., IT WAS FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE WELL OFF.

IF YOU WERE POOR OR YOU WERE DISADVANTAGED OR VULNERABLE PEOPLE, YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO EXPERIENCE YOGA FOR THOSE WHO HAD RESOURCES AND MONEY.

AND NOW FAST-FORWARD TO THE 2ND CENTURY IT'S EVERYWHERE.

SO I FEEL LIKE K12 AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME CHOICES.

FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE AND SO MUCH GOING ON AND STRESS AND ANXIETY IN KIDS, BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, THAT WAS NOT HEARD OF; RIGHT?

BUT IN THE 2ND CENTURY, YOU SEE THAT THERE ARE PATTERNS WHERE IF YOU HAVE TRAUMA AS A YOUNG PERSON IT FOLLOWS YOU AS AN ADULT, AND I THINK THAT YOGA HAS A COMPONENT OF SELF CARE, HOW TO EVADE SITUATIONS, HOW TO THE YOU'RE ANGRY AND CAN'T BREATHE AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON.

SO THERE ARE SO MANY BENEFITS ON A MENTAL SIDE, WITH THE PHYSICAL SIDE WITH BALANCE AND STRENGTHENING YOUR CORE AND MOBILITY, EVEN STUDIES SHOW -- DATA AND STUDIES SHOW EVERYTHING -- I CAN GIVE YOU A LIST OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT YOGA THAT IS GOOD, SO WHY WOULD WE JUST HANG ON TO ONE THING OF AN ORIGIN OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, THE YOGA COMES FROM BUT WE KNOW THAT EVERYTHING HAS AN ORIGIN.

I MEAN WHEN I WAS IN CANADA PLAYING FOOTBALL, THEY SAID THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE TO CREATE FOOTBALL; RIGHT?

BUT AMERICA HAS THE EL ENVELOPE, SO IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE ORIGINS BUT ABOUT HOW YOU USE IT AND WE'RE TRYING TO USE IT TO HELP KIDS AND TAKE YOU TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL BECAUSE EVERYWHERE ELSE IN ALABAMA, LOCAL GYMS, THE PRISONS EVEN CHURCHES HAVE YOGA AND I THINK WE SHOULD MAKE IT A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

>> AND YOGA IS ESSENTIALLY ABOUT STRETCHING AND BREATHING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> A SERIES OF EXERCISES.

>> MOSTLY WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE CERTIFICATION, IT'S REALLY ABOUT BREATHING WREATHING ACTUALLY BASICALLY CALMS YOU AND IT CONTROLS YOUR TEMPERAMENT.

SO ESSENTIALLY WHEN YOU'RE RUNNING AND YOU ARE BREATHING HARD, YOU'RE PANICKING AND YOUR LEVELS ARE UP, WHEN YOU'RE BREATHING EASY, YOU'RE CALM.

SO ESSENTIALLY THROUGHOUT EXERCISE IS ALL ABOUT BREATHING, ONE, AND THEN THE OTHER COMPONENT IS, IT'S JUST EXERCISE, RIGHT SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ALL OF THE POSES.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY TOUGH.

IT'S A CHALLENGING THING TO DO.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU'RE WORKING MUSCLES AND YOU'RE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING THAT IS DIFFICULT BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH IT THROUGH BREATHING AND JUST BEING FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT YOGA POSES.

ONE OF THE MORE COMMON ONES THAT WE THINK OF IS A PERSON STANDING ON ONE LEG AND HOLDING THAT POSITION FOR A WHILE AND THEY GET THE STRENGTH AND STAMINA TO DO THAT THROUGH BREATHING.

>> YEAH.

YOU WILL CALL THAT BASICALLY THE TREE POSE AND THAT'S WHEN YOU PUT ONE LEG UP ON YOUR CALF OR YOUR ANKLE AND YOU BASICALLY SIT THERE LIKE TREE AND YOU'RE JUST HOLDING THAT POSE WITH STABILITY AND THAT'S ALL IT IS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE THE DOWNWARD DOG AND THE UPWARD DOG AND ALL OF THESE THINGS YOU SEE IN SPORTS, RIGHT, WHETHER YOU CALL THEM UPWARD DOG OR DOWNWARD DOG, YOU SEE ATHLETES ON THE FIELD DOING IT, YOU SEE TOM BRADY AND LEBRON JAMES CREDIT YOGA EXERCISE TO RECOVERY WHEN THEY'RE HAVING A LONG SEVEN-GAME SERIES INSTEAD OF PRACTICING THAT DAY IT MAY BE YOGA.

SO IT'S GREAT FOR RECOVERY.

IT'S GREAT FOR LONGEVITY IN SPORTS AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING OVERALL.

I THINK IT HAS MORE PROS THAN CONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, HOW MUCH, IF ANY, IS MEDITATION A PART OF YOGA?

THAT SEEMS TO BE ONE OF THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL ASPECTS OF THE STREET.

>> MEDITATION IS A PART OF YOGA, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY TO DO THE YOGA ROUTINE YOU HAVE TO CONCENTRATE.

SO YOU HAVE TO MEDITATE ON WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND HAVE TO CONCENTRATION AND FOCUS.

BUT DON'T YOU HAVE TO DO THAT IN CLASS?

DON'T YOU HAVE TO DO THAT ON THE FIELD?

SO EVEN IN THE BIBLE IT TELLS YOU BEFORE YOU PRAY YOU HAVE TO MEDITATE.

MEDITATION IS JUST ONE OF THOSE OF THINGS THAT IT CALMS THE BODY, SOOTHES THE SOUL AND GIVES YOU CALCULATOR.

WHO WOULDN'T WANT CLARITY.

IN A WORLD OF EVERYTHING GOING ON, WITH THIS BUSY WORLD CLARITY IS A GOOD THING TO HAVE; RIGHT?

SO THAT'S JUST MEDITATING -- I CAN LIVE AND CLOTHES MY EYES RIGHT NOW, WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE LIKE WE DO ON THE FLOOR, AND I'M JUST BREATHING.

WE DON'T TELL YOU OR NO ONE TELLS YOU WHAT TO IMAGINE OR WHAT TO THINK.

IT'S JUST A CALMNESS, A BREATHING AND THE CLEARING OF MIND.

>> WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING TO BE ALLOWED IN STATE CLASSROOMS HAS NOTHING TO DO, AS YOU POINTED OUT, WITH IT'S ORIGINS IN EASTERN RELIGION AND HINDUISM AND THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP IN THE DEBATE.

>> YEAH.

SO I MEAN I HAVE BEEN DOING YOGA FOR AT LEAST 10, 12 YEARS, RIGHT, AND ANYTHING -- YOU CAN'T JUST LEARN HINDUISM OR ANYTHING RELATED TO INDIAN CULTURE IF IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN.

YOU HAVE TO ACTUAL PRACTICE IT AND YOU HAVE NOT UNDERSTAND IT.

YOU WON'T JUST IT SHOW I MEAN WASN'T -- I WASN'T AT THE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY BUT ESSENTIALLY SOME PEOPLE WERE JUST SAYING THE EXERCISE ALONE WILL CONVERT YOU AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE NO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF HINDUISM OR EASTERN CULTURE OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE BECAUSE HOW I FIRST STARTED OFF, IT WAS JUST FOR EXERCISE.

SO FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AN EXERCISE IF YOU DO THAT CALMS YOU AND IT SOOTHES YOU.

MOST PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO THAT HAVE DONE YOGA OR HAVE WATCHED DO YOGA THEY LIKE IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING THAT GIVES THEM SOME KIND OF CHALLENGE.

IF YOU GO AND YOUR BACK NEEDS TO BE REALIGNED, THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO SAY, WELL, YOU MAY WANT TO TRY YOGA.

SO IT'S JUST SO EMBODIED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, I DON'T SEE WHY IT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY YOU CAN DO IT IN EVERY OTHER SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, YOU CAN DO IT EVERY WHERE ELSE BUT K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE KIDS.

SO I'M JUST LOOKING ATE IT FROM A STANDPOINT, THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT'S NOT ABOUT MY COLLEAGUES AND THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE, THIS IS REALLY ABOUT THE EDUCATORS, RIGHT, AND THE STUDENTS.

AND THE EDUCATION, THE EDUCATORS THAT I TALKED TO, FROM THE SUPERINTENDENTS I TALKED TO, THEY REALLY LIKE THIS BILL BECAUSE THEY THINK IT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP THEM IN SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHY I'M BRINGING THE BILL.

IT DOESN'T -- IF THE BILL PASSES OR NOT, I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO YOGA EACH AND EVERY DAY.

BUT IF IT'S JUST ALLOWING KIDS TO HAVE AN EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IF YOU GROW UP IN POVERTY, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO THE LOCAL GYM TO DO YOGA.

WHO IS GOING TO TAKE YOU?

SO SCHOOL IS SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO INTRODUCE ENOUGH THINGS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT QUICKLY BEFORE WE CLOSE, THIS BILL STALLED IN COMMITTEE THIS WEEK AND IT WAS IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WHICH SOME PEOPLE FOUND OUT AND WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE MIGHT BE A BETTER PLACE FOR THIS.

IN 15 SECONDS WHY JUDICIARY COMMITTEE?

>> JUST BECAUSE I HAD -- YOU KNOW MY SENATOR, TOM WATLEY HAS BEEN IN JUDICIARY AND HE JUST THOUGHT THAT IF I BROUGHT IT TO THE COMMITTEE IT WOULD HAVE A FAVORABLE REPORT.

>> EVEN THOUGH IT STALLED THIS WEEK IT'S GOING TO BE BROUGHT BACK UP AND YOU'RE HOPHOPEFUL ITEFULLIST WILL BE -- >> YEAH.

WE HOPE TO HAVE THE VOTES NEXT WEEK AND AT WORST 6-4 AND THAT'S A FAVORABLE REPORT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAY OF EACH LIKE A.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, REPRESENTATIVE WES KITCHENS OF ARAB IS BACK WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> WELL, DON, THATCH FOR A HAVING ME.

IT'S ALWAYS PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.

I ALWAYS ENJOY TUNING IN WHEN I'M BACK HOME AND GET A RECAP OF WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON DURING THE SESSION.

>> I APPRECIATE YOUR SAYING THAT.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, YOU HAVE ONE OF MY FAVORITE BILLS OF THE SESSION, I WILL BE A LITTLE BIAS HERE.

I LOVE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

WE'RE ALL ENJOYING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME RIGHT NOW WITH THE LONGER HOURS OF DARRELL.

YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE MORE DAYLIGHT TO DO MORE THINGS IS THE WAY I HAVE HALLS LOOKED AT IT.

YOU'RE CARRYING THE BILL THIS YEAR WHICH HAS BEEN CARRIED IN VARIOUS FORMS OVER SEVERAL YEARS ABOUT EXTENDING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME HERE IN THE STATE IF CONGRESS DOES THE SAME.

TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE ON THE TABLE.

>> CONGRESS -- THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS UP IN D.C. AND WE'RE REALLY TO A POINT WHERE IF CONGRESS ALLOWS US TO STAY ON ONE TIME I BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT SHOULD BE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME WHERE THE HOURS ARE LONGER IN THE EVENING.

SO THIS BILL JUST SAYS THAT IF CONGRESS APPROVE THIS AND WE PASS THE BILL, THEN WE WOULD STAY ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME YEAR AROUND AND WE WOULD NOT BE CHANGING THE CLOCKS BACK AND FORTH AND WE HAVE EXTRA DAYLIGHT IN THE AFTERNOON.

THIS IS THE BILL THAT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY LAST YEAR.

REPRESENTATIVE WEAVER WHO JUST WON HER SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE SENATE BUT REPRESENTATIVE WEAVER THIS WAS HER BILL, WHEN SHE LEFT THE HOUSE, I TALKED TO HER AND I SAID I WANTED TO CARRY THIS BUT I KNEW THIS WAS YOUR BILL, SO SHE WAS GRACIOUS AND LET ME DRAFT THE EXACT SAME BILL SHE HAD LAST YEAR.

SO I'M VERY HOPEFUL.

I KNOW WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH THE SESSION NOW BUT I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE GET A LITTLE TRACTION ON IT AND SEE THINGS START MOVING.

>> MAYBE THE FACT THAT WE JUST STARTED DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME AND WE'RE ALL IN THE THROWS OF ENJOYING THOSE EXTRA HOURS OF DAYLIGHT THAT MIGHT HELP US ALONG THIS YEAR.

>> I THINK SO.

EVERY TIME ONCE THE CLOCK STARTS CHANGING, I KNOW SINCE I HAVE BEEN ELECTED EVERYBODY IS SAYING WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

AND I KNOW THE CONVERSATION REALLY COMES UP, ESPECIALLY DURING THIS TIME, DURING THESE FEW WEEKS, AROUND THE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, SO I KNOW I LIKE TO BE OUT IN THE EVENINGS.

I HATE DURING THE WINTER I HATE LEAVING THE OFFICE WHEN IT'S DARK, LEAVING FOR THE OFFICE WHEN IT'S DARK AND LEAVING THE OFFICE WHEN IT'S DARK IN THE EVENINGS.

SO I THINK IT'S A POPLARVILLE BILL AND I HAVE HEARD A LOT OF POPULAR RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE NOT JUST IN DISTRICT 27.

>> MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER IT A NATURAL PROGRESSION OF THINGS BECAUSE YOU KNOW IN RECENT YEARS, THERE WAS A MOVE TO EX EXTEND DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME.

IT ACTUALLY STARTS A LITTLE EARLIER THAN IT USED TO AND ENDS LATER AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE IT THE FULL STEP FORWARD; IS THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THERE'S BEEN MULTIPLE THINGS, YOU KNOW, WHEN CONGRESS ACTUALLY ENACTED THIS YEARS AGO, PEOPLE WERE GOING ON DIFFERENT TIME ZONES ALL AROUND THE STATE AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND IT WAS DIFFICULTY FROM ONE STATE TO THE NEXT.

SO, YOU KNOW, GOING THIS ROUTE AND GOING THIS DIRECTION, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE UNIFORM AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO WAIT ON THE CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL FIRST BUST IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE UNIFORM AND FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T UNDERSTAND IT WOULD BE LIKE WE WOULD BE ON EASTERN TIME DURING THE CURRENT THEN WE WOULD BE ON CENTRAL TIME THE REST OF THE YEAR BUT WE JUST WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE OUR CLOCKWISE.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT FINALLY BE THE YEAR FOR THIS?

>> I'M VERY HOPEFUL.

I HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND TO A LOT OF CO-SPONSORS ON THIS BILL.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL REALLY WELL REALLY WANT TO SEE THIS GET THE FINISH LINE AND IT PASSED OUT LAST YEAR AND I'M HOPEFUL IF WE GET IT THROUGH COMMITTEE IT WILL HAVE LEGS IN THE HOUSE AND THEN WE SEE ABOUT GETTING IT THROUGH THE SENATE AS WELL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE YOU HAD A TAX BILL THAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE SENATE TODAY AND IT HAS TO DO WITH DEFINING WHAT EXACTLY AN EMPLOYEE IS.

TELL US WHAT WAS ON THE TABLE.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION.

SO WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THE LEGISLATURE, I HAD SOMEONE ACTUALLY FROM BACK HOME THAT HAD BEEN FLAGGED FOR THIS.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR USES A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAN THE IRS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION AS TO WHAT AN EMPLOYEE IS.

THEY MAY BE FOLLOWING THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR STANDARDS AND THEN THEY GET FLAGGED FOB AN AUDIT FROM THE IRS BECAUSE THINK THOUGHT THEY WERE DOING WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO.

REMEMBER MOST OF OUR INDUSTRY HAVE THE PEOPLE ON STAFF BUT A LOT OF NONPROFITS AND IT HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR BUT NONPROFITS IN ANY BUSINESS MAY BE THINKING THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND THEN GET FLAGGED PHENOMENON APPEAR AUDIT.

SO IT REALLY CODIFIES WHAT ALABAMA HAS BEEN DOING IN THE PAST THROUGH REVENUE AND SIMPLY SAYS THAT WE WILL FOLLOW THE IRS STANDARDS SO THERE WILL BE NO CONFUSION AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND OUR NONPROFITS GET A LITTLE BIT MORE CLARITY AS TO WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO AND NOT GET UNDUE BURDENS AND HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE AUDIT PROCESS AT SOME POINT.

>> I'M GOING TO SPEND THESE PAST FEW MINUTES TALKING ABOUT COVID.

YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES ESPECIALLY NOT HOUSE BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS THE LARGER BODY, HAVE BEEN HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH A LOT OF HOOPS TO CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS THIS YEAR.

WE HAVE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SHOW THAT THE HOUSE IS SPREAD OUT OVER THE CHAMBER FLOOR AND THE GALLERY AND IN TWO OVERFLOW ROOMS TO CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS.

WHERE ARE YOU IN ALL OF THAT.

>> I'M UP IN THE GALLERY.

CALL IT THE PRESIDENT'S BOX OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT BUT I'M UP IN THE GALLERY.

>> HOW HAS IT BEEN GOING OPERATING THIS WAY?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN GOOD.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FRUSTRATIONS YOU KNOW, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO GET IN AND HAVE THE SAME ACCESS THAT THEY HAVE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE HEARD FROM MORE PEOPLE BACK HOME BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE STEPS AND MEASURES THAT THEY DID TAKE AND THE SCREAMING STREAMING AND THE PROGRAMS LIKE THIS THAT ARE ABLE TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.

SO THERE'S BEEN SOME FRUSTRATIONS ON THAT AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ACCESS AND LIKE TO SEE MORE PEOPLE IN THE STATEHOUSE BUT ARREST AS FAR AS THE MEMBERS GO, I FEEL THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB.

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN A FEW PEOPLE THAT TESTED POSITIVE SINCE THE SESSION BEGAN BUT I THINK IT SHOWS THAT IT DIDN'T SPREAD RAPIDLY THROUGH OUR MEMBERS, AND I THINK THAT SPEAKS A LOT TO THE LEADERSHIP AND TO EVERYONE WHO HAS REALLY GONE ABOVE AND I DON'T NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> INDEED.

KNOCK ON PLASTIC THERE HAS NOT BEEN A BIG OUTBREAK AT THE STATEHOUSE SINCE THE SESSION RESUMED.

A HANDFUL OF LAWMAKERS TESTED POSITIVE, WENT HOME AND QUARANTINED AND CAME BACK TO WORK SAFE LIVE.

BEFORE WE CLOSE, YOU HAD YOUR OWN BRUSH WITH COVID BACK IN THE FALL, DID YOU NOT?

>> I DID.

AND I WILL MENTION ANOTHER BILL THAT CAME UP.

REPRESENTATIVE DEBBIE WOOD.

HE IS JUST HAD A BILL THAT CAME UP THAT DID I LET WITH NURSING HOMES AND ALLOWING VISITATION AND NURSING HOMES THAT JUST GOT OUT OF OUR HEALTH COMMITTEE.

AND I HAD A PERSONAL BATTLE WITH COVID MYSELF BUT ACTUALLY I LOST MY GRANDMOTHER TO COVID.

AND MY GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY IN EARLY DECEMBER.

AND I WAS ABLE TO TELL THE COMMITTEE -- I DIDN'T PLAN ON SPEAKING ON THE BILL OR TELLING MY PERSONAL STORY, BUT IT WAS TOUGH.

WE HAD TO SIT AND WATCH MY GRANDMOTHER AS HE PASSED AWAY THROUGH A WINDOW.

AND IT WAS VERY TOUGH.

AND LOVED ONES ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA HAVING FACING THOSE EXACT SAME ISSUES.

NOT ONLY ALABAMA BUT AROUND THE WORLD.

SO OUR HEART GOES OUT TO THEM AND I COMMEND REPRESENTATIVE WOOD ON THE WORK THAT SHE'S DONE WITH HER BILL.

SHE HAD A PERSONAL STORY WITH HER MOTHER AS WELL.

>> I'M VERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND OUR CONDOLENCES TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

>> THANK YOU, DON.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AS ALWAYS AND FOSTER YOU ARE FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WES KITCHENS OF ARAB.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

ARE.

>> AND THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

COMING UP TOMORROW AT 730 ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" "WEEK IN REVIEW," A COMPLETE WRAP UP OF THE LEGISLATIVE WEEK.

AND WE WILL BE JOINED BY CONGRESSMAN MO BROOKS OF HUNTSVILLE WHO WILL TALK WITH US ABOUT LAUNCHING A CAMPAIGN FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

WE WILL BE JOINED BY SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON OF BIRMINGHAM, WHO WILL DISCUSS THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PUSH TO EXPAND MEDICAID IN ALABAMA.

TUSCALOOSA MAYOR WALT MADDOX WILL JOIN US TO AUTOMATIC ABOUT BEGINNING HIS FIFTH TERM IN OFFICE AND WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS HIGHER POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE WITH US TO TALK ABOUT THE MOVE TOWARD EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE TO ALL ADULTS.

FOR ALL OF US AT "CAPITOL JOURNAL" THAT I THINK SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.