>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS A BUSY DAY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE ON THIS THE 11TH DAY OF THE 2023 REGULAR SESSION AND THAT WAS ESPECIALLY THE CASE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MEMBERS WORKED THROUGH A CALENDAR OF 17 BILLS.

HERE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS.

HOUSE BILL 164 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANDY WHITT REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ADOPT FINANCIAL LITERACY INTO THEIR COURSE OF STUDY.

WHITT AND SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS ARGUED THAT TOO MANY STUDENTS ARE GOING INTO THE REAL WORLD WITHOUT THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE IT TAKES TO MAKE SOUND FINANCIAL DECISIONS.

>> THIS IS A FINANCIAL LITERACY BILL AND THIS BILL REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPLETE PERSONAL AND MONEY MANAGEMENT BEFORE GRADUATION.

THIS WILL INCLUDE AND UPGRADE OPERATE INTO EXISTING CLASSES SUCH AS CAREER PREP OR MATH CLASSES AS DETERMINED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

THESE SKILL SETS WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO AN EXISTING TEST THAT WILL BE DEVELOPED AGAIN BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, PROFICIENCY AND NOW WILL BE MONITORED AND REPORTED BACK ON A YEARLY BASIS.

>> THE BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

HOUSE BILL 30 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE A.J.

MCCAMPBELL REMOVES THE TERM FAILING SCHOOL FROM THE STATE' S PUBLIC SCHOOL GRADING SYSTEM.

FIRST INTENDED AS AN ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURE, THE TERM HAS BECOME PROBLEMATIC IN RECENT YEARS AS SOME PERCENTAGE OF THE STATE'S SCHOOLS WOULD BE DUBBED FAILING EVEN IF THEY MADE IMPROVEMENTS.

>> YES, YOU ASK THE QUESTION, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS.

IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GIVE A POSITIVE SPIN.

IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY GROWING BUSINESS IN ALABAMA, WHENEVER SOMEBODY IS STANDING OFF IN WHEREVER WE GO TO RECRUIT AND THEY SEE THAT TERM, AND IT'S A DEFEATIST TERM, FAILING, AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER IN ALABAMA AND THAT'S WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO.

>> THAT BILL ALSO PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

HOUSE BILL 43 FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVE PEBBLIN WARREN WOULD REQUIRE STUDENTS TO EITHER ATTEND KINDERGARTEN OR DEMONSTRATE READINESS BEFORE ATTENDING FIRST GRADE.

WARREN HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION FOR YEARS AND NOW HAS THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

>> HOPEFULLY ALL OF OUR NEW MEMBERS, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

THIS BILL IS WHAT WE REFER TO AS A FIRST GRADE READINESS BILL.

WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE WHEN A STUDENT REACHES THE FIRST GRADE, THEY HAVE THE MINIMUM COMPETENCE THAT THEY CAN GET IN KINDERGARTEN BEFORE ENTERING THE FIRST GRADE.

>> THAT BILL PASSED 87-12 AND NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

THE HOUSE ALSO TOOK UP THE MORE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE OF TRANSGENDER ATHLETES.

LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW REQUIRING THAT K-12 STUDENTS COULD ONLY COMPETE IN SPORTS AS THE GENDER THEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.

HOUSE BILL 261 WOULD EXTEND THAT REQUIREMENT TO THE STATE'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

FROM STATE REPRESENTATIVES SUSAN DUBOSE.

DUBOSE ARGUED THE BILL IS ABOUT PRESERVING GIRLS AND WOMEN'S ACCESS TO FAIR COMPETITION, WHILE SOME DEMOCRATS ARGUED THE MEASURE WAS UNNECESSARY.

THIS ONE DIDN'T LINE UP NEATLY ON PARTY LINES, THOUGH AS EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS SPOKE IN FAVOR OF DUBOSE'S BILL.

>> WELL, LET'S FACE IT, IT'S BASED ON THE BIOLOGICAL DEFINITION, INCLUDING CHROMOSOMAL AS WELL AND GENETICS AND SCIENCE DETERMINES YOUR SEX.

SO, IT'S BASED ON YOUR SEX.

>> ALMOST LIKE WE'RE STOPPING AN EPIDEMIC IN ALABAMA THAWS OCCURRING AND I'M NOT SURE EVERYBODY COULD EVER FIND ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS HAPPENING IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> WELL, IT'S HAPPENING NATIONWIDE AND WE DON'T WANT IT TO EVEN HAPPEN ONE TIME.

>> WELL, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN AND NOT HAPPENING AS WE HAVE DESCRIBED IT HERE, NCAA AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ADOPTED THEIR OWN RULES IN REGARDS TO DEALING WITH THIS.

THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO CREATE AN ISSUE OR A SOLUTION THAT'S LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM.

A MAN IS PHYSICALLY STRONGER THAN A WOMAN.

AND THAT'S BIBLE.

SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR BABY DAUGHTERS.

THAT BILL PASSED 83-5 WITH SEVERAL DEMOCRATS ABSTAINING.

THINGS WERE MOSTLY QUIET IN THE SENATE TODAY AS THEY COMPLETED HOUSEKEEPING WORK.

HOWEVER, MEMBERS DID REACT TO THE DADEVILLE SHOOTING.

STATE SENATOR JAY HOVEY REPRESENTS DADEVILLE AND HE WAS FIRST TO THE PODIUM.

>> I'VE BEEN HONORED TO GET TO KNOW THE GOOD PEOPLE OF DADEVILLE AND TALLAPOOSA COUNTY.

AND PEOPLE WILL TRY TO POLITICIZE THESE EVENTS AS SO MANY OTHERS TO BREAK OUR HEARTS.

AND I'M GOING TO SAY AND YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THIS OVER AND OTHER AGAIN AS WE WORK TOGETHER, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET ALONG AND WE CAN ONLY GET THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THESE COMMUNITIES N- THE HOMES OF THESE PEOPLE.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE LEGISLATIVE RESPONSIBILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY OF THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THESE LEGISLATORS AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS WAR IS ONLY WON BY CHANGING HEARTS.

>> STATE SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN IN FAVOR OF STRICTER GUN CONTROL LAWS.

SHE DISAGREED WITH HOVEY'S ASSESSMENT FROM THE FLOOR.

>> THE BILL THAT I HAVE, IN MY OPINION AT THIS POINT, WOULD NOT HAVE PREVENTED WHAT HAPPENED IN DADEVILLE BUT IT'S A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX TO HELP GET GUNS OUT OF PEOPLES' HANDS THAT ARE IN THE HANDS OF THOSE THAT DON'T NEED THEM.

AND IT'S A RED FLAG AND DEPARTS BUT I SAY NON PARTISAN OF THE CONSERVATIVE'S STATES RESPONSE, JUST TO PASS THIS, LAST WEEK, I WAS SAYING THAT I HOPE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DO SOMETHING IN RESPONSE TO A MASS SHOOTING.

AND THEN, DADEVILLE HAPPENED.

>> SADLY THERE IS NOT MUCH TO UPDATE FROM DADEVILLE, BUT POLICE CONTINUE TO ASK FOR INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY PHOTOS OR VIDEOS FROM THOSE WHO MAY HAVE ATTENDED THE PARTY WHERE THE SHOOTING OCCURRED.

THE FBI HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW DIGITAL TIP LINE THAT ALLOWS ANYONE TO ANONYMOUSLY SUBMIT FILES.

THAT'S TIPS.FBI.GOV/DIGITAL MEDIA OUTSIDE OF THE STATE HOUSE IT WAS NATIONAL LINEMAN APPRECIATION DAY.

NOT THE FOOTBALL KIND, BUT RATHER THE PROFESSIONALS WHO BUILD AND REPAIR OUR POWER LINES.

THE ENERGY INSTITUTE OF ALABAMA HOSTED A SPECIAL EVENT TODAY IN MONTGOMERY HONORING LINEMEN FOR THE DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS WORK THEY PERFORM.

>> AS YOU SEE ELECTRICITY BECOMING MORE AND MORE UBIQUITOUS, EVERYTHING THAT WE TOUCH EVERY DEVICE WE USE IS POWERED BY ELECTRICITY AND PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET HOW HARD IT IS TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY AND HOW DANGEROUS THE JOB IS.

SO, WHILE WE DO GREAT THINGS, WORKING WITH SENATOR WEAVER TO CELEBRATE YOU AND THE WORK YOU DO, WE ALSO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE THAT PROTECT LINEMEN THAT GO INTO SOMEBODY'S YARD, MAYBE AN UNRULY HOMEOWNER OR A DOG, AND WE WORK HARD TO PROTECT YOU.

>> WE WORK LONG HOURS, AND MAYBE YOU ARE AT A SON OR DAUGHTER'S GAMES AND YOU GET A CALL, HAVE YOU TO LEAVE.

MOST TIMES WE DO HAVE TO LEAVE.

AND WE MAY SIT OUT THERE, 10, 15 HOURS.

WE'RE TIRED, HUNGRY ALL WE WANT TO DO IS GET HOME, GET A BATH AND SEE OUR FAMILY.

BUT THE LINEMAN SIDE OF IT, WHAT I LIKE BEST IS THE REWARD.

WHEN I LEAVE, I KNOW THAT I HAVE GAINED RESPECT, TRUST, AND WITH THAT MEMBER.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S A RELATIONSHIP THERE THAT THEY KNOW, IF THEY CALL, WE'RE GOING TO COME, NO MATTER WHAT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME NEXT, STATE SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT FROM BALDWIN COUNTY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> YOU ARE INVOLVED IN A LOT OF TOPICAL ISSUES NOW WITH THE SESSION.

AND SOME STEMMING FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF SESSIONS.

WE REPORTED ON THE POLICE JURISDICTION AND YOU PASSED LEGISLATION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ESSENTIALLY WANTING THESE TOWNS AND CITIES TO REPORT ON THE TAXES THEY ARE COLLECTING, FEES AND FIND AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IT CAME WITH A BIG CATCH, IF THEY DIDN'T REPORT TO THE STATE WHAT THEY ARE SELECTING, THEY COULD NO LONGER OPERATE, I MEAN, COLLECT THE FINES AND TAXES IN THE AREA.

I THINK THERE WERE 128 THAT DIDN'T SO THAT MEANS THAT GOES AWAY.

TELL ME ABOUT THE ISSUE, HOW IT ORIGINATED AND WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THIS WAS A BIG PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT DID A MULTITUDE OF THINGS BUT TO DRILL DOWN TO THIS PORTION OF IT.

THE STATUTE PRIOR TO BILL THAT I PASSED, ACT 2197 SAID REALLY TAXES, FEES, ET CETERA THAT WERE COLLECTED WITHIN THE POLICE JURISDICTION NEED TO BE EXPENDED IN THE POLICE JURISDICTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FOLKS AND THAT WAS AT LEAST THE IDEA AS IT EXISTED BEHIND PRIOR.

SO WE SAID OKAY WE'RE GOING TO GO WITH THE PREMISE BUT WE'RE ASKING YOU, JUST TAKE A MINUTE TO FILL OUT A ONE PAGE FORM AND DEMONSTRATE THAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO SHOW US HOW THAT IS HAPPENING.

ONE PAGE FORM SAID, HOW MUCH ARE YOU COLLECT ANYTHING THE CITY.

HOW MUCH ARE YOU COLLECTING OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

AND FOR INSTANCE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE POLICE JURISDICTIONS, WHAT'S THE RATIO OF YOUR CALL VOLUME, INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE CITY, AND WHAT'S THE BUDGET FOR YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR EXAMPLE.

AND WE THOUGHT FROM THOSE FEW DATA POINTS, YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WITHIN THE REALM.

AND THE CATCH WAS, YOU HAD TO NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT OF EXAMINERS THAT YOU COLLECTED MONEY OUTSIDE OF THE MUNICIPAL LIMITS, FILE THE REPORT, THE ONE PAGER THAT I JUST WENT THROUGH WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EXAMINERS.

SO THAT YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE TO US THAT YOU ARE DOING WHAT THE STATUTE SAID.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T NOTIFY NOR FILE THE REPORT, THEN YOU WERE NO LONGER ABLE TO COLLECT THE MONEY BECAUSE YOU WERE NOT DEMONSTRATING WHAT THE STATUTE ALWAYS SAID.

AND AS YOU CORRECTLY POINTED OUT, WE HAD 128 MUNICIPALITIES AROUND THE STATE, AN INDICATION THAT THEY WERE EXERCISING THE POLICE JURISDICTION AND DIDN'T FILE THE REPORT LAST MONTH.

SO, EFFECTIVE LAST MONTH, THEY ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO COLLECT ANY FINES, FEES, OR TAXES OUTSIDE OF THEIR MUNICIPAL LIMITS.

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, TODD, THINK PROBABLY IN FACT, GOING TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAX CUTS WE'VE SEEN IN ALABAMA HISTORY BECAUSE THOSE TAXES AREN'T GOING TO BE COLLECTED ANY MORE.

>> AND NOW, GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE CITIES AND TOWNS THAT DIDN'T, BASED ON THAT LOSING THE ABILITY TO TAX, THEY SAID WE DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER WITH IT ANY WAY.

WE DON'T GET THAT MUCH.

AND OTHERS SAID, WE DIDN'T KNOW.

LIKE, THE LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES, TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT.

WERE YOU SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT SOME DIDN'T EVEN KNOW?

>> RIGHT, I WAS VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR FOLKS DIDN'T KNOW.

THIS WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I STARTED WITH IN MY FIRST YEAR OF LEGISLATURE AND TOOK SEVERAL YEARS TO GET PASSED.

AND WE WORK FOR MANY YEARS WITH DIFFERENT MANY PARTIES.

AND THE LEAGUE HAS DIFFERENT CONFERENCES WITH THE TAX COLLECTORS, CLERKS, MUNICIPAL LEADERS AND ALL VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE BILL AND LOBBIED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SENT OUT NOTICES AND IF YOU GET L GO BACK AND GOOGLE THE ISSUES ON THE STORIES WRITTEN, THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS.

I'M NOT SURE I BUY THE "WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT."

BUT I DO THINK THAT SOME FOLKS MAYBE IGNORED IT, MISSED THE DEADLINE.

AND AGAIN, THE DEADLINE WAS ONE YEAR AGO WITH A GRACE PERIOD, JUST TO BE CLEAR, ENTIRE 12 MONTH PERIOD.

AND SOME DID THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH AND THEY SAID, WE CAN'T JUSTIFY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE AND AS YOU SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE UP ON IT BECAUSE WE WERE NOT MEETING THE REQUIREMENT OF THE STATUTE PREVIOUSLY ANY WAY.

>> I WAS ASKED BRIEFLY, IF CITIES WANT TO GET IT BACK, WHAT DO THEY DO?

OH, JUST TURN IN THE DATA AFTER THE DEADLINE AND THEN YOU GET YOUR ABILITY TO TAX BACK.

IT'S DONE.

IT IS.

AND THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE AGAIN, THERE WAS A DUE DATE.

AND THEN THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT ONE YEAR GRACE PERIOD FOLLOWING THE REPORT'S DUE DATE TO FILE THAT AND STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO LEVY THE TAXES, FINES, AND FEES.

I THINK THERE WAS AMPLE TIME BETWEEN THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL, EFFECTIVE DATE, AND GRACE PERIOD, WHICH IS ALMOST 20 MONTHS.

SEVERAL BUDGET PERIODS ELAPSE HAD, ET CETERA.

AND TO GET THIS AGAIN, VERY SIMPLE AMOUNT OF DATA INTO THE STATE.

>> OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING, HAPPENS TO BE SUN SET DAY IN THE SENATE WHERE THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, THESE THINGS THAT REGULATE EVERYTHING DOWN FROM COSMETOLOGY AND ALL DIFFERENT SORTS OF OCCUPATIONS.

WE DON'T HAVE THESE BOARDS TO REGULATE SET UP BY STATUTES THAT Y'ALL TEND TO REAUTHORIZE EVERY SO OFTEN.

BUT THIS YEAR, YOU HAD THE LEGISLATION, YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES REALLY HAVE SHOWN SHONE THE SPOTLIGHT ON A COUPLE OF GROUPS, PANELS, THAT YOU HAVE ISSUES WITH AND MAYBE DON'T NEED THE MORE CAREFUL SCRUTINY.

WALK ME THROUGH THAT.

>> DURING MY TIME HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE LOOK AT DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONAL BOARDS COMING THROUGH SUNSET AND FRANKLY AS THEY HAVE CONFLICTS WITH EACH OTHER, WE'VE NOTICED A PROBLEM.

I STARTED LOOKING AT THIS BACK IN THE SUMMER AND FOUND SOME OLD STUDIES, BY TROY AND OTHERS, WHERE OVER THE STATE'S ENTIRE WORKING POPULATION IS GOVERNED BY ONE OF THESE LICENSING BOARDS AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF KEY ISSUES.

ONE, THE AMOUNT AND COST OF SOME OF THESE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES, WHETHER OR NOT IT'S A BARRIER TO THE WORK FORCE PARTICIPATION RATES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND THEN YOU LOOK AT PROTECTIONISM, FRANKLY, ONE BOARDS SAYING, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT CAN DO THIS, CAN'T DO THAT OVER THERE.

WE'VE SEEN THAT WITH BOARDS ESPECIALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD PARTICULARLY THAT FIGHT WITH EACH OTHER OVER TURF.

IT'S NOT JUST A MATTER OF, HEY, GO PAY YOUR FEE TO GET THE LICENSE.

IT'S, YOU CAN'T DO THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE DONE THREE OR FOUR OF THEM UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF, AND YOU WILL NEVER GET UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT CAN DO IT.

IT'S NOT HEALTHY FOR OUR ECONOMY.

AND THEN, YOU RUN INTO OTHERS THAT ARE RUN BY SOME PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE VERY MUCH PROFIT MOTIVE TO THEM.

>> LIKE A COTTAGE INDUSTRY.

>> RIGHT, AND PEOPLE RAKING IN OFF MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT TOO.

AND THAT COMES OUT OF THE WORKERS THAT ARE JUST TRYING TO CUT HAIR, BE A LOCKSMITH OR A BAIL BONDSMAN OR WHATEVER.

AND WE LOOKED AT THE STATES AROUND US, HOW THEY WERE DOING IT, HOW THEY GAINED EFFICIENCY, AND HOW THEY PROCESSED THAT FOR BAIL BONDSMAN THAT YOU DO FOR A LOCKSMITH, AND THAT REALLY HAD SYNERGIES AND ENERGIES AND YOU DIDN'T NEED STAFF TO DO THIS HERE, THERE.

AND THEN YOU GOT SEPARATE BOARDS FOR REALTORS, AND SEPARATE EVERYTHING AND IT'S A LOT OF DUPLICATION.

LET'S SEE AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STREAMLINE THIS.

>> DO YOU THINK IN THE FUTURE, WE MAY SEE LARGER LEGISLATION, MORE BROAD TO LOOK AT THIS?

IS IT GOING TO TAKE A GROUP OF Y'ALL TO SIT DOWN AND COME UP WITH A BROADER LICENSING REFORM?

>> AND THE GOVERNOR HAS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THIS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND EXACTLY.

I WAS ALREADY PRETTY FAR DOWN THE PATH WHEN I HAD THIS LAW.

AND AS YOU POINTED OUT, SUNSET DAY HERE, WE'LL BE DEALING WITH THE SUNSET DAYS HERE.

AND FOR VIEWERS, IT'S RE-AUTHORIZATION OF THE BOARDS.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT THEM, ARE THEY SEPARATE OPERATING PROPERLY, ARE THEY TO GO THE THINGS RIGHT.

AND PROBABLY WE'LL DO THAT WITH SOME OF THE BILLS TODAY.

AND THEN LOOK AT THE BROADER PICTURE AS WE LOOK AT THE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSING IN ALABAMA AND WHETHER OR NOT IT NEEDS SIGNIFICANT REFORM.

AND I LOOK AT ONE OF THE LAST VESTIGES IN ALABAMA OF THESE DUPLICATIVE BOARDS AND HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE THEM AND YOU KNOW, SAVING TAXPAYERS AND LAWMAKERS MONEY AND A LOT OF HEADACHE.

>> WELL, THE SOFTBALL GAME, YOU HAD A BIG HIT AT HOME PLATE THAT WE AIRED.

TALKING ABOUT THAT VIDEO, THE FUN OF THE GAME AND ALSO FOR A CHARITABLE PURPOSE.

>> RIGHT, IT'S FOR CHARITABLE TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THE TORNADO, SPECIFICALLY IN THE AREAS OF SELMA.

I'M GLAD WE'RE DOING THAT.

IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPETITION, CAMARADERIE AND THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO HAVE THAT, GETTING SOME OF THE COMPETITIVE JUICES OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

AND IT'S A MUCH BETTER TIME TO DO THAT ON THE FIELD THAN WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO PASS LEGISLATION.

IT'S FUN, EXCITING, AND WE GET TO PICK BACK AND FORTH WITH EACH OTHER.

AND I WAS JUST DOWN ON THE HOUSE FLOOR A MINUTE AGO SAYING HELLO TO MY GOOD FRIEND REED INGRAM WHOM WE HAD A LITTLE COLLISION WITH LAST TIME.

ALL IN GOOD FUN AND I'M SEEING HOW THAT TRANSPIRES TONIGHT.

>> WE INVITE EVERYBODY TO COME OUT, TOMORROW NIGHT, WEDNESDAY, BISCUIT STADIUM.

>> IT'S EXCITING.

>> THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

♪ >> TODAY IS FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA DAY HERE AT THE ALABAMA CAPITOL AND JOINING ME NEXT, STATE TREASURER, REAGAN ROGERS.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND I SEE YOUR BLUE COATS AROUND GOAT HILL AND THE STATE HILL HERE AROUND THE BLOCK.

FUN DAY AT THE CAPITOL.

I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE MET THE GOVERNOR.

>> YES, IT'S BEEN A GREAT DAY!

JUST MEETING EVERYBODY AND HEARING ABOUT THINGS THAT LEGISLATORS ARE DOING FOR US.

>> TELL ME MORE ABOUT FFA AND YOUR INVOLVEMENT.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED AS A STUDENT.

>> I'M ONE OF 10 CHILDREN.

AND WHENEVER I WAS 2, MY FAMILY STARTED FOSTERING.

WE STARTED FOSTER AROUND 50 KIDS.

I HAVE A VERY BIG FAMILY.

AND MOST OF MY FAMILY IS INVOLVED IN FFA.

I KNEW BECAUSE OF THE INVOLVEMENT THAT I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED SPECIFICALLY IN QUARTET, FOUR PERSON SINGING COMPETITION.

NOT WHAT YOU THINK OF WITH FFA.

BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE A TEAM THAT YEAR FOR QUARTET.

SO, I DECIDED TO BE INVOLVED AS AN OFFICER AND BRING OTHER QUARTETS AND COMPOSITIONS THAT WERE DROPPED EARLIER.

>> WHERE IS HOME?

>> SPRING GARDEN.

>> I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE AT AUBURN.

>> YES I AM.

>> WAR EAGLE.

WHAT'S YOUR MAJOR.

>> CHEMICAL ENGINEERING.

>> MOST PEOPLE MAY ASSUMING THAT FFA GO INTO AGRICULTURE TYPE MATTERS AND THEN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING MAY BE APPLIED THERE.

SO HOW MIGHT YOU USE THAT?

>> FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT AND MEDICINE RESEARCH.

AND IT CAN BE USED FOR PESTICIDES, GMOS, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN THINK OF COULD BE RELATED TO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND AGRICULTURE.

>> AND I KNOW THAT FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA IS AN ENRICHING PROGRAM.

LAST YEAR, I WAS TALKING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND HE CONVINCED THE LEGISLATURE FOR SOME FUNDING MECHANISMS THAT WOULD ALLOW AUTO ENROLLMENT FOR FOLKS, STUDENTS THAT GET INTO AGRI-SCIENCE CLASSES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT HAS BENEFITTED THE RANKS OF FFA.

>> IT HAS.

AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP WAS PASSED BY THE STATE, IN THE BUDGET OF THE STATE ALLOWING US TO DOUBLE OUR MEMBERSHIPS FROM 16,000 TO 32,000.

AND GIVES EVERY STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ORGANIZATION.

AND WE'VE SEEN IT IN TRACTOR ACTIVITY, COMPETITIONS AND OTHER INTERVIEWS.

AND WE'VE SEEN THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS REALLY INCREASING BECAUSE OF THE OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO STUDENTS OR PARENTS OF STUDENTS WHO MAY BE LOOKING FOR EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.

MAYBE FFA IS AN OPPORTUNITY, ENCOURAGING THEM TO GIVE IT A TRY?

>> ABSOLUTELY GIVE IT A TRY!

FFA HAS SOMETHING FOR EVERYTHING.

WE TALKED ABOUT HOW I WANT TO GO INTO CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND NOT NECESSARILY THE AGO SIDE.

SO THAT'S A MISS CONSUMPTION THAT IT'S FARMING AND AGRICULTURE.

THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE, AND PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE UNTIL THEY ARE INVOLVED.

SO IT'S GOOD TO TAKE A STEP INTO IT AND SEE WHAT'S INCLUDED BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION.

>> PLUS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE TO MONTGOMERY AND SOMETIMES WASHINGTON, D.C. TO MEET THE ELECTED LEADERS.

HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO MEET SOME OF YOUR OWN PERSONAL STATE RECOMMENDATION AND LEADERS?

>> YEAH, IT'S A GREAT THING WE GET TO SEE HOW JENNY CHAVERS REPRESENTS US, AND WE TALK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS ADVOCATES LIKE HER AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT SHE DOES FOR US.

>> HAVE YOU SHARED ANYTHING WITH THESE LEADERS ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS AND MAYBE AGRICULTURAL SIDE OF POLICY?

>> PERSONALLY, I HAVEN'T.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS I LIKE TO SAY IS THANK YOU TO THEM.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH, THEY TALK TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY MUCH MORE INFORMED THAN I AM.

SO, I SAY THANK YOU TO THEM SPEAKING US FOR US AND BEING A VOICE FOR US.

>> WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IT'S NOT TOO LONG BEFORE WE SEE YOUR NAME ON THE BOARD AS ONE OF THESE ELECTED LEADERS.

>> MAYBE SO.

>> REAGAN, THIS IS FUN, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

GOOD LUCK IN SCHOOL AND AGAIN, WAR EAGLE.

>> WAR EAGLE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW TONIGHT AND WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.