From our state House studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacy.

Welcome to Capitol Journal.

Today was the 12th legislativ day of the 2026 regular session, leaving 18 more days remaining between now and early April.

The big news of the day cam in the House of Representatives, which was poised to take up a slate of bills aimed at reining in data center and their impact on power rates, and changing the governance structure of the Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities.

Those three bill were at the top of the House's planned agenda, but were eventually removed in the final agenda that was adopted.

The issue was with House Bill 392 from State Representative Chip Brown of Mobile, which, among other reforms would change the Public Service Commission from an elected body to an appointed one.

Brown said the votes were ther to pass it in the House today, but Senate passage was questionable.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter agreed, saying it would be unfair to force House members to take such a tough vote if the landscape is so uncertain.

Upstairs in the Senate.

Well, it's it's actually written in my legislation that you have to have a minimum one public hearing a year.

And so.

Also in there was ethics reform.

And, you know, no, no utility can pass on their lobbying cost to their customers.

So if you look at actuall the list of the people that pay the lowest rates were only one of only ten state in the United States that still elect their public service commission.

I had a conversation wit someone from Florida recently, and the perso that they just picked to head up their public Service Commissio is a retired nuclear physicist.

I mean, it's it's just a different it's a different type of professionalism.

And it's, I think you could have a better job of economic development in setting long term strategy.

Then today it's about it's about rates.

It's about cost.

And that's what I'm concerned about is lower in our costs.

I mean if I'm in a lot of conversation around that, rightfully so.

I think one of the things that's been missed, it's kind of been, misleading, is the fact that, you know, Alabama's only one of ten states it does doesn't appoint public service commissioners.

And of those states in the United States, those ten states that does election has the highest utility rates in the country.

So there's a parallel with that.

I think that was one of the things that sponsors wanted to do is try to align us up with the rest of the country.

And, you know, we had the vote in the House and we got enough to pass it.

And it just come down to the fact that, you know we didn't have for sure in the, in the Senate that we could get it out.

And I know they've got a lot of movement going on, a lot of things happening.

And I think they wasn't ready to get the bill.

And, I've talked to the pro tem multiple times about it.

And I think for them it was better to kind of wait and see where it lands.

State Senato Arthur Orr of Decatur confirmed that members of that body had concerns with the PSC legislation.

He spoke with reporters about what he's hearing from colleagues and constituents when it comes to that resistance, and he and the hesitation to move forward with the legislation.

Number one, first and foremost, taken away the people's right to vote, potentially on that particular body on those particular positions.

Secondly, I think they see that the perception is, is that the PSC is a public serves as a public watchdog, for the public.

And so, that's, you know, who are those people going to be if they were to be appointed?

How's that going to work?

So, you know, I think that autonomy that's, perceived by the public is is a pretty strong, perception that they have.

And that's being reflected in the Senate's, you know, lack of desir to, to take up the legislation unless there's a concrete, resolve to pass it.

Tense moments today on the Senate floor as a bipartisan bill dealing with funeral service fees stalled after pushback from lawmakers.

Senate Bill 107 is sponsored by State Senator Vivian Figures of Mobile.

It would authorize the Alabama Board of Funeral Services to impose new administrative fees, including up to $30 per funeral arrangement.

A fiscal note issued in January estimated the proposal could generate between 850,000 and $ million annually for the board.

Supporters say the changes would hel fund oversight and regulation.

But critics questioned whether the new charges amount to a tax increase on families during an already difficult time.

The debate ultimately led senator figures to carry the bill over delaying further action.

For now.

We need regulation of things.

You know, when we were elected to our office, we we took an oath saying that we will protect the health, safet and welfare of our constituents.

And this is what this does.

I had calls from our funeral directors had just sai that they looked at the numbers, and they're not happy with the bill.

I'm going to vote no.

And I'd encourage everybody else.

You know, taxes sometimes ought to hand when you die.

But for this bill, it looks like a done you.

My people back home want this bill.

And obviously, our politics are local.

I know you've been working on this bill even last year.

And then bringing it back this year.

You saw my name.

You know, I've seen my name on this.

And so I just wanted to say thank you for the time and effort into this.

We'll continue to work this bill.

Obviously, it's not dead so I just want to say thank you.

With all due respect, Mister Pro Tem, I needed you to say that while we were discussing the bill.

But thank you.

A bill that would allow Alabam public school students to leave campus during the school day for religious instruction advanced through the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 248, sponsored by State Senator Shay Shelnutt of Trussville would expand state law on release time.

Religious programs and clarify how students can receive elective credit for attending off campus.

Religious instruction provided safety guidelines and local policies are met.

Shelnutt told lawmakers he worked with educators and stakeholders to addres concerns and improve the bill.

There's been a lot of work done with the Superintendents Association and school boards.

The no longer have to adopt a policy.

The last year that was required, a local school board superintendent may deny participation if there's an objective, substantial risk of physical harm.

SB 248 add a local affiliation requirement, so only churches or local community based religious groups can run release time programs.

SB 248 adds a mandator check out authorization process that did not exist under last year's bill.

Background checks are allowed.

So that adds that the sponsored entity entity may conduct criminal histor background checks for personnel likely to have direct ongoing contact with students.

Missed work.

SB 248 specifie that students remain responsible for any missed school wor while in release time, and adds a clause explicitly stating that local board are not sponsoring the program and the programs are not under the school supervision and control.

That bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support and now heads to the full Senate.

And we'll be right back with tonight's guest.

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Click on the online video tab on the main page.

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Lawrence County native E.D.

Nixon was a long time leader of the civil rights movement in Alabama.

He worked tirelessly to increase the number of registered black voters in Montgomery, and was one of the key organizers of several civil rights organizations in the state.

In 1945, he was elected as the president of the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP.

Just two years later becoming the state president of the organization.

In 1955, Nixon and a group of Montgomery area clergy and civic leaders founded the Montgomery Improvement Association, or am I?

The image provided a focal point for activism in Montgomery's black community, and its leaders organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in which the city's black citizens refused to ride public transportation for an astounding 381 days.

Long overdu recognition was finally bestowed on this early civil rights hero with the Montgomery County Public Schools system, named an elementary school in his honor in 2001.

APT is Alabama.

Storyteller.

Stories of Alabama history.

The arts.

Alabama museum.

Learn more online at AP tv.org.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is State Representative David Faulkner of Birmingham.

Mr.

Faulkner thanks for coming on the show.

I appreciate you having me.

Absolutely.

You've had a lot going on this session, but right at the top of thi list is, your camp safety bill.

And I know it's a tough topic because you represent the family of Sarah Marsh, who was one of the 27, young people that were killed in that camp mystic in Texas during that horrible, tragic flood.

The unspeakable.

For parents?

Yes.

You represent the family.

And I understand that's the kind of the background in bringing this bill.

That's right.

Sarah.

Sarah Marsh, who was a member of, unfortunately, a member of heavens 27.

The she was the only non Texas member of heaven 27 that that that group of girls that lost their lives that were at camp mystic and her parents, Jill and Patrick Marsh, reached out about bringing this bill to make camp safer here in Alabama.

There was a real effort, as you know, to make camp safer in Texas and put requirements taught.

It's shocking when you look around the country at the really the lack of regulations, requirements on our camps.

You know, people entrust their children, to go to camps and expecting that camps are going to, you know, have things whether it be background checks, whether it be emergency plans.

And Alabama was no different than most states.

We simply did not have those requirements.

Now, let me caveat that we have great camps in the state of Alabama and they do good things.

In fact, they're doing most of the things already.

But there was no there's no oversight.

There's no requirement that they do those things.

These are simple, commonsense safety measures.

That camps need to follow.

And then, you know, the great part is, even if a camp's already doing this, well, then you'll know that, hey, your procedures are being reviewed by emergenc professionals and they're good.

And you know somebody is there to tell you, hey, that's a good way to do it.

This is something you may you ought to think about.

And so but yes, there ar these regulations that would be.

Yeah in the bill.

So things like, notifications, alarm systems, that can be heard indoors and outdoors in a time of an emergency, criminal background checks on your staff, that are working with the children, their children.

Things like, you know, precautions for being able to communicate in a time of emergency that doesn't require cell service, or internet, where you can be able to have communication with the cabin where your campers are staying in the time of an emergency.

Because some of these camp are located in places, that cell service is pretty bad, right?

I mean, I think that was th case, and you can't miss that.

That's what happened in camp mystic.

There was there was no ability to communicate with the people in the cabins to say, get out.

And by the time, you know, the owner of the cabin tried to come get them.

He was swept away.

Right.

And it was too late.

And so then it's also training.

It's training your staff to know what your emergency plan is.

So those having those type of things, the training, the communication, you know, these are not cabins not being located in a in a in a floodplain.

These are not things that are not, you know, that that camps are not doing.

But we want to make sure and we want to have requirements.

I was going to ask you about that because anytime you talk abou regulations, conservatives or, you know, kind of resistan to any kind of thing like that, I was going to ask you, why do we need regulations?

It seems that you're saying many camps are doing the right things, but there needs to be oversight.

Sure.

I mean, because they may be doing it because their liability insurance requires it.

Okay.

You know, they in there may be doing it because they know it's the right thing to do.

And they're most of them are.

So, you know, this but that's the thing is to have that oversight, somebody going and inspecting and reviewing your emergency plan.

Is this the best way having professionals review that camp's plan and say, hey, you do a really good job of kids having fun and keeping them safe?

But let us help you.

Let us show you the you know the best way to do this.

The best way to have these plans so that kids are safer.

Yeah.

Campers are safer when they are.

And let me remind you, this bil is only for overnight campers.

So for da camp, we're not for day camps.

This this is for.

And we had a lot of help with this bill.

The camp association.

I thanked him yesterday.

I had camp owners I spoke to directly myself.

They were great in the process of helping me make the bill better.

Same time, I want to thank Emma, for being willing to take this on.

I was going to ask, are they the agency that will be overseeing this?

That's correct.

Okay.

Th the Emma is going to take this.

Now.

We've got to get them some personnel and the funding, and we're going to do that.

To have people to take on this license function, to license these camps.

But Emma will be the primary organization, and we'll do the licensing.

And then we have an advisory council, which is made up of emergency type professionals.

It also has people from the camp association that is going to sunset in three years, but will help the Emma as they create their rules to make our to make our camp safer.

So that, you know, I really feel like, you know, Sarah, God can take some terrible things and he can make good come from it.

And that's what Sarah legacy and these girls that are in heavens 27.

It's so tragic, but I truly believe that her legacy will outlive us.

And Sarah's legacy now is going to save children's lives.

I believe this with all my heart.

And I think this is something that we know we need to do in Alabama.

And, you know, I've got, the governor has issued her support.

She issued a press release.

The speaker was my number two co-sponsor.

You know, he believes in.

And then, of course, I had like 68 co-sponsors, co-sponsors.

And frankly I may have had the whole body, but I just finally got too tired of going around the chamber to get signatures.

But something tells me when it hits the floor, everybody's going to kind of sign on.

And you're right, that camp is a big summer camp and captains of all kinds are.

It's a big part of growing up.

I want to camp.

Shout out cam maywood and Hamilton, Alabama.

It is a big part of.

And, and an enriching part of childhood.

And it seems to m that part of the byproduct here.

I know that after that horrible tragedy, parents started asking questions and is part of it, maybe some peace of mind for parents, as they know it's not just recommended, it's required now of, you know, do you think some parents might have some peace of mind if this becomes law?

I don't think there's any question.

I think the Texas floods, and the and this loss of life at camp mystic, you know, has take I think it's taken the nation.

You know, take notice of because I went to camp.

My kids went to camp, and they went to a great camp here in Alabama.

Right.

You know, so what we just this, you know, to me, it's just it's something that we know needs to be in place, but we all assumed we kind of assumed without asking that this was these things were required, that these things were done.

When you entrust someone with your child's safety and care for a period of nights, maybe weeks, maybe even a month, you know, maybe longer.

You know, these things need to be in place.

And, I really think we've gotten this bill in a really good place.

That it's it' like I said, it's going to honor Sarah's legacy.

Well, I hope you'll keep us updated as that goes forward.

Well, and and Todd, it's speake picked number one for Tuesday.

Okay.

So it's the first bill up Tuesday.

Right.

Next week.

That's that's moving pretty fast then.

Another bill.

I wanted to ask you about your partnering with Senator Woods on this disclosure in sexual abuse settlements.

We had him on early i the session to talk about this.

It's travel through the Senate.

It's it's way in the House.

I mean, you're a litigator, and we talk about why this is important in terms o those victims of sexual abuse.

And it's called Trey's Law.

That's correct.

It's named after, Trey Carlock.

Trey, ended up committing suicide.

Trey's had been abused at another camp.

Not not a camp in Alabama.

Right?

The car locks are from Texas, and he went to a camp that was outside of Texas and was, sexually abused by a, perpetrator later, criminal who went to jail, for three life sentences for the the, sexual abuse that he committed on Trey.

Trey had entered into a settlement agreement.

And that settlement agreement prohibited Trey from speaking about the sexual abuse the facts of the sexual abuse.

And so he it really worked him over, over the years.

So some years later when Trey had become an adult, reached the age of majority, and he just it was, you know, it was too much.

It was eating him alive.

That's a great way to say it.

And so his sister, Elizabeth Phillips, came and met with me, met with Matt Woods and said hey, would you all bring this?

Bill and Matt and I both agreed and signed up to do it and to carry it.

And it's it's now, as yo know, passed today is on the way to the governor's desk and I expect her to sign it.

But what it does is it prohibits, as a matter of public policy in the state of Alabama, that if someone has been sexually abused and pursuant to the statutes that are in the bill when they've been sexually abused, sodomized, assaulted t and pursuant to those statutes, that you cannot have an agreement that prohibits the victim from being able to talk about the facts of the sexual abuse.

You can still a victim can still enter into a settlement agreement.

A victor victim can still ente into a nondisclosure agreement.

But the disclosure that relates to the the facts surrounding the sexual abuse, you cannot, keep someone from talking about that.

Okay.

That cannot that part can't be silenced.

And like I said Elizabeth Phillips she's going around the country for her brother.

She is the.

If I didn't say that she is the sister of Trey.

Yeah.

And, she actually met with m on two on the camp safety bill because she.

Because it happened at a camp.

Well, her good friend, Elizabeth's good friend lost a child.

Wow.

It can't mistake.

And Elizabeth knew how she had worked with Trey's law.

And so she has helped the heavens.

27, families to do this in other states.

And so basically Trey's law.

And now, of course, you know that, you know, Emily Schultz and Elizabeth Phillips are the ones who were the first intermediaries to reach out to m on behalf of the Marsh family.

And then, of course, I sat down with the Marsh family on.

So, yeah, that's on its way to the governor.

We're running out of time.

But I've got to ask you about this computer science bill.

Sure.

It passed today on the House floor.

Because you've been workin on this, making sure that our, high school students essentially, or have some kind of computer science training because that's the world we're, you know, living in now.

What is the what is your what is today's bill do?

So I passed this bill last year out of the House.

The state Board of Education has mandated last year that computer science be a graduation requirement.

We added some emerging technologies, some, type, coursework around that.

That can happen in the computer science or graduation requirement.

It cannot be a colleg and career readiness indicator.

But in and of itself, it can be as connected to other things.

But what we're doing her is we are putting this in state law that this is going to be a graduation requirement.

And it'll, it'l it has a few touch ups to that, but in the nuts and bolts setting, I mean, nuts and bolts of it, that's what it's doing.

Okay.

Well, we'll be following that to, understanding how important computer science is.

Mr.

Ortner, thanks so much for your time sharing all thi and keep us updated.

Thank you.

Thank you.

John.

We'll be right back.

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Few individual in the history of American sport have possessed greater athletic ability than Bessemer, Alabama native Vincent Bo Jackson.

Auburn University second Heisman Trophy winner.

A three time all SEC and two time All-American selection, Jackson is the only running back in Auburn history to rush for more than 4000 yards in a career.

In 1986, both the NFL' Tampa Bay Buccaneers and MLB's Kansas City Royals drafted Jackson, decidin not to play for the Buccaneers because they didn' want him to also play baseball.

Jackson signe his first professional contract with the Royals.

The next year, the Los Angeles Raiders drafted Jackson with the understanding that he would also be allowe to play baseball, making Jackson one of the few athletes to succeed in both professional footbal and baseball at the same time.

In March 2013, ESPN Sports Science named Jackson the greatest athlete of all time.

He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

You can watch past episodes of Capital Journal online any time at Alabama Public Television's website.

aptv.. org.

Click on the online video tab on the main page.

You can also connect with Capital Journal and link to past episodes o Capital Journal's Facebook page.

That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

Don' forget to tune in tomorrow night for our Capitol Journal's Week in Review.

That's 730 right here on Alabama Public Television for our Capital Journal team, including Rod Richardson, whose birthday is today.

Happy birthday rod.

I'm Tod Stacy.

We'll see you next time.