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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL".

WELL, AFTER A HOPEFULLY RELAXING SUPER BOWL WEEKEND, IT'S BACK TO WORK THIS WEEK FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

THE REGULAR SESSION CONVENES TOMORROW FOR THE TENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY OF THE 30-DAY SESSION.

ON THE SENATE'S AGENDA THIS WEEK IS TAKING UP A SERIES OF BILLS AIMED AT HELPING MAKE ALABAMA A MORE MILITARY FRIENDLY STATE.

LT. GOV.

WILL AINSWORTH AND SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED SAY THERE ARE WAYS ALABAMA CAN BE MORE HOSPITABLE TO MILITARY FAMILIES.

>> AND IN THE HOUSE, LAWMAKERS WILL TAKE UP LEGISLATION MAKING SURE WORKING FAMILIES AREN'T TAXED BY THE STATE FOR FEDERAL TAX CREDITS THEY RECEIVED LAST YEAR.

HOUSE BILL 231 FROM REPRESENTATIVE JIM CARNS OF VESTAVIA WOULD PROHIBIT ANY OF THE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FROM BEING CONSIDERED TAXABLE INCOME BY THE STATE.

>> THE SENATE HAS ALREADY PASSED AN IDENTICAL BILL, SO IT COULD BE SENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK THIS WEEK.

TURN WE NOW HAVE THE FIRST POLITICAL CANDIDATE UPSHOT FROM THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING ON REDISTRICTING.

THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATE QUALIFYING WAS JANUARY 28, BUT A LOWER COURT ORDERED THAT QUALIFYING FOR CONGRESS BE EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 11 TO ALLOW NEW DISTRICTS TO BE DRAWN.

ON FEBRUARY 7, THE SUPREME COURT BLOCKED THAT ORDER FROM TAKING EFFECT, CALLING INTO QUESTION WHEN EXACTLY THE TRUE DEADLINE IS.

MEANWHILE, DOTHAN BUSINESSMAN JEFF COLEMAN, WHO TODAY LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS IN ALABAMA'S SECOND DISTRICT, ATTEMPTED TO QUALIFY BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL DEADLINE AND THE COURT-IMPOSED DEADLINE.

COLEMAN IS PRESSING FORWARD WITH HIS CAMPAIGN, BUT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL SAYS IT WILL BE UP TO THE ALABAMA REPUBLICAN PARTY TO DECIDE HIS FATE.

>> COLEMAN IS CHALLENGING CONGRESSMAN BARRY MOORE OF ENTERPRISE IN A REMATCH OF THE 2020 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RUNOFF.

MORE OF MY INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY MERRILL HERE IN A BIT.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE NAPOLEON BRACY OF PRICHARD HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS ISSUES AT THE PRICHARD WATER BOARD.

THE MOBILE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MISUSE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

BRACY SAID THE ALLEGATIONS ARE IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS, THE ALABAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS ALSO INVOLVED.

AS PART OF THE PRISON CONSTRUCTION PLAN PASSED LAST YEAR, THE STATE WILL PURCHASE THE PERRY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND USE IT TO REHABILITATE INMATES SOON TO REACH PAROLE.

IT'S A KEY PART OF THE STATE'S GOAL TO STOP THE REVOLVING DOOR OF INMATES RELEASED FROM PRISON ONLY TO RETURN FOR ADDITIONAL CRIMES.

SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO WAS HIGHLY INVOLVED IN MAKING THE DEAL HAPPEN, AND LAST WEEK HIS COLLEAGUES RECOGNIZED HIS WORK ON THE SENATE FLOOR.

PERRY COUNTY SOT WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> BBPPTHAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

JOIN US BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 FOR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

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