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

>> WE WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

IT WAS AN ACTION-PACKED, FAST-PACED DAY IN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

WHILE THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR THE 11TH LEGISLATIVE DAY, MOST OF THE WORK HAPPENED IN COMMITTEE.

THAT'S WHERE LEGISLATION AIMING TO PROVIDE IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION CLINICS LEGAL PROTECTIONS TO OPERATE WERE DEBATED TODAY.

BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE HEALT COMMITTEES MET TO CONSIDER LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THE SITUATION CREATED BY AN ALABAMA SUPREME COURT RULING SAYING THA FROZEN EMBRYOS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED CHILDREN UNDER ALABAMA LAW.

SENATOR TIM MELSON AND SENATOR LARRY STUTTS, BOTH MEDICAL DOCTORS, EACH BROUGHT LEGISLATION THEY SAY WILL FIX THE ISSUE IN THE LAW.

THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO BE BROUGHT LATER ON THE FLOOR, INCLUDING LIMITING THE LEGAL IMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE PROSPECTIVE PARENTS COULD HAVE RECOURSE SHOULD MALFEASANCE TAK PLACE.

THE MEETINGS CAME AS HUNDREDS O ADVOCATES FOR IVF DESCENDED ON THE STATE HOUSE TO URGE LAWMAKERS TO PASS A LEGISLATIVE FIX.

WANT TO MAKER SURE THAT IF THE MOTHER -- YOU KNOW, SOMETHING HAPPENS THAT SOMEBODY TAKES AN EGG AND PUTS THE WRONG EGG IN THAT INDIVIDUAL OR IF SHE ENDS UP HAVING A SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT HAS STERILIZATION, THEY'RE NOT STERILIZED COMPLETELY AND SHE ENDS UP WITH HAVING AN INFECTION AND THE UTERUS SCARS DOWN OR WHATEVER, THAT SHE STILL HAS RECOURSE.

SO I HAD A BILL ORIGINALLY THAT DIDN'T TAKE THOSE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION IN A RUSH TO GET IT FIXED.

I WAS GLAD THE TRIAL LAWYERS CAME TO ME AND SAID YOU FORGOT -- SO I WILL TAKE THE BLAME -- ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS WHICH IS THE PATIENT.

SO THIS BILL IS AIMED AT MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE PROTECTED AND HAVE THE RIGHTS AND CAN STILL GO THROUGH THIS PROCEDURE NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT BAD OUTCOMES AND NO RECOURSE.

>> YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE THE ECHOS ARE GROWN IN, THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PARTS OF THE PROCESS AND I UNDERSTAND THERE COULD BE SOME ISSUES WITH THEM BEING BLAMED.

AND AGAIN, MY BILL IS NARROW IMMUNITY.

MY BILL, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, IS TRYING TO SAY WHAT YOU WERE DOING A MONTH AGO, YOU CAN KEEP DOING.

END OF DISCUSSION.

A MONTH AGO THIS WASN'T ABOUT ISSUE.

AND WHATEVER YOU WERE DOING THEN, YOU CAN KEEP DOING IT, AS LONG AS YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE USUAL ACCEPTED PRACTICE.

SO MY BILL IS NARROW IN SCOPE.

>> BOTH BILLS FROM THE SENATE PASSED, AND A SIMILAR BILL FROM REPRESENTATIVE TERRI COLLINS PASSED A HOUSE COMMITTEE.

BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE UP THE ISSUE O THE FLOOR TOMORROW.

AND I'LL SPEAK WITH SENATOR LINDA COLEMAN MADISON ABOUT SOM CONCERNS SHE HAS WITH THE LEGISLATION LATER IN THE SHOW.

WE TOLD YOU LAST NIGHT THAT THE SENATE COULD TAKE UP THE GAMBLING LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

TODAY A SENATE COMMITTEE ATTEMPTED TO DO THAT, BUT THING CAREENED OUT OF CONTROL.

THE SENATE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MET TODAY FOR ITS REGULAR MEETING.

THERE WERE NO BILLS POSTED ON THE AGENDA, BUT A PUBLIC HEARIN WAS CALLED TO ALLOW ADVOCATES T HAVE THEIR SAY.

ALL WHILE THERE WAS ALTERNATIVE LEGISLATION BEING DRAFTED BEHIN THE SCENES.

THIS LED TO CONFUSION AND SOME IRRITATION AMONG COMMITTEE MEMBERS, WHO SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE THE LEGISLATION WAS BEFORE THEM OR WHAT WAS IN THE POTENTIAL SUBSTITUTE.

>> EVERYTHING I SAW ON THIS MEME WAS TO BE ANNOUNCED, DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BILL WAS GOING TO BE HERE, DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING.

I HAD PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK ON THE PUBLIC HEARING.

I COULDN'T LET THEM KNOW THERE WAS A PUBLIC HEARING.

IT'S UNFAIR TO THE COMMITTEE AND UNFAIR TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

>> I SEE ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN ON THE LIST TO SPEAK.

IF IT'S ACCEPTABLE WITH YOU ALL I WOULD ASK THE CHAIRMAN TO GIVE THEM EACH A MINUTE TO SPEAK AND THEN I WILL MOVE TO ADJOURN.

I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MEME THE TIME TO FINISH PUTTING SOMETHING TOGETHER WE HAVEN'T SEEN AND TRY TO RAM IT OUT WITH A QUORUM.

>> IF THESE FOLKS HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO US YET IT'S HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING READY TO SAY.

THIS IS -- THEY'RE JUST UP HERE TALKING AND EXPRESSING THEMSELVES AND THEY'RE BACK THERE PUTTING TOGETHER WHATEVER THEY'RE USING TO DO IT SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> THE COMMITTEE EVENTUALLY CARRIED THE BILLS OVER MEANING THEY COULD BRING THEM BACK AT ANOTHER TIME.

SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON WHO IS SPONSORING THE GAMBLING PACKAGE IN THE SENATE SAID THE CONFUSION COMES FROM MULTIPLE CHOICE SENATORS HAVING DIFFERENT VIEWS ON WHAT KIND OF GAMBLING LEGISLATION THEY WANT.

>> THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW, I WOULD SAY MONTHS BUT IN REALITY,INS LAST WEEK.

EVERY EVENING, EVERY MORNING, EVERY DAY.

ALL RIGHT?

AND BETWEEN PHONE CALLS AND TRIPS AND SUCH, YEAH, IT'S A TRYING DIFFICULT MATTER.

THAT'S WHY WE LOVE IT SO.

BUT AS FAR AS TODAY, THIS IS WHAT YOU SEE IN THE SAUSAGE MAKING.

YOU 42 PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER -- AND I WILL ADMIT.

I WAS THE CAUSE OF TODAY'S MEETING.

I WANTED TO HAVE MY BILL IN THE COMMITTEE.

I WANT ACCOMMODATED THAT.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE TWO OTHER SUBS THAT ARE INTERFERING AND THEN YOU HAVE OTHERS THAT ARE DOING THIS AND DIFFERENT VOTE DO YOU UNDERSTAND AND SUCH, IT THROWS A MONKEY WRENCH INTO THAT SAUSAGE AND YOU DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

IT'S MAKING LAW ON THE -- ON-THE-FLY, AND I'M TRYING TO GET A GRASP OF THAT AND THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO CARRY THESE OVER SO THAT WE COULD HOPEFULLY REGAIN TRUST AND REGAIN THE ABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER ON THIS.

>> ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE DEBATED TODAY: ABSENTEE VOTING AND WHAT REPUBLICANS CHARACTERIZE AS BALLOT HARVESTING.

SENATE BILL 1 FROM SENATOR GARLAN GUDGER WAS IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY.

THE BILL WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO HANDLE A NON FAMILY MEMBER'S ABSENTEE BALLOT OR BALLOT APPLICATION, AND EVEN A FELONY FOR PAYING FOR SUCH EFFORTS.

DEMOCRATS FIERCELY OPPOSE THE MEASURE ARGUING IT WOULD MAKE I MORE DIFFICULT FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED VOTERS TO CAST BALLOTS >> THERE ARE PEOPLE OPPOSED TO THE BILL AND PEOPLE FOR THE BILL.

THIS SUBSTITUTE PRESENTED TODAY IS THE BEST TO MY ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES TO PRODUCE A BILL THAT IS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA.

SO VOTING IS SECURE, HONEST, AND IT KNOCKS DOWN WHAT I CALL THE LAST LEG OF THE WAVE OF BAD ACTORS OUT THERE TRYING TO STEAL OUR ELECTIONS ON THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

THIS BILL SHOULD NOT BE READ AT A REPUBLICAN BILL OR DEMOCRATIC BILL OR INDEPENDENT BILL.

THIS SHOULD BE A BILL FOR EVERY ALABAMAION TO HAVE FAIR AND HONEST ELECTIONS.

>> THE BILL WAS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE AND NOW GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE.

IN THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE TODAY, A BILL AIMED A STRENGTHENING THE STATE'S LAW AGAINST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BY MAKING IT APPLY TO IMAGES CREATED BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

SENATE BILL 109 IS SPONSORED BY SENATOR APRIL WEAVER, WHO SAID THE RAPIDLY CHANGING TECHNOLOGY NECESSITATES TAKING ACTION.

>> AS TECHNOLOGY CONTINUES TO CHANGE AT SUCH A FAST PACE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE'RE PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN, OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION AND THIS BILL ADDS AI-GENERATED PORNOGRAPHY TO BE THE SAME AS ACTUAL PORNOGRAPHY AND WE'RE PROTECTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS, THE CHILDREN.

>> IN OTHER COMMITTEE ACTION TODAY, THE SENATE EDUCATION BUDGET COMMITTEE ADVANCED SENAT BILL 31 FROM SENATOR JABBO WAGGONER THAT WOULD PAVE THE WA FOR BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE TO BE ABLE TO DRAW THE $30 MILLION DISTRESS LOAN FUNDING THE LEGISLATURE PASSED LAST YEAR.

THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSED SENATE BILL 153 FROM SENATOR ANDREW JONES.

IT WOULD ALLOW FOR THOSE CHARGE FOR MISDEMEANORS AS YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS TO HAVE THEIR RECORDS EXPUNGED.

THEY ALSO APPROVED SENATE BILL 95 FROM SENATOR VIVIAN FIGURES, WHICH WOULD BAN VAPING DEVICE USE AMONG MINORS.

THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE PASSED SENATE BILL 157 FROM SENATOR ARTHUR ORR, WHICH AIMS TO EMPOWER TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM AND CRACK DOWN ON DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

AND HOUSE BILL 227, THE ETHICS CODE REVISION FROM REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON IS ON HOLD.

THE COMMITTEE MET AND DECIDED T GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AFTER CONCERNS WERE RAISED IN A PUBLIC HEARING.

AND THOSE ARE THE HIGH POINTS O WHAT HAPPENED IN THE STATE HOUS TODAY.

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

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

SENATOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANKS TODD.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> YOU HAD INTERESTING COMMENTS TODAY ON THE IVF ISSUE AND I WANT TO GET TO THOSE.

BUT IN GENERAL, SUCH A SHOWING OF -- FOLKS SHOWING UNIVERSITY HERE AT THE STATEHOUSE GOING TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

I SAW A LINE WRAPPED AROUND THE BUILDING AND Y'ALL ARE PROBABLY HEARING FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU NEVER EXPECTED TO ON THIS IVF ISSUE.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'VE GOTTEN LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF EMAILS THAT STARTED THURSDAY -- I GUESS THEY STARTED WHEN I GOT HOME, AND I TRIED TO ANSWER AS MANY AS I COULD.

AND YOU READ SOME OF THE STORIES.

VERY PERSONALITY STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND THE HEART BREAK THEY HAVE HAD AND THE TRAUMA THEY'VE GONE THROUGH, WHAT IT MEANS TO FAMILIES IN TRYING TO START A FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, THESE ARE HEART WRENCHING STORIES.

WE'RE DOWN HERE PASSING LAWS AND SOMETIMES WE SEEM TO FORGET ABOUT THE FAMILIES AND THE PERSONS AND THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE WOMEN -- WOMEN GO THROUGH SO MUCH.

IT'S HARD.

AND IT'S JUST HEART BREAKING WHEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS GOING ON AND THERE WERE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATEHOUSE TODAY JUST GATHERED.

AND OF COURSE THE COMMITTEE ROOM.

WAS OVERFILLED AND THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THE OTHER MEETING ROOMS DOWN THE HALL SO THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE TODAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATION.

BECAUSE SENATOR MELSON HAS HIS BILL THAT HE ALTERED TODAY, CHANGED IT AND SUBSTITUTED IT.

ANOTHER SENATOR HAS A BILL.

THE INTENTION IS TO FIX THE ISSUE AND OFFER PROTECTION TO THE CLINICS TO GET BACK OPEN.

BUT YOU HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THIS AND OBJECTIONS.

WALK ME THROUGH YOUR OBJECTIONS TO THEIR LEGISLATION.

>> I HAD REAL OBJECTIONS.

I DID NOT GET SENATOR MELSON'S BILL.

I GOT IN REFERENCE TO A LOT OF THE EMAILS THAT SAID SUPPORT SENATOR MELSON'S BILL.

AND I WAS LIKE HE HAS NOT FILED A BILL.

THAT WAS LAST WEEK.

I THINK HE DID FILE IT YESTERDAY.

MY FIRST TIME SEEING IT WAS THIS MORNING WHEN I GOT TO THE OFFICE AND READ THE BILL.

AND, OF COURSE, BY THE TIME I GOT TO COMMITTEE, WE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A SUB BEFORE THEN BUT IT WAS HANDED TO US LITERALLY IN COMMITTEE AND IT WAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.

BASICALLY AS I SAW IT, IT OFFERED PRORATION FOR PHYSICIANS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS OR PEOPLE WHO MAYBE MADE IUDS AND THAT THE DOCTORS USE OR ANY KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT THEY USE.

IT OFFERED BLANKET IMMUNITY TO THEM.

>> SENATOR STUTTS ORIGINAL BILL HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE OF APRIL 2025 AND I THINK IT WAS RETROACTIVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK MELSON'S ORIGINAL BILL HAD BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

>> AND THEY TOOK THOSE OUT.

MY ISSUE WAS, WHAT GOT US HERE WAS THE COURT'S RULING BASED ON THE DEFINITION OF THE LAW WE PASSED OF THE DEFINITION OF A CHILD WHICH STATED AN EMBRYO IS CONSIDERED A CHILD.

AND OF COURSE WE'RE NOT HAVING ANY LATITUDE, THE COURT USED A RULING THAT WAS GIVEN THEN OF THEM.

THEY HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO.

THEY INTERPRET THE LAW.

THEY DON'T MAKE IT.

WE DIDN'T ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM UNTIL WE REDEFINE A CHANGE THAT DEFINITION OF AN EMBRYO AS NOT BEING A CHILD.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK HERE -- WELL, WE ARE.

MELSON'S BILL AND STUTTS BILL IS ABOUT PROTECTING THE INDUSTRY AGAINST LAWSUITS.

SO YOU HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING TO HELP ME AS A FAMILY OR A MOTHER.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS HAD TO ME AND ALL OF MEDICAL PROCEDURES HAVE SOME LIABILITY BUILT IN THERE, YOU ARE SAYING THAT I DON'T EVEN HAVE A RIGHT TO SUE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.

>> BLANKET?

>> BLANKET IMMUNITIES AGAINST CIVIL AND CRIMINAL SO I HAVE A REAL ISSUE WITH THAT.

>> IS IT KIND OF THE THING WHERE, OKAY, THEY'RE TRYING TO PREVENT THESE FROZEN EMBRYOS AND, YOU KNOW, HONEST TO GOD DESCENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT THERE COULD BE MALFEASANCE AND SOMETHING WRONG.

>> IT COULD BE JUST NEGLIGENCE.

>> RIGHT.

BUT NOT JUST IN THE FROZEN PART BUT THE ACTUAL IN VITRO IN ALL OF THESE THINGS SO YOU'RE SAYING THAT LIABILITY NEEDS TO BE LIMITED IN THAT KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCE.

>> IT DOES.

I MEAN, SOMEONE THAT -- THERE'S A LAWSUIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH A COMPANY AND THIS STARTED BACK IN DECEMBER23 AND AGAIN IT'S ABOUT WHATEVER TYPE OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENT OR IMPLANTATION THEY WERE USING BUT IT SAID THE MAGNESIUM NECESSARY TO MATURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTHY EMBRYO -- IT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH.

THERE'S A LAWSUIT.

THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

SO IF WE'RE GIVING BLANKET IMMUNITY, THEN THIS LAWSUIT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, THOSE PARENTS AND FAMILIES CAN FORGET ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO PROTECT THEM.

AGAIN IT'S PROTECTING THE BAD PLAYERS.

AND AS I TOLD ONE OF THE PERSONS WHO SPOKE TO ME AFTER THE MEETING AND I DIDN'T THINK THEY'RE IN THE INDUSTRY OF EXPLORERS THAT WOULD BE PROTECTED UNDER THIS.

I SAID IF WE GIVE BLANKET IMMUNITY IT MAKES THE INDUSTRY LOOK BAD IN EVERY INDUSTRY OR PROFESSION YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BAD PLAYERS.

I DON'T CARE HOW GOOD THEY ARE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE BAD PLAYERS.

IF YOU DO YOU KNOW IF BLANKET IMMUNITY TO EVERYTHING EVERYBODY THAT IS GOING TO SEE, OKAY, SO WE MADE A FEW MISTAKES, WE DIDN'T FOLLOW RULES AND PROCEDURES OR WHAT HAVE YOU, YOU STILL HAVE TO GO TO COURT TO PROVE IT BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I'M IMMUNE FROM THAT.

SO IT'S GOING TO MAKE EVERYBODY LOOK BAD.

BUT THE FAMILIES ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT SUFFER.

>> SO YOU SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO BRING AN AMENDMENT.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE SPONSORS OF THE BILL AND THE MAJORITY WILL BE ACCEPTING OF, YOU KNOW -- I ASSUME THAT Y'ALL ONE AT A TIME TO GET THIS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND NOT HAVE TO COME BACK.

>> IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT.

IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THIS ISSUE OF REDEFINING WHAT A CHILD IS -- WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE JUSTICE LAST THURSDAY.

WE HAD A LIGHT BREAKFAST WITH THEM AND I SPOKE TO TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND I SAID, "AM I ALLOWED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT AINGING THAT YOU JUST MADE.

I GUESS YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

I SAID YOUR RULING ON DEFINING AN EMBRYO AS A CHILD, LET ME JUST ASK YOU ONE QUESTION: CAN I CLAIM THIS EMBRYO ON INCOME TAX?

A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE SCRAMBLING, THE CLINICS ARE CLOSINGS, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND PLACES OUT OF THE STATE, AM I GOING TO BE ACCUSED OF INTERSTATE TRAFFICKING WITH A CHILD?

IT'S DEFINED AS A CHILD.

A SMART LAW LAWYER WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERYTHING THEY COULD.

CHOICE ACT?

I WANT MY CHILD TO BE WELL EDUCATED AND TO LISTEN WHILE THEY'RE IN THERE SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE LISTENING STATIONS.

IT'S FARFETCHED BUT IT'S NOT FARFETCHED BASED ON THE FACT OUR LAWS LACK SPECIFICITY.

SO BASICALLY WHAT I HAVE DONE IS GONE BACK AND LOOKED AT THE THINGS THE HOUSE REQUESTED THAT THIS BILL WOULD PROVIDE AS FAR AS AN AMENDMENT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS IT'S ASKING FOR IS THAT THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE THAT ANY FERTILIZED HUMAN EGG OR HUMAN EMBRYO THAT EXISTS OUTSIDE OF THE HUMAN UTERUS IS NOT CONSIDERED AN UNBORN CHILD OR HUMAN BEING FOR UNDER STATE LAW.

NOW THAT WOULD GIVE US SOME PROTECTION IN THE SENSE OF HOW WE DEFINE IT.

IT WOULD ALSO GIVE THE JUDGES A LITTLE BIT MORE LATITUDE AND THAT DEFINITION.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WANT TO DEFINE AN EMBRYO AS A CHILD, AND THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION WE GAVE THEM, I DON'T FAULT THEM FOR HOW THEY RULED BASED ON THE LAW WE PASSED.

SO I'M ASKING MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES TO, LET'S CHANGE THE LAW, REDEFINE IT, UNTIE THE HANDS OF THE JUDGES, AND GIVE PARENTS AND FAMILIES SOME RECOURSE HERE, ESPECIALLY WITH ADDING SOME LIABILITY IN HERE FOR THE BAD PLAYERS.

>> WELL, WE WILL BE WATCHING.

I'M ASSUMING THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE FLOOR TOMORROW SO WE WILL BE WATCHING CLOSELY THE AMENDMENTS AND THE THING THAT HAPPEN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY TO GO OVER THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT THE WHOLE STATE AND COUNTRY IS WATCHING.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S OUR FUTURE.

>> THANK YOU, SENATOR.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS JOHN DRISCOLL, DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE ALABAMA PORT AUTHORITY.

MR. DRISCOLL THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR INVESTIGATION ME BACK.

>> THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LAST ECONOMIC IMPACT.

YOU HAVE A NEW ONE THIS YEAR, AGO A MONTH AGO AND IT'S EVEN BETTER, THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF ALABAMA'S PORT.

TALK ABOUT IT.

WHAT WERE THE BIG NUMBERS?

>> IT CONTINUES TO BUILD ON A LOT OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR A WHILE NOW.

BUT THE NUMBERS CAME OUT EVEN MORISM PRESS I HAVE.

SO THE PAST 2022 IS WHERE THE NUMBERS WERE TAKEN FROM.

WE HAD 98 BILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT TO ALL 67 COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE, SO IT'S GROWN BY ABOUT 15, 16, BILL DOLLARS FROM THE LAST TIME WE SPOKE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO.

>> WOW.

>> AND THE ONE I'M PROBABLY MOST PROUD OF IS THE JOBS.

THE JOBS CONTINUE TO GROW.

I THINK WE ADDED ABOUT 40 THOUSAND JOBS.

SO ONE IN SEVEN JOBS SOMEHOW HAS CONNECTIVITY TO ALABAMA'S PORT IN EMOTIONAL.

>> I'M GLAD YOU MADE THE POINT IT'S ALL 67 COUNTIES.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE TEND TO THINK ABOUT IT JUST A MOBILE THING BUT GIVEN THE IMPACT IT REALLY TOUCHES EVERY PART OF THE STATE.

>> IT DOES.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRIED TO FOCUS ON AND NOT JUST SAY THAT BUT ON OUR WEBSITE YOU CAN GO IN COUNTY BY COUNTY AND EACH KEY INDICATOR, WHETHER IT'S THE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE NUMBER OF JOBS IN THAT PARTICULAR COUNTY OR DISTRICT FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THE TAX IMPLICATION YOU COULD GO IN AND DRILL DOWN.

WE HAVE SOMETHING PEOPLE CAN SEE AND YOU CAN LOOK AND SEE IN THE COUNTY IN THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE WHAT IS THE IMPACT TO THAT.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK FOR US IS REALLY -- WILL SHOW THE ABILITY OF THE PORT TO REALLY SUPPORT THE BUSINESSES WITHIN THE STATE.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT.

I.

REMEMBER WHEN THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN WAS BEING DISCUSSED.

THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO SHOW THOSE IMPACTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, THERE WAS NEWS THE OTHER DAY ABOUT YOUR EFFORTS IN DECATUR, TALKING ABOUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

TALK ABOUT WHAT GOING ON IN DECATUR AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN IN TERMS OF THE WHOLE PLAN.

>> SURE.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY IS ONE OF THE BIG VALUES THAT THE PORT AUTHORITY HAS IS THAT WE HAVE NINE RAILROADS THAT TOUCH THE GATEWAY, ENTERING OR EXITING.

WE HAVE NINE RAILROADS.

IF YOU HAVE LOOK AT ANY OTHER PORT, IT'S CLASS ONE OR SOME MAY HAVE TWO.

WE HAVE NINE RAILROADS OF WHICH FIVE WERE CLASS ONE, THE LARGEST RAILROADS OF UNITED STATES, ONLY SEVEN IN THE TOTAL UNITED STATES.

SO WHAT OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN IS HOW WE CAN TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE INFRASTRUCTURES.

THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALREADY THERE.

THE RAIL SYSTEMS AND THE MAIN PIPELINES ARE ALREADY RUNNING THROUGH THE STATE INTO AND OUT OF ALABAMA'S MORTGAGE IN MOBILE.

SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IS EXTENDING AND USING THOSE RESOURCES IN COLLABORATION WITH THE RAIL OPERATORS TO USE INTERMODAL CARGO TO DEINDICATOR WHICH IS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE AS YOU KNOW.

SO AS WE HAVE DONE IN MONTGOMERY, AS WE'RE DOING IN MONTGOMERY, WE'RE OPENING AN INLAND -- AN INTERMODAL FACILITY TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE INTERMODAL CONTAINERS TO AND FROM DECATUR AND THE PORT.

>> AND I MEAN WHEN I THINK ABOUT CONTAINERS COMING OFF A SHIP AND ON A RAIL -- AND I HAVE BEEN DOWN TO SEE IT AND IT'S FASCINATING -- BUT ONTO A RAILROAD THAT IS NOT ON A TRUCK.

WE TALK ABOUT CROWDED INTERSTATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

IS THAT A FACTOR?

>> EVERY TRAIN WILL TAKE ABOUT 250 TRUCKS OFF OF THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM.

SO AS WE'RE GROWING -- WE'RE IN THE LAST SIX YEARS WE'RE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CONTAINER PORT IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGES IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES SO AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW, INSTEAD OF THE STRESSING OUT THE ALREADY STRESSED INTERSTATE SYSTEMS, OUR PHILOSOPHY WAS, OKAY, LET'S UTILIZE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY IN PLACE, I.E., THE RILE SYSTEMS AND SO ABOUT 250 INSTRUCTION CAN GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WHEN YOU HAVE A UNIT TRAIN TYPE OF SITUATION.

IT WILL TAKE TIME TO BUILD UP TO THAT BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IN REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE TO REALIZE AND THE PEOPLE AND THE USERS OF THOSE INTERSTATE SYSTEMS.

>> YEAH, IN THIS BUILDING WE TALK ABOUT INTERSTATES AND INFRASTRUCTURE A LOT SO I THINK THAT WOULD BE WELCOME NEWS FOR ANYBODY.

>> SURE.

>> I WANT TO GET AN UPDATED ON DREDGING.

I'M GUESSING IT WAS -- SENATOR SHELBY WAS A BIG PART OF COMMIT HE HAD TO KEEP MONITORING IT, THE DREDGING PROJECT, DEEPENING AND WIDENING THE CHANNEL.

DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE?

>> SURE.

WE STARTED THAT HABIT TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO.

IT'S SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED THE FIRST HALF OF 2025.

SO IT'S AMAZING.

THAT'S LIKE AROUND THE CORNER.

THE ARMY CORP HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH KEEPING THAT ON TRACK FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT AND MEETING THE 2025 TARGETS THEY SET.

IT'S A $366 MILLION SPEND OF WHICH THE STATE IS CONTRIBUTING UP TO 25 PERCENT OR MORE DEPENDING ON WHAT THE FINAL NUMBERS ARE BUT IT'S REALLY SOMETHING THAT I THINK HAS DRIVEN A LOT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THESE ECONOMIC THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, BECAUSE OF THAT -- THAT WILL BE HAPPENING, PEOPLE ARE MAKING INVESTMENTS AND SEEING THIS CAN BE THE DEEPEST PORT IN THE GULF OF MEXICO TO BEFORE I BRING OVER LARGER SHIPS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE CUSTOMERS COMING AND GOING.

>> I WANTED TO GET TO THAT.

WHAT IS THE EFFECT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WE ALWAYS WANTED A DEEPER AND WIDER CHANNEL.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT FOR THE CONSUMER?

>> THE CONSUMER -- IT CAN BE WHETHER IT'S THE CONTAINER OPERATORS, THE COAL OPERATORS OR STEEL OPERATORS.

THEIR' NOW ABLE TO BRING THE LARGEST SHIPS THAT FLY THE WATERS AROUND THE WORLD.

THEY CAN COME INTO THE GATEWAY AND IT IMPACT WOULD MEAN THE COST PER TON USING -- IF YOU LOOK AT COAL AS AN EXAMPLE, METALLURGICAL COAL THAT COMES OUT OF THE STATE IN THE GROUND IN ALABAMA THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO OUR STATE, THEY CAN LOAD ON A NORMAL SHIP, PROBABLY LOAD ABOUT 25 THOUSAND METRIC TONS PER VESSEL.

WHEN YOU CAN DO THAT AND THAT SHIPMENT GOING AROUND THE WORLD, IT CAN BE -- IT CAN REDUCE THEIR COST ON A PER TON OR PER POUND BASIS AS TO HOW THEY DO IT SO IT ALLOWS US TO BE A MORE EFFICIENT PORT FOR THE CUSTOMERS COMING OR GOING OUT OF THE PORT.

>> ONE THAT EFFICIENCY MAKES IT MORE ATTRACTIVE NOT JUST NOR PEOPLE IN ALABAMA BUT AROUND THE STATE.

>> BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES.

SO IF WE CAN BE THE FASTEST, THE BEST AND THE CHEAPEST PEOPLE WILL WANT TO DO BUSINESS AND ONE OF THE REASONS IT HAYES BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL.

WE IS THERE A GOOD LABOR FORCE THAT HAS BEEN VERY EFFICIENT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONTAINER INDUSTRY, THEY AVERAGE WHAT THAT HE CALL 35 MOVES PER HOUR.

THAT'S THE NUMBER OF MOVES ON AND OFF THE SHIP THAT'S THE BEST PRODUCTIVE IN THE SHIP SO WE DO A GOOD JOB.

WHEN SHIPPING LINES MAKE DECISIONS WHERE THEY WANT TO COME TO THEY SAY CAN I GET MY SHIP IN OR OUT AND HOW QUICKLY CAN I DO THAT AND THINK HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB WITH THAT.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO COME SEE IT.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TAKE CAPITOL JOURNAL AROUND THE STATE AND JUST OUT OF MONTGOMERY.

I WOULD LOVE TO COME SHOW OUR VIEWERS THE FASCINATING WORK.

>> WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> APPRECIATE IT TO DO.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

BACK TOMORROW NIGHT WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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