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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

WE ARE JUST ONE DAY AWAY FROM THE START OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S 2024 REGULAR SESSION, AND JUDGING BY THE CROWDED HALLS TODAY LAWMAKERS ARE READY TO GO.

A QUICK REMINDER THAT GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WILL DELIVER HER ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS TOMORROW FROM THE OLD HOUSE CHAMBER OF THE STATE CAPITOL.

YOU CAN WATCH THE SPEECH LIVE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

OUR COVERAGE BEGINS AT 5:30 AND THE SPEECH BEGINS AT 6:00.

TODAY IN THE STATE HOUSE, THE FIRST OF TWO DAYS OF BUDGET HEARINGS PRECEDING THE SESSION.

LAWMAKERS FROM THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEES MET TODAY TO HEAR FROM AGENCY LEADERS ABOUT WHAT THEIR BUDGET NEEDS WILL BE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.

SENATE GENERAL FUND CHAIRMAN GREG ALBRITTON EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT EVEN THOUGH THE GENERAL FUND HAS GROWN, STATE EXPENSES ARE GROWING AT A PACE THAT WILL BE TOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH.

>> I HAVE TYPICALLY IN MY TENURE HAD BUDGET HEARINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, ALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITY.

I DIDN'T DO THAT THIS YEAR.

AND I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE AND ERROR.

MY PURPOSE THIS TIME IS TO TRY TO HELP THE COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR MONEY IS GOING AND HOW MUCH WE HAVE GROWN IN OUR BUDGET NEEDS FROM ONLY A FEW YEARS AGO.

THAT'S MY PURPOSE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO CAST STONES BUT TRYING TO DO IT FOR EDUCATION, HOW MUCH MORE MONEY IT'S TAKING TO DO THE SAME OLE THING.

>> DO YOU THINK THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THAT BUDGET?

>> NO.

NO.

I THINK OUR HEYDAY IS OVER AND I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION, AND WE MAY BE SEEING MANY MORE THINGS WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE BUDGET INCREASED REQUESTS FROM STATE AGENCIES.

ALEA IS ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $47.6 MILLION TO COVER INCREASED COSTS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAYS IT NEEDS AN ADDITIONAL $158 MILLION, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES $72.9 MILLION, MEDICAID $92 MILLION AND MENTAL HEALTH $39.6 MILLION.

AGAIN EACH OF THESE AGENCIES DETAILED HOW INCREASE COSTS ACROSS THE BOARD WERE FORCING DIFFICULT FINANCIAL DECISIONS.

ONE AGENCY DIRECTOR, CAM WARD AT THE BUREAU OF PARDONS AND PAROLES, SAYS HE IS LOOKING FOR COST EFFICIENCIES BY PARTNERING WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES ON EFFORTS LIKE JOB TRAINING AND MENTAL HEALTH, BOTH OF WHICH REDUCE RECIDIVISM.

>> SET OUT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF GOALS, AND BY THE WAY, FOR NOT MORE MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE, BUT WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THE EXISTING RESOURCES TO PARTNER WITH ALL OF THE AGENCIES UP HERE.

AND WE'VE ALSO HAD OVER 15 PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES THAT SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO ARE FORMERLY INCARCERATED.

WE HAVE A LABOR SHORTAGE, YOU HEARD FROM THE SECRETARY OF LABOR, AND THE GOVERNOR AND WE'VE PARTNERED WITH VARIOUS COMPANIES AROUND THE STATE.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE FOUND?

IT WORKS.

IT GOES BACK TO MY THREE-LEGGED STOOL.

I SAID THERE ABOUT THE REENTRY IN 2030.

ONE, WE WANT TO GO FROM 30% OF RECIDIVISM, RANKING 25TH IN THE COUNTRY TO LESS THAN 15% WHICH MAKES US IN THE TOP FIVE BEST IN THE COUNTRY BY THE END OF THE DECADE.

WE CAN GET THERE.

THROUGH JOB TRAINING.

THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

WE GET THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW PARTNERS.

IT'S NOT NEW MONEY.

MONEY WE'RE USING ALREADY.

WHY DON'T WE DIRECT THOSE TOWARD THE RESOURCES TO BE SURE SOME DON'T COMMIT A CRIME AGAIN.

YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE STUFF WE'VE DONE.

ALABAMA POWER COMPANY, BUILT A TREE LINE TRIMMING PROGRAM OUT OF PERRY COUNTY.

WHERE WE NOW HAVE GRADUATES GOING THROUGH THE PROGRAM, AND WHEN THEY LEAVE, GUESS WHAT?

THEY ARE CLEAN AND THEY GET A JOB.

THAT'S WHAT WE WANT.

>> THE PUSH TO EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET TO RURAL AND UNDERSERVED PARTS OF ALABAMA RECEIVED A BIG FINANCIAL SHOT IN THE ARM TODAY.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY WAS IN HER HOMETOWN OF CAMDEN TO ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $180 MILLION FOR SO-CALLED MIDDLE MILE BROADBAND PROJECTS.

THE GOAL IS TO HELP FILL THE GAPS IN BROADBAND EXPANSION FOR AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE EXPANSION COSTS HAVE PROVEN TO BE ECONOMICALLY PROHIBITIVE.

TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO 12 INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS TO INSTALL MORE THAN FOUR THOUSAND MILES OF BROADBAND PROJECTS.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY: IT BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES LIKE CAMDEN TO COMPETE IN THE DIGITAL AGE.

HERE IN RURAL ALABAMA, AND MANY AREAS ACROSS THE STATE, THE LACK OF ADEQUATE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE HINDERS POTENTIAL.

>> I SAW FIRSTHAND THAT MY CONSTITUENTS EXPERIENCED DUE TO THE LACK OF BROADBAND AND AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE, I HAVE REMAINED COMMITTED TO CLOSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE.

I KNOW NON OF US CAN DO IT ALONE.

IT'S TRULY A STATE EFFORT, LOCAL, AND COMMUNITY EFFORT AND WE CAN BE PROUD THAT GOVERNMENT IS WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.

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

>> JOINING ME NEXT, JOHN TREADWELL, CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TODAY.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TODD.

SESSION STARTS TOMORROW.

>> RIGHT.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

READY TO GO.

>> TODD STACY: ONE REASON I WANTED YOU ON, I KNOW THERE'S UPDATES TO THE BILL-DRAFTING SYSTEM.

WE COVER THE LEGISLATURE, AND WE SORT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE FLOOR.

BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENE, NOT JUST WITH STAFF BUT THE LAWMAKERS.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME UPDATES HOW YOU DO BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

WE USING THE NEW LINK SYSTEM, INTEGRATED SYSTEM AND AFTER MOVING AWAY FROM A SYSTEM WE USED OVER 25 YEARS, IT WAS AN INTERESTING PROCESS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD ACTUALLY GO LIVE.

WE THINK WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL SESSION, THINGS WE LEARNED AND TWEAKS AND CHANGES, IDENTIFIED TO MAKE SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THE I.T.

FOLKS TO MAKE ENHANCEMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SESSION.

I THINK LEGISLATORS AND STAFF, PUBLIC AS WELL ARE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THE ENHANCEMENTS IN THE SESSION.

>> TODD STACY: ALL ABOUT GOING SMOOTHY, NO HICCUPS.

>> RIGHT, FROM THE BILL DRAFTING STARTING IN LSA AND THEY BEGAN USING THE SYSTEM THERE WHEN IT MOVES TO COMMITTEE, INTRODUCTION, COMMITTEE, CHAMBER FLOOR, MOVING TO THE NEXT CHAMBER, BACK.

AND ALL OF THE MOVING PARTS, IT'S INTEGRAL TO THE LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM INTEGRATED AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, PUSHED OUT FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION AS WELL SO THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS BUILDING.

>> TODD STACY: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

IF YOU ARE LAW ENFORCEMENT, STAFF, LOBBYIST, YOU USE THESE STEMS AND ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THEM EVERYDAY.

WHAT ARE YOU ARE AN INTERESTED CITIZEN WANT TO GO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATION, KEEP UP WITH IT, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT?

>> WE MADE ENHANCEMENTS, ALISON.STATE.U.S.

AND THAT TAKES YOU TO THE LANDING PLACE FOR THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE.

SEVERAL TABS IN THE LANDING SPOT.

ONE OF THEM IS THE BILL TAB LEADING YOU TO THE ABILITY TO SEARCH AND SEE BILLS THAT ARE INTRODUCED BY MEMBERS FOR THIS SESSION.

AND ALLOWS YOU TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT BILLS FROM PRIOR SESSIONS.

THERE'S BEEN ENHANCEMENTS TO THAT PROCESS AS WELL.

AND ALSO, WE'VE ENHANCED OUR BILL TRACKING FEATURE.

GO IN WITH A GOOGLE ACCOUNT AND CREATE A TRACKING ACCOUNT.

SAY YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BILLS IN HEALTH CARE, YOU CAN GO THROUGH THERE AND SEARCH BILLS RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, AND THEN CREATE A TRACKING LIST WITH THE BILL NUMBERS ON IT.

ANY TIME ANY MOVEMENT IS MADE BY THE BILL, PUT ON COMMITTEE AGENDA, REPORTED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND ACTED ON ON THE FLOOR ALL OF THAT IS SENT TO THE USER UNDER THE TRACKING SYSTEM.

AND LOBBYISTS ARE AWARE OF THAT AND PUBLIC IS BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THAT FEATURE, SOMETHING THEY CAN DO TO BE AWARE AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AND WHEN THESE SESSIONS GET GOING, THERE WILL BE ADVOCACY EFFORTS TO SAY FOLLOW HOUSE BILL X AND THEY MAY KNOW THE BILL NUMBER, GO AND LOOK FOR THEMSELVES TO READ THE INFORMATION FOR THEMSELVES AND FOLLOW.

THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD FEATURE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THAT.

>> WE HAD MEETINGS PANELING ON THE GENERAL PAGE AND THAT'S A PLACE TO SEE WHERE THE BILLS ARE BEING HEARD IN THE COMMITTEE.

THERE'S AN AGENDA UP ON A PARTICULAR COMMITTEE ON A PARTICULAR DAY.

CLICK ON THE BILLS, READ THE BILLS INDIVIDUALLY FROM THAT POINT.

ALSO, IF IT'S THE DAY OF THE COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE'S A LINK TO CLICK ON TO THE COMMITTEE MEETING, LIVESTREAM THAT COMMITTEE MEETING IF IT'S IN ONE OF THE ROOMS WITH THE LIVESTREAM CAPABILITY.

IN THE HOUSE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF COMMITTEE ROOMS WITHOUT THE LIVESTREAM CAPABILITY BUT MOST OF THEM YOU CAN WATCH IT LIVE AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN COMMITTEE.

>> THAT'S A HUGE UPGRADE FROM JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO WHEN THAT STUFF DIDN'T EXIST.

SO IT WON'T BE TOO LONG UNTIL ALL OF THIS IS IMPROVED, COMMITTEE ROOMS, CHAMBERS, EVERYTHING IN THE NEW STATE HOUSE.

RIGHT BESIDE US HERE IN THE BUILD, THEY DUG A HOLE TO PREP FOR THE CONSTRUCTION.

TELL ME ABOUT THE LATEST THAT YOU ARE HEARING FROM THE PROJECT MANAGERS AND ALL OF THAT ABOUT THE NEW STATE HOUSE, TIMELINES, THINGS LIKE THAT?

>> WE'RE CONTINUING TO MOVE INTO THE DESIGN PHASE, ARCHITECTS, DESIGN FOLKS LOOKING FOR THE BEST DESIGN POSSIBLE FOR THE NEW STATE HOUSE.

LOOKING AT PUBLIC ACCESS, SECURITY AND SAFETY, AND TECHNOLOGICAL FEATURES THAT WE CAN CAPITALIZE ON TO MAKE IT WORK MORE SMOOTHY FOR THE STAFF AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS TO BE ABLE TO OFFER SPACE FOR OUR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN COMING THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE EVERY YEAR.

AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SPACE FOR THEM, AND THE ABILITY TO MANEUVER THEM SAFELY THROUGH THE STATE HOUSE TO HAVE AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE WALLS OF THE STATE HOUSE.

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPITALIZE ON THINGS AND THINGS ARE CONTINUING TO MOVE WELL.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROJECT.

>> THAT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THE SCHOOL CHILDREN, FOURTH GRADERS STUDYING ALABAMA HISTORY.

THIS BUILDING, FACE IT, THE HALLS ARE SMALL, THE CEILINGS ARE LOW.

SOMETIMES YOU FEEL BAD FOR THEM.

SO THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR UPGRADE.

I KNOW IS THERE A TIMELINE, I WAS TALKING TO SECRETARY HARRIS, MAYBE 2026, ELECTION YEAR, MAYBE AFTER THAT?

>> I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MOVING IN 2027, ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION AND THAT'S A CLEAN START FOR THE QUADRENNIUM AND THERE'S AN AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE NEED TO MOVE THINGS IN, MAKE SURE THE BUILDING IS OPERATIONAL, VOTING SYSTEMS WORK CORRECTLY, EVERYTHING IS INTEGRATED PROPERLY.

WE NEED TO BE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO.

SEEMS LIKE THE BEST CASE SCENARIO IS UP AND RUNNING FOR THAT ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION IN 2027.

NEW TERM, BRAND NEW BUILDING, NEW SESSION.

AND WE APPRECIATE BEING INCLUDED, OUR SPACE IN THERE.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

MR.

CLERK, WE'LL SEE YOU ON THE FLOOR.

GOOD LUCK!

>> THANK YOU AND WE NEED IT.

APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> TODD STACY: WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

LEGISLATIVE SESSION STARTING TOMORROW, MY COLLEAGUES RANDY SCOTT AND JEFF SANDERS JOINING ME TO SAY WHAT TO EXPECT COME TUESDAY.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

I KNOW IT'S A BUSY DAY.

>> JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE!

>> SO, SESSION STARTS TOMORROW ON TUESDAY.

WE HAVE A LIVE COVERAGE STARTING AT 5:30, STATE OF THE STATE.

THEN THEY GET INTO THE NITTY GRITTY.

HOW IS THE VIBE OUT THERE?

WHAT'S THE VIBE OF GOING INTO THIS SECOND SESSION OF THE TERM?

RANDY, I'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WELL, SEEING SOME OF THE LAWMAKERS THUS FAR, EVERYBODY SEEMS TO BE POSITIVE, ON THE UPLIFT.

AND I KNOW THAT THE HALLS ARE STARTING TO SLOWLY FILL UP.

AND OF COURSE, WE GET TO THE GAVEL DROPPING TOMORROW.

EVERYBODY IS EAGER AND READY FOR WORK.

AND THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROPOSED BILLS AND PROPOSALS, IN OTHER WORDS.

SO, EVERYBODY IS READY TO GO FOR LACK OF BETTER WORDS.

>> JEFF, YOU ARE THE NEWEST TO THE TEAM AND YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING POLITICS FOR DECADES.

WHAT'S YOUR IMPRESSIONS THIS WEEK IN THE HALLWAYS THIS WEEK?

>> SEEMS TO ME, IF IN THE FOLKS THAT I TALK TO, I HATE TO SAY THE WORD EXCITEMENT, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF OPTIMISM, THINK FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THEY REALLY WANT TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, REALLY HARD AND FAST AS THE SESSION BEGINS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF TO GET PUSHED THROUGH THIS YEAR.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE COVERING A LOT OF THE SENATE.

STARTING THERE, WHAT ISSUE DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF THE GATE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT?

>> THE ABSENTEE BALLOT BILL THAT SENATOR JUDGER IS TALKING ABOUT, IT DIDN'T MAKE IT LAST YEAR TO THE SENATE SO THAT MAKES IT A CLASS A MISDEMEANOR TO ASSIST SOMEBODY ELSE ON ABSENTEE BALLOT.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC PUSHBACK AND ELDERLY COULD BE SENTENCED BECAUSE THEY NEED SOMEBODY TO TAKE THEM TO THE BALLOT BOX.

AND REPUBLICANS PUSH BACK AND SAY, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER.

AND DEMOCRATS SAY, HOW MUCH FRAUD DO WE HAVE IN ALABAMA?

IS THIS SOMETHING WE NEED TO WORK ON.

SO I KNOW THEY ARE HITTING THE GROUND ON THAT TACKLING THIS WEEK.

AND LAST YEAR, IN THE HOUSE, IT WAS THE LONGEST THAT WENT ON I REMEMBER.

WHAT ABOUT THIS YEAR?

WHAT DO YOU HEAR IN THE HOUSE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE MIGHT SEE HERE IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS?

>> I KNOW EDUCATION IS SOMETHING THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO COVERING AND TALKING ABOUT.

THEY FEEL AS THOUGH THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE STATE MOVE FORWARD FROM A WORK FORCE STANDPOINT AND BASICALLY FROM A SCHOOL STANDPOINT THAT THEY HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, SCHOOLS, DISTRICTS ALL HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

THIS IS WHAT MOVES THE STATE.

THIS IS WHAT GETS PEOPLE INTERESTED IN COMING TO ALABAMA.

AND THE WORK FORCE, IF IT'S GOOD, THAT COMES FROM THE PEOPLE EDUCATED WITHIN THE STATE READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE WORK FORCE AND MOVE THE STATE FORWARD.

EDUCATION WAS ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.

AND PIGGYBACKING ON WHAT JEFF SAID, MAKING SURE THERE WAS SECURE ELECTIONS.

THEY WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY ARE FAIR ELECTIONS.

THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, TALKED ABOUT A LOT LAST YEAR.

TALKING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE SECURE BUT TALKING ABOUT, TOO, THAT THEY ARE FAIR, MOST IMPORTANTLY.

>> TODD STACY: YEAH, I WAS TALKING TO REPRESENTATIVE HASSELL ABOUT THAT, SIGNIFICANT PUSH BACK AND THINK IT'S WHY REPUBLICANS ARE START ANYTHING THE SENATE SO EARLY BECAUSE LAST YEAR, THEY WAITED TOO LATE AND IT WAS KIND OF IMPOSSIBLE.

RANDY, STICKING WITH YOU.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR ABOUT GAMBLING.

>> THEY SAY IT'S BACK AND EXPECTING LEGISLATION BUT SAYING IT'S GOING TO START IN THE HOUSE.

WHAT'S THE RUMORS YOU ARE HEARING?

>> THE RUMORS WE HEAR IT'S GOING TO START IN THE HOUSE.

WE GUESS IT'S GOING TO START IN THE HOUSE.

IS IT GOING TO START IN THE HOUSE?

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FOR THE TALK ABOUT THE GAMING ISSUE.

BUT THE GAMING ISSUE IS WHAT THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SEE?

WHAT DO WE HAVE TO WORK WITH?

>> THE SPECIFICS, DOES IT REALLY MATTER.

>> RIGHT, THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD IS WHAT MATTERS.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO PRESENT IT, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

AND ALL OF THIS DISCUSSION IS GOING ON ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW.

>> LIKE HERDING CATS.

>> YEAH.

>> OR TRYING TO, WELL, YEAH, LIKE YOU SAID, HERDING CATS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY ARE LOOKING TO, WHO IS GOING TO HANDLE IT, WHAT'S THE TALK.

AND THINK PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET THE TALKS IN.

ONCE THE SESSION STARTS, THAT TRAIN IS GOING DOWN THE TRACKS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE QUICK FOR SOME PEOPLE.

>> TODD STACY: I GUESS THE REASON IT STARTS IN THE HOUSE IS THE LAST COUPLE OF TIMES THAT IT EVEN HAD A CHANCE, BACK TO 2021 WHERE THEY PASSED A BILL IN THE SENATE BUT WENT TO THE HOUSE AND DIED, IT KIND OF RAN OUT OF TIME.

SO, THINK THE SENATE HAS AN ATTITUDE, LOOK, Y'ALL FIGURE IT OUT IN THE HOUSE, IF AND WHEN YOU GET A BILL IN THE HOUSE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO WASTE OUR TIME ON IT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE HEARING?

>> YEAH, EVERY WAY THEY LOOKED AT IT WENT AFTER IT FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, DIDN'T WORK.

AND IT PASSED SENATE BUT DIES AND DOESN'T EVEN COME UP IN THE HOUSE.

SO, I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THEY ARE SHAPING THAT CONVERSATION THIS YEAR.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW, TRAVELING TO STATES, SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS GATHERING INFORMATION AND TALKING TO FOLKS, LOCAL OFFICIALS.

THEY HAVE A PLAN.

FROM WHAT I AM HEARING, IT LOOKS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE SAW THE PAST FEW YEARS.

THE ISSUE IS, HOW MANY TRACKS IS IT GOING TO GET IN THE HOUSE.

TRACTION IS IT GOING TO GET.

IT'S NOT A REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRATS ISSUE.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH IT IN THE PAST BECAUSE IT CLOSES DOWN SOME OF THE BINGO HALLS IN THE WEST ALABAMA AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LET THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

>> RIGHT, SOME OF THE HALLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

AND YOU REMEMBER, A SHORT TIME AGO, BETWEEN THE TIME OF THE NEW YEAR, THERE WERE ADS BEING RUN ON AIR TALKING ABOUT GAMING ISSUES, TRYING TO GET THE PEOPLES' ATTENTION AND SAY, HEY TALK TO YOUR LAWMAKER MAKING SURE THEY ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

BUT AS YOU SAID, IT GETS TO THE HOUSE, SENATE AND GETS BOGGED DOWN.

I HAVEN'T SEEN LATER BUT SEEMS LIKE AROUND NEW YEAR'S, THEY STARTED OUT AND FADED OUT.

>> RIGHT, I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE, POLITICAL CAMPAIGN AND THESE ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS, THEY TEXT YOU.

I GUESS IT WAS A PRO GAMING BELIEVING GROUP.

HERE'S A LINK, CONTACT YOUR LAW ENFORCEMENT WHICH WAS JUST LAST WEEK.

QUESTIONING, IT'S COMING.

JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE LEGS OF THE GAMBLING STOOL.

LOTTERY.

ALABAMA IS ONLY ONE OF A HANDFUL OF STATES WITHOUT A LOTTERY.

CASINO GAMBLING, EXPAND DOLLARS CASINO GAMBLING AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, REGULATION OF THAT.

AND THEN SPORTS BETTING.

ALLOWING THAT AND REGULATING THAT.

WHAT I KEEP HEARING FROM THE MEMBERS, WHO HAVEN'T SEEN THE BILL, DRAFT BILL, YOU ARE RIGHT, BECOMES AND DEMOCRATS.

IT'S A NEBULOUS KIND OF ISSUE.

LOOKING FOR HOW MUCH IS IT TAXED.

ARE WE REALLY TAXING IT TO THE EXTENT THAT THE STATE SHOULD.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO.

IS IT EDUCATION?

HEALTHCARE?

MENTAL HEALTH CARE?

THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IS IT TRULY GOING TO BE REGULATED, TRULY GOING TO BE ENFORCED?

OR ARE THESE FLY BY NIGHT OPERATIONS GOING TO BE LET GO.

THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS FOR THE BILL SPONSORS AND I IMAGINE THE CONVERSATIONS ARE GOING ON PRETTY HOT AND HEAVY.

>> THEY ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO GO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THE ISSUE OF SCHOOL CHOICE IS EXPECTED TO COME UP THIS SESSION.

I'LL ASK YOU BOTH, WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE RANK AND FILE, PROSPECTS OF A SCHOOL CHOICE BILL, LIKELY, OR NOT OR STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL?

>> ANTHONY DANIELS, MINORITY LEADER OF THE HOUSE, SAID WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE THERE'S MANY CASES WHERE YOU HAVE SOME ENTITIES THAT ARE GETTING STATE FUNDING, THAT DON'T NEED IT, CLAIMING THEY ARE A CHARTER SCHOOL, SCHOOL OF CHOICE.

AND HE SAYS, THERE'S SOME REALLY BIG NEEDS TO GO THROUGH THIS WITH A FINE TOOTH COMB AND SAY DO WE NEED THIS?

OR DO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH A LOT OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS WERE SAYING WHEN THEY HAD A MEETING, AT DEXTER MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH TALKING ABOUT THEIR PLATFORM.

IT'S AN ISSUE FOR AND AGAINST, PEOPLE ARE, BUT THEY WANT MORE UNDERSTANDING ESPECIALLY COMING FROM THE LEGISLATIVE STANDPOINT.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY, ARE THERE GOING TO BE STANDARDS.

ANY FLY BY NIGHT SCHOOL THAT MAY GET TAX DOLLARS.

>> JEFF, WHAT DO YOU HEAR?

AROUND THE STATE, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING, LIKELY FOOD FOR GROUND SWELL, CHOICE OR NOT?

>> WELL, IT'S AN ISSUE, WHETHER YOU ARE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, IT'S A PUSH FROM THE GOVERNOR, SHE WANTS SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A MOMENTUM FOR IT THIS YEAR.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS SOMETIMES WHAT SCHOOLS BENEFIT, ARE PRIVATE SCHOOLS GOING TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF THIS.

THAT'S THE PUSHBACK THAT YOU SEE.

I NEVER MAKE PREDICTION INS POLITICS BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE MORE MOMENTUM THIS YEAR THAN IN YEARS PAST.

>> TODD STACY: I AGREE WITH THAT.

AND THINK A BIG REASON FOR THAT, THE REPUBLICANS, ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE, THERE'S SORT OF A NATIONAL JUICE BEHIND THIS AND A REAL DRIVE FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

YOU HAVE SEEN THAT IN OTHER STATES AND EVERYTHING.

I DO THINK THERE'S A DESIRE FROM CONSERVATIVES, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, HEY, LET'S DO SOMETHING.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, THE DETAILS MATTER SO MUCH.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS TO LOOK FOR, ARE THERE GOING TO BE A CAP ON EXACTLY HOW MUCH MONEY IS ALLOWED TO GO TO SCHOOL CHOICE VOUCHERS.

ARE THERE STANDARDS ATTACHED TO IT, ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.

WILL THOSE STUDENTS THAT CHOOSE OTHER SCHOOLS ARE THEY GOING TO BE TESTED SAME AS PUBLIC SCHOOL TESTING.

AND DOCTOR MACKEY IS WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

>> YOU ARE HEARING THAT BOTH FROM DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> AND WE HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS TO WATCH.

STATE OF THE STATE TOMORROW AND THIS WEEK IS GOING TO BE FULL OF BUSY.

>> I'LL BE HERE, HERDING THE CATS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

WHEN THE SOVIET UNION SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED SPUTNICK IN 1957, THEY NEEDED TO QUICKLY JOIN THE SPACE CASE.

AND REDSTONE ARSENAL AND VON BRAUN SUGGESTED USING A MODIFIED ROCKET TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND THIS WAS AMERICA'S FIRST SATELLITE INTO ORBIT, JANUARY 31, 1958.

AND THE SATELLITE REMAINED IN SPACE UNTIL 1970.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT FOR OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF THE STATE OF THE STATE.

THAT'S 5:30, HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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