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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

LEADING THE NEWS THIS WEEK IN ALABAMA GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS IS YET ANOTHER ARREST OF A STATE LAWMAKER.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KELVIN LAWRENCE OF HAYNEVILLE WAS ARRESTED ON FELONY FORGERY CHARGES.

THE INDICTMENT FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL ALLEGES THAT LAWRENCE "FALSELY MADE, COMPLETED, OR ALTERED A BUILDER'S LICENSE."

BOTH OFFENSES ARE CLASS C FELONIES AND PUNISHABLE BY ONE TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

LAWRENCE HAS DECLINED TO COMMENT SO FAR.

HOUSE SPEAKER NATHANIEL LEDBETTER SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT HE EXPECTS MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE "TO HOLD THEMSELVES TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF INTEGRITY IN BOTH THEIR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIVES."

AND THAT HE RESPECTS THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO PLAY OUT.

SOME BREAKING NEWS THAT JUST CAME IN THIS AFTERNOON.

ALABAMA HAS BEEN AWARDED A $550 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO GO TOWARD THE MOBILE BAYWAY AND BRIDGE PROJECT.

U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT, WHO SITS ON THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, ANNOUNCED THE GRANT ON FRIDAY AFTER PLAYING THE LEAD ROLE IN PUSHING FOR THE GRANT.

SHE SAID THE INVESTMENT IS A HUGE WIN FOR ALABAMA AND ANYONE WHO DRIVES ALONG INTERSTATE 10.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SAID THE FEDERAL INVESTMENT IS A GAME CHANGER FOR THE STATE'S PLANS TO COMPLETE THE MOBILE BRIDGE AND BYWAY PROJECT.

OFFICIALS FROM THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAY THIS FUNDING ALONG WITH A LOAN THEY ARE PURSUING WILL ALLOW THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD.

MORE GOOD ECONOMIC NEWS FOR ALABAMA.

THE STATE MOVED UP 20 SPOTS IN CNBC'S LATEST RANKINGS OF TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS.

ACCORDING TO THEIR LATEST STUDY, CNBC RATED ALABAMA AS THE MOST IMPROVED STATE FOR BUSINESS IN 2024.

THE STATE IS NOW RANKED 24TH, UP FROM 44TH LAST YEAR.

THE NETWORK CITED ALABAMA'S POPULATION GROWTH, THRIVING TECH INDUSTRY AND THE FOCUS ON IMPROVING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AS KEY FACTORS IN ALABAMA'S ASCENT IN THE RANKINGS.

YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS PAST SESSION LAWMAKERS PASSED AND GOVERNOR KAY IVEY SIGNED INTO LAW A SIX-BILL PACKAGE AIMED AT IMPROVING THE STATE'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MODEL AND REMOVING BARRIERS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MET THIS WEEK AND HEARD FROM STATE SUPERINTENDENT ERIC MACKEY, WHO SHARED THE STATE'S LATEST TEST SCORES.

PRELIMINARY DATA FROM THE ALABAMA COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM, BETTER KNOWN AS ALCAP, SHOWED SOME PROMISING GAINS MADE IN READING BUT SOME DECLINES IN MATH THAT MACKEY CHARACTERIZED AS "DISTURBING."

FIRST ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, WHICH INCLUDES READING.

THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS TESTING AT OR ABOVE PROFICIENCY INCREASED AT EVERY LEVEL FROM 2ND TO 8TH GRADE.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE PERCENTAGE OF SECOND GRADERS PROFICIENT IN ELA WENT FROM 54 PERCENT LAST YEAR TO 59 PERCENT THIS YEAR.

BIG GAINS ALSO MADE AT THE 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH GRADE LEVELS AS WELL.

NO TO MUCH ON THE SUBJECT OF MATH, IT SEEMS.

PROFICIENCY ACTUALLY DECREASED IN GRADES TWO THROUGH FIVE, BUT INCREASED SLIGHTLY AT THE 6TH, 7TH AND 8TH GRADES.

MACKEY TOLD THE BOARD THAT HE AND HIS TEAM ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE MATH SCORES AND WANT TO DIG IN DEEPER TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM.

>> WE ARE GOING TO DO, JUST SO YOU KNOW, AT THE AUGUST STATE BOARD WORK SESSION, WE ARE PLANNING TO DO A FULL UPDATE ON THE SUMMER READING PROGRAMS, AND, SO, WE SHOULD KNOW BY THEN NOT ONLY WHAT ENROLLMENT WAS BUT ALSO PARTICIPATION AND EVEN THE PASS RATE FOR THE SUMMER EXAM.

>> FOR A DEEPER DIVE ON THE EDUCATION SCORES, CHECK OUT OUR SPOTLIGHT ON EDUCATION EPISODE THAT AIRED THIS WEEK.

YOU CAN FIND IT ONLINE AT APTV.ORG OR ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

WE REPORTED LAST WEEK ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BEING THE TARGET OF A CYBER ATTACK.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT HAS A FOLLOW UP STORY LOOKING INTO WHAT THE DATA BREACH MEANS.

>> A WEEK HAS PASSED SINGS THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCED IT WAS THE VICTIM OF A CYBER ATTACK.

THE INVESTIGATION IS MOVING FORWARD, AND THE GOAL IS TO KEEP ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST AGENCIES SAFE FROM FURTHER ATTACKS.

>> A HACKER WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH A VULNERABILITY.

WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT VULNERABILITY, IT'S BEEN CLOSED.

WAS NOT AN OL' DOOR, THOUGH.

THAT'S THE VERY INTERESTING THING.

THE WAY THE AGENTS HAVE EXPLAINED IT TO ME, THEY SAID, LOOK, IF YOU LEAVE A DOOR OPEN, THAT'S ON YOU, BUT, IN THIS CASE, YOU HAD THE DOORS ALL LOCKED, THE WINDOWS ALL LOCKED, BUT THEY STOOD AT THE DOOR WITH A BATTERING RAM UNTIL THEY BROKE THE DOOR DOWN.

>> STATE SUPERINTENDENT DR. ERIC MACKEY SAYS NEW DETAILS SHOW CYBER SECURITY TOOLS ALREADY IN PLACE HELP PROTECT VITAL DATA.

>> THERE ARE EVEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES NOW FOR HIGHER AND BETTER CYBER SECURITY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE CYBER HACKERS ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GET THOSE TECHNOLOGIES.

SO WE THINK THAT, EVEN AS WE BUILD STRONGER WALLS TO KEEP THEM OUT, WE FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW, BUT WE KNOW, IN TIME, THEY WILL ALSO BUILD STRONGER HACKS.

SO IT'S A CONTINUING CYCLE.

>> DR. ERIC MACKEY SAYS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES, BUT, WHILE IT DOES, PEOPLE ARE COMMUNICATING FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE, GATHERING INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE NEW PRACTICES AND TECHNIQUES ARE PUT IN PLACE TO KEEP ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST AGENCIES FROM BEING HACKED AGAIN.

>> AND I WILL TELL YOU JUST AS A SAFE PRECAUTION FOR TEACHERS, FOR ANYBODY WHO HAS WORKED FOR THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCIES AND FOR THE PARENTS AND STUDENTS, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND BE MONITORING THE CREDIT INFORMATION.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN GOING FORWARD.

>> GIVING SCHOOL OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS MORE CONFIDENCE IN SCHOOLS' CYBERSECURITY.

>> IT'S REALLY A SAD TIME THAT THESE CRIMINALS ARE NOT JUST ATTACKING PRIVATE BUSINESSES WHICH WOULD BE HEINOUS ENOUGH, BUT THEY ARE ATTACKING VITAL PUBLIC SERVICES.

>> RANDY SCOTT, "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THE MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION MET THIS WEEK HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

THERE WAS LITTLE FOR THE COMMISSION TO DO BEYOND HOUSEKEEPING MEASURES AS THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSING PROCESS IS STILL HELD UP BY LITIGATION.

BOARD CHAIR REX VAUGHN OFFERED AN UPDATE.

>> WHILE THIS LITIGATION IS GOING ON, WE'LL HAVE TO WORK WITHIN THE CIRCUIT COURTS' DEMANDS.

WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE DONE THAT.

ONCE AGAIN, I'LL SAY THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT ON EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE DONE.

SO, I KNOW AT TIMES WE HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF HAVING SOME BACKDOOR DEALINGS UNDER THE TABLE BUT IT'S NOT BEEN BAD, NONE WHATSOEVER.

THE COMMISSION HAS NOT MET ON THE SIDE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND DONE ANYTHING ILLEGAL.

REALLY, IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE CIRCUIT COURT, POSSIBLY THE CIVIL APPEALS COURT DECIDING THEY'VE HEARD ENOUGH AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS ARE LIKE WE HAVE PRESENTED, LIKE THE COMMISSION HAS PRESENTED.

WE BELIEVE WE ARE SOUND IN OUR I WANT THE WAY WE HAVE AWARDED LICENSES AND WE BELIEVE THOSE AWARDS SHOULD BE ISSUED >> ALABAMA IS KNOWN FOR ITS DIVERSE AND EXTENSIVE WATERWAYS.

OUR LAKES AND RIVERS ARE ALSO MAJOR TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS.

A NEW PROJECT IS AIMING TO BRING MORE TOURISM TO WEST ALABAMA.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S JEFF SANDERS HAS THE STORY.

>> FOR YEARS, THE CITY MARINA IN SELMA WAS NOT A WELL COME SITE FOR VOTERS TO LAUNCH THEIR VESSELS INTO THE ALABAMA RIVER.

>> WITH THIS BOAT LANDING HERE IN SELMA, ALABAMA, THAT FOR A GOOD WHILE, YOU COULDN'T GET A BOAT IN OR OUT BECAUSE OF THE SILITALION.

>> TIM GODFORD IS WITH THE ALABAMA WILDLIFE FEDERATION.

THE MARINA IS EXPECTED TO SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR A FUTURE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

>> THE GROUP GOT TOGETHER AND SAID LET'S GET THAT FIXED.

LET'S ADD NEW BOAT DOCKS.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THE ALABAMA WILDLIFE FEDERATION, ALABAMA POWER COMPANY, RCD AND BASS SAID LET'S GET TOGETHER AND PUT IN A FISHING PAVILION HERE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NEW RENOVATION OF THE LANDING.

>> THE ALABAMA RIVER STRETCHING FROM HERE IN MONTGOMERY ALL THE WAY TO THE GULF OF MEXICO IS A MAJOR ATTRACTION FOR SPORTS FISHING.

ONE TO HAVE THE GOALS OF THE NEW MARINA IN SELMA IS TO BRING MORE SPORTS FISHING TOURNAMENTS.

>> YOU HAVE THE BAIT NOW.

FOR ALL THE FISHERMEN AND WOMEN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHER TOURNAMENTS AND THINGS, YOU CAN NOW COMPETE AND ADD, AND WHEN YOU BRING THOSE TOURNAMENTS, HIGH SCHOOL, THEY BRING THEIR MOMMAS AND DADDIES AND EVERYBODY, SO THIS IS A GREAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> SELMA HAS DONE MORE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD THAN WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR OURSELVES.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS DONE ALONE.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING US ALL TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND I SAY, FOR ALL OF OUR SUCCESS, ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND ALL THE BLESSINGS ALONG THE WAY, I SAY TO GOD BE THE GLORY.

>> THIS IS A GATEWAY TO OTHER PLACES RIGHT HERE IN THE SELMA AREA, WHERE THE HISTORY OF BLACK BELT CAN BE ACCESSED STARTING AT A PLACE JUST LIKE THIS.

>> OFFICIALS SAY PLANS FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS TO MARINAS ALONG THE RIVER ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY.

REPORTING FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M JEFFREY JEFF SANDERS.

>> WE REPORTED LAST WEEK ON THE FIRST ARRESTS BEING MADE UNDER A NEW ALABAMA LAW CRACKING DOWN ON FENTANYL TRAFFICKING.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS PRINGLE SPONSORED THAT NEW LAW AND I CAUGHT UP WITH HIM IN THE STATE HOUSE THIS WEEK.

>> UNDER THE NEW LAW, ESSENTIALLY CRACKING DOWN ON FENTANYL TRAFFICKING AND PUTTING TEETH INTO THE LAW TO DETER IT.

YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT LAW, YOU AND MR. SIMPSON.

ARE YOU SATURDAYS FADE WITH HOW IT WORKED?

>> REPRESENTATIVE SIMPSON AND I ARE JUST THRILLED.

HIS BILL IS ENHANCED FOR DISTRIBUTION.

MY BILL WAS MANSLAUGHTER, IF YOU SELL, YOUR PRODUCT KILLS SOMEBODY.

THEY WORK TOGETHER BUT THEY'RE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME.

THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE BILLS.

MINE IS MANSLAUGHTER, IF YOU SELL A DRUG TO SOMEBODY LACED WITH FENTANYL AND IT KILLS THEM.

>> THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN THE TRAGIC BALDWIN COUNTY CASE.

YOU HAD A GIRL WHO DIED FROM A FENTANYL OVERGOES AND THEY CAUGHT THE DRUG DEALERS, ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT?

>> THEY ARRESTED FOUR OF THEM, BUT I JUST FOUND OUT A FEW MINUTES AGO, TWO HAVE BEEN REARRESTED FOR THE SAME CHARGE.

THEY KILLED SOMEBODY ELSE.

>> SO ANOTHER DEATH AND ANOTHER MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE, POTENTIALLY?

>> EXACTLY.

AND I UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE ONE IN MADISON COUNTY, ALSO.

>> SO, WHEN IT COMES TO SENTENCING LAWS, THOSE ARE ALWAYS CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS RESULT -- AND, OF COURSE, THESE ARE JUST ARRESTS.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CONVICTED YET.

DO YOU THINK THIS RESULT IS PROOF POSITIVE OF WHAT Y'ALL ARE TRYING TO DO IN TERMS OF CRACKING DOWN ON FENTANYL?

>> EXACTLY.

LAST YEAR WE HAD 1,500 DEATHS IN THIS STATE ALONE FROM FENTANYL.

HOPEFULLY THIS BILL WILL GO A LONG WAY TO GET CAREER DRUG DEALERS OFF THE STREET.

NEW YORK FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY, SOMEBODY DIED OF AN OVERDOSE AND THE POLICE PUT A PICTURE OF THE DEAD PERSON AND THE ACTUAL HEROIN.

THEY MARK THEIR HEROIN, THEY COLOR CODE IT OR SOMEHOW ESTABLISH A PRODUCT AND WHEN THEY PUT THE PICTURE OUT, PEOPLE WERE COMING FROM ALL PLACE OVER NEW YORK CITY FROM THAT AREA OF TOWN TO BUY THAT TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS THE STRONGEST DRUG ON THE MARKET.

WELL, IT KILLED HIM, BUT I CAN SURVIVE IT.

DUG DEALERS WANT THE MOST POWERFUL DRUG AND WILL ADD FENTANYL TO THE COCAINE, HEROIN OR METH IN ORDER TO KILL SOMEBODY BECAUSE THAT WILL INCREASE THEIR SALES.

>> THAT'S CRAZY.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM WOULD THINK, WELL, A DRUG DEALER WOULD NEVER WANT THEIR CUSTOMERS TO DIE BECAUSE THEY LOSE A CAN YOU REMEMBER -- LOSE THEIR CUSTOMER.

THE DEATHS PROVE HOW POTENT THE SUPPLY, WHICH IS AN ADVERTISEMENT, WHICH IS PERVERSE.

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO CRACK DOWN ON THE FENTANYL PROBLEM?

>> LET'S GO BACK.

THIS PROBLEM WAS CREATED WHEN WE WERE PRESCRIBING OPIOIDS AND WE CREATED A HUGE DEMAND FOR OPIOIDS IN THE POPULATION.

MY FRIEND HAD SURGERY, GOT ADDICTED TO PRESCRIPTION OPIOIDS, THEN WE CLOSED THE GAP AND QUIT PRESCRIBING THE OPIOIDS, TOOK THEM OFF THE MARKET, BUT THE DEMAND IS THERE.

THE CHINESE KNOW THIS.

THEY ARE SENDING FENTANYL THROUGH MEXICO AND WITH OUR OPEN BORDER POLICY, IT'S COMING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

WE CAN TELL THE DRUG DEALERS OF THE STATE, YOU BRING THAT GARBAGE INTO OUR STATE AND START KILLING OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WE'RE GOING TO PUT YOU AWAY FOR A LONG TIME.

>> WELL, THIS THE INSTANCE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU, MR. PRINGLE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NEXT ON THE INTERVIEW PORTION OF THE SHOW I'LL SPEAK WITH CONGRESSMAN DALE STRONG OF HUNTSVILLE, AND DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSIONER KIM BOSWELL AND NANCY DENNIS, WITH HUNTER MCDONALD, HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS CONGRESSMAN DALE STRONG FROM HUNTSVILLE.

CONGRESSMAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> TODD, IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> I KNOW IT'S BEEN A VERY BUSY AND INTERESTING WEEK IN WASHINGTON.

I WANT TO GET TO ALL OF IT, BUT THE MAIN PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT Y'ALL PASSED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIS WEEK IS CALLED THE SAVE ACT, HAS TO DO WITH MAKING IT A CRIME FOR SOMEONE NOT A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY TO VOTE.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE BUT, OBVIOUSLY, ALONG PARTISAN LINES, MOSTLY.

>> WELL, I'LL TELL YOU THIS RIGHT HERE, WE'VE EVEN HAD A COUPLE OF DEMOCRATS THAT US, BUT WHAT BLOWS MY MIND IS 198 OF THE DEMOCRATS, THEY VOTED TO LET ANY ILLEGAL VOTE IN OUR ELECTIONS.

THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

I'M EXCITE ABOUT WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS ON JANUARY 15TH, AND THAT'S SWEARING IN DONALD TRUMP AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT BECAUSE WHAT I WANT TO DO IS TO GO EVEN FURTHER, LET'S PUT THOSE THAT VOTED ILLEGALLY ON THE FAST TRAIN TO SEND THEM BACK TO THE COUNTRY OF THEIR OR GIN.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU THIS RIGHT HERE, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD A NON-U.S. CITIZEN EVER VOTE IN AN AMERICAN ELECTION?

YOUR COLLEAGUES -- YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE ARGUED THAT, LOOK, IT'S ALREADY ILLEGAL FOR A NON-CITIZEN TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS.

THIS IS MORE JUST OF A MESSAGING BILL AND EVEN COULD DISCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE IN GENERAL.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THEIR ARGUMENTS?

>> WELL, I'LL RESPOND TO THEIR ARGUMENTS BY SAYING THE FIRST THING THESE ILLEGALS DID WAS CROSS INTO OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY AND GIVE THE MIDDLE FINGER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

WE HAVE A CONSTITUTION, WE HAVE BORDERS.

THEY TALK ABOUT 10 MILLION CROSSED THE BORDER.

I AGREE WITH DONALD TRUMP, WE'RE CLOSER TO IS A MILLION.

IF YOU LOCK, MANY OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT COMING FOR JOBS, THEY'RE COMING FOR JIHAD.

I'M TELLING YOU LIKE I SEE IT, THE INFORMATION I'VE GOT, SO THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THEY'RE COMING HERE FOR.

WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT.

IT'S EASY TO DO.

WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED UNDER DONALD TRUMP.

KEEP I.C.E.

ROLLING, PROCESS THEM, AND SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY OF OR GIN.

THIS ADMINISTRATION SAID GIVE THEM A THREE PASS AND TELL THEM TO COME BACK FOR A COURT DATE THREE YEARS DOWN THE RODE.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CREATED THIS PROBLEM.

>> I'LL SWITCH GEARS TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT YOUR HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE IS INVOLVED IN AND THAT'S THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.

THIS IS AN ANNUALLY PASSED BILL THAT REALLY SETS POLICY AND SPENDING MEASURES FOR THE PENTAGON.

IT USED TO NOT BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

I THINK 60-SOMETHING YEARS PASSED WITHOUT FAIL.

CAME CLOSE LAST YEAR, RIGHT, UP UNTIL DECEMBER.

I KNOW THE HOUSE PASSED ITS VERSION OF THE BILL, THE SENATE, AND MAYBE YOU'RE STILL WAITING ON THE SENATE.

WHAT ARE THE PROSPECTS THIS YEAR?

IS IT GOING TO BE ANOTHER GRIND AT THE VERY END TO TRY TO GET OVER THE FINISH LINE OR CAN THERE BE SOME AGREEMENT ON THE NDAA?

>> LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WE ARE SOLVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THIS NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT AND IT'S WORKING.

YOU START LOOKING OF MANY OF THE THINGS.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE, THE JUNIOR ENLISTEDMAN WAR FIGHTER QUALIFIES FOR FOOD STAMPS, AND THEN THE PRESIDENT GOES AND SAYS, WELL, I THINK WE OUGHT TO HAVE $15 MINIMAL HOURLY PAY.

EVEN WITH THIS INCREASE IN SALARY, THEY'RE STILL UNDER $15.

HE'S ALREADY SAID HE'LL VETO IT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CHECK HIS OIL.

MY HOPE IS THE IS THAT THIS WILL TAKE IT UP.

THEIR VERSION IS ABOUT $919 BILLION, BUT I'LL TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE LIVING CONDITIONS BETTER, WE'RE TRYING TO LOAD OUR CLIP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE HEAR ME SAY THAT, BUT WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A FULL CLIP THAT IF WE'RE EVER CHALLENGED THAT WE'VE GOT THE ABILITY TO TAKE KIIR OF BUSINESS.

>> WELL, YEAH, YOU MENTIONED IT IS A DANGEROUS WORLD.

LOTS GOING ON IN UKRAINE RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF THE RUSSIAN CONFLICT THERE, THE WAR.

I REMEMBER YOU VOTED AGAINST THAT LATEST FUNDING FOR KIND OF ARMING UKRAINE.

IS THAT GOING TO BE YOUR POSTURE GOING FORWARD, OR CAN YOU SEE SOME SUPPORT FROM WHETHER IT'S TRUMP OR THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS OF CONTINUING TO FUND THAT, THE UKRAINIAN'S DEFENSE, OR IS IT KIND OF A NO-GO IF REPUBLICANS WIN?

>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BUT WHAT I DID, FOR EIGHT MONTHS, WE WERE TOLD WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS SOUTHERN BORDER ISSUE AND PUT IT IN THE UKRAINE BILL.

$60 BILLION FOR UKRAINE, AND, AFTER EIGHT MONTHS, ZERO FOR THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF AMERICA.

IMMEDIATELY, I SAID, THERE'S NO WAY THAT I WILL COMMIT TO THIS, NORTH OF 10 MILLION PEOPLE CROSSING INTO OUR COUNTRY, KILLING AMERICAN CITIZENS, RAPING AND TAKING CHILDREN HOSTAGE, SELLING THEM IN OUR COUNTRY.

LET ME TELL YOU THIS RIGHT HERE, AMERICA'S GOT TO BE FIRST.

I SUPPORT OUR ALLIES.

I'M THANKFUL THAT UKRAINE HAS FOUGHT LIKE HELL TO BEAT RUSSIA, BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS RIGHT HERE, IT'S TIME THAT EUROPE GETS MORE INVOLVED, IT'S TIME THAT POLAND GETS INVOLVED.

AMERICA CANNOT FUND EVERY WAR IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND UKRAINE HAS FOUGHT VALIANTLY.

AMERICA HAS DONE ITS PART, BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, THE SOUTHERN BORDER OF AMERICA IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND, UNTIL WE SOLVE THAT, WE'LL SEE WHERE THIS GOES, BUT I'LL PROMISE YOU I COULDN'T VOTE FOR $60 BILLION TO UKRAINE WHEN WE'VE GOT BORDER SECURITY FIGHTING AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO KEEP THESE ILLEGALS OUT ALONG WITH 300 RESERVISTS FROM ALABAMA, AND I THANK THE GOVERNOR FOR SENDING THEM TO TEXAS TO HELP GOVERNOR ABBOTT, AND IT'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE SUPREME COURT AND THE PRESIDENT TRYING TO SUE TEXAS.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR TEXAS EVERY DAY.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE SOUTHERN BORDER, AND UKRAINE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SECOND IN MY VIEW.

>> I WANT TO GET TO THE POLITICS, BUT, BEFORE WE DO, BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S BEEN A VERY INTERESTING WEEK IN WASHINGTON, BUT I'M CURIOUS AS TO WHERE WE ARE WITH SPACE COMMAND.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THIS BACK AND FORTH, THE WHOLE COLORADO DECISION.

YOU REALLY HAD AN INTERESTING COMMITTEE MEETING, OVERSIGHT HEARING WITH HOUSE ARMED SERVICES DEALING WITH SPACE COMMAND.

BUT WHERE ARE WE?

ARE WE CLOSER TO HAVING A FINAL DECISION OR CLARITY WITH WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH SPACE COMMAND?

>> MEAL AFTER I WAS WORN INTO CONGRESS AND I GET ON THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BUILD A SUBPOENA AND BRING IN THE FOUR STAR GENERAL OF THE AIR FORCE, GENERAL DICKINSON.

HE MET WITH THE DELEGATION, THE HOUSE, BOTH SENATORS, TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE NEXT THING WE KNOW, A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, HE GOES TO THE PRESIDENT AND SAYS HE RECOMMENDS COLORADO.

THERE WAS A 21-CATEGORY PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS BEST FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR ELECTIONS, NOT WHAT'S BEST FOR THIS GROUP OR THAT GROUP, TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND THAT WAS MY OBJECTIVE.

THE DETAILS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A CLOSE COMPETITION BETWEEN NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO.

NUMBER ONE BEING RED STONE ARSENAL IN HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, NUMBER TWO BEING NEW MEXICO.

THEN THE NOTES SAID A LARGE SEPARATION BETWEEN TWO AND THREE.

WELL, CAN YOU IMAGINE RECOMMENDING THE FIFTH COMPETITOR, THE FIFTH MOST QUALIFY?

THAT WAS COLORADO.

WE STARTED GOING THROUGH THAT, AND WHEN I QUESTIONED THE FOUR-STAR GENERAL, I SAID WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE FIFTH MOST QUALIFIED VENDOR FOR BULLET-PROOF VESTS FOR THE WAR FIGHTER?

HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I SAID, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THE FIFTH MOST QUALIFIED TO BUILD THE F-35 FIGHTER JET IN HE SAID, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I SAID, CAN YOU TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHY YOU RECOMMENDED THE FIFTH MOST QUALIFIED FOR SPACE COMMAND?

HE TURNED A PASTY WHITE AND COULDN'T EVEN PUT A SENTENCE TOGETHER.

YOU LOOK AT THE PROCESS.

THE LAW SAYS THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE MAKES THE DECISION AND, IN THAT COMMITTEE, I ASKED SECRETARY KENDALL, CAN YOU TELL ME WHO YOU RECOMMENDED FOR SPACE COMMAND?

HE SAID, I RECOMMENDED HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, RED STONE ARSENAL BECAUSE IT IS BEST FOR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR.

I WANT TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

WE'VE GOT AN I.G.

INVESTIGATION GOING NOW, I FORMALLY REQUESTED THAT, TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS INTERFERENCE OR ANY OTHER INTERFERENCE FROM ANY POINT.

I FEEL CONFIDENT IT WAS INTERFERENCE, AND WHAT I'M HOPING IS WE ELECT DONALD TRUMP.

I BELIEVE HE'LL DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY RATHER THAN WHAT THIS PRESIDENT DID TRYING TO GET SOME DEMOCRATIC VOTES IN COLORADO.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ELECTION BECAUSE THAT IS REALLY THE BIGGEST STORY IN THE COUNTRY, IN THE WORLD MAYBE EVEN RIGHT NOW, IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER TWO WEEKS SINCE THE DEBATE BETWEEN BIDEN AND TRUMP, I MEAN OBJECTIVELY A DISASTER FOR THE PRESIDENT.

I MEAN, HIS OWN PARTY CALLING FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE.

SO I'M CURIOUS WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS THIS WEEK.

Y'ALL RETURNED FROM THE JULY 4TH RECESS THIS WEEK, AND, I MEAN, REPORTERS ARE IN A FRENZY.

IT'S NOT Y'ALL'S SIDE OF THE AISLE HAVING THE DRAMA NOW, IT'S THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

BUT WHAT'S IT BEEN LIKE?

WHAT'S THE VIBE BEEN IN TERMS OF THE FRENZY OF KIND OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHO'S GOING TO BE ON TOP OF THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET?

>> THE FIRE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF 1600 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE RIGHT NOW.

IT HAS SPILLED OVER TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, TOTAL THREE-RING CIRCUS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

BUT, AGAIN, WHAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW IS EXACTLY WHAT I SAY WEEK ONE WHEN I WAS SWORN INTO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

I WAS ONE OF THE 20 FRESHMEN THAT WAS REQUESTED BY THE PRESIDENT TO COME OVER TO THE WHITE HOUSE WEEK ONE -- MYSELF, KATIE BRITT WERE TWO OF THE 20.

WHEN THEY INTRODUCED ME, TODD, I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS AS LONG AS THEY LIVE.

THEY SAID, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DALE STRONG, CONGRESSMAN, FIFTH DISTRICT OF ALABAMA.

I WALK UP TO THE PRESIDENT, SHAKE HIS HAND.

HE SAID, DALE STRONG, FIFTH DISTRICT OF ALABAMA.

AND HE WAS LOOKING FOR A TELEPROMPTER TO CARRY ON A FURTHER CONVERSATION.

IT IS SAD THAT IT TOOK THIS LONG FOR THE MEDIA TO FINALLY SHOW THE COGNITIVE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND WE'RE ALL PAYING THE PRICE THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.

YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH FROM INFLATION, MORTGAGE RATES THROUGH THE ROOF.

YOU CAN'T GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND BUY THE ITEMS YOU WANT FOR YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH IT COSTS.

YOU LOOK AT THE COST OF GAS, FUEL HERE.

I CAN REMEMBER THE DAY DONALD TRUMP WENT OUT OF OFFICE, GAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD GAS STATION WAS $1.84.

DOUBLE THAT NOW FOR ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND WE'RE ALL PAYING THE PRICE.

THIS PRESIDENT HAD RATHER PURCHASE FUEL FROM HUGO CHAVEZ THAN PUMP THIS OIL OUT OF THE GULF OF MEXICO OR OTHER PLACES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

WE WERE ENERGY INDEPENDENT, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WANTED.

THEY WANTED US TO BUY IT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'RE BUYING OIL FROM HUGO CHAVEZ?

TOTALLY UP ACCEPTABLE.

THIS PRESIDENT'S COGNITIVE STATE IS NOW BEING EXPLOITED BECAUSE IT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU SEE, HE CANNOT PUT TWO SENTENCES TOGETHER, AND HE'S FORGETTING WHO HIS OWN VICE PRESIDENT IS.

THIS IS WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR THE ENTIRE TIME.

THE MEDIA IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS COVERED HIM EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

>> THAT WAS DIFFICULT TO WATCH.

WELL, LOOK, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON.

WE'RE GOING TO COME UP TO D.C. FOR A SERIES OF INTERVIEWS I THINK IN SEPTEMBER SO I GUESS I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

SEE YOU THEN, CONGRESSMAN.

>> THANK YOU.

Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS KIM BOSWELL, COMMISSIONER OF THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH.

COMMISSIONER, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

THANKS FOR THE INVITATION.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A REALLY SIGNIFICANT HAPPENING FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT BUT FOR REALLY THE WHOLE STATE IN OUR HISTORY AND THAT IS THE BRYCE HOSPITAL MUSEUM YOU'VE OPENED IN TUSCALOOSA.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO BE THERE BECAUSE IT WAS ON A FRIDAY.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THIS WENT AND WHAT LED TO THIS AND WHYETH IMPORTANT?

>> YES.

THANKFULLY, WE HAD A GREAT EVENT.

WE HAD ABOUT 175 PEOPLE WHO CAME TO THE EVENT, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON REALLY SINCE 2014, WHEN THE DEPARTMENT SOLD THE PROPERTY TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA.

THE OLD BRYCE HOSPITAL BECAME PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, AND, AT THAT TIME, WE WERE WORKING WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND KNEW AS PART OF THAT SALES AGREEMENT THAT WE WERE GOING TO BUILD A MUSEUM OF SOME SORT.

BUT, AT THE TIME, WE JUST COULD HAVE NEVER ENVISIONED WHAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE.

OLD BRYCE MAIN IS NOW THE WELCOME CENTER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA, AND, SO, THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SPENT SIGNIFICANT FUNDS RESTORING REALLY THE OLD BRYCE MAIN AND KEPT MANY OF THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AND THE BRICK WALLS, THE WOOD FLOORS, AND REALLY DID SUCH A WONDERFUL JOB RESTORING IT, REALLY, TO ITS FORMER GLORY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, IT'S NAMED AFTER PETTIS AND KATHERINE RANDALL, THE RANDALL FAMILY MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BUILDING OF THE WELCOME CENTER.

SO, NOW, STUDENTS WHO GO ON THE CAMPUSO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA WILL WALK THROUGH THE SAME DOORS AS THE PEOPLE WE SERVED.

SO WE KNEW THAT WE WANTED TO BUILD THE MUSEUM, BUT WE NEVER IMAGINED THAT THE UNIVERSITY WOULD BE ABLE TO RESTORE THAT BUILDING AND THEN OUR MUSEUM IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.

THE ORIGINAL STAIRS FROM 1861 ARE STILL IN THE BUILDING.

>> WOW.

SO YOU WALK UP THE ORIGINAL STAIRS TO THE SECOND FLOOR, AND THEN THAT'S WHERE THE MUSEUM IS.

EVENTUALLY, THE UNIVERSITY IS BUILDING A PERFORMING ARTICLES CENTER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OLD BRYCE MAIN.

THE MUSEUM IS ACTUALLY A WALK-THROUGH MUSEUM, SO THAT WILL BE CONNECTED TO THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER.

SO, PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING INTO THE BUILDING, STUDENTS WHO ARE COMING TO WALK THROUGH THE WELCOME CENTER, PATRONS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER WILL ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE MUSEUM.

THE DAY WE WERE THERE, 200 PEOPLE HAD ALREADY BEEN THROUGH THAT MORNING, PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T ASSOCIATED WITH OUR EVENT.

SO, THERE'S BEEN A WHOLE LOT OF INTEREST.

WE DID DEDICATE IT TO FORMER COMMISSIONER JOHN HOUSTON.

HE WAS THE PERSON WHO HAD A VISION FOR PRESERVING MENTAL HEALTH HISTORY IN ALABAMA BECAUSE IT'S SO SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF OUR STATE, NATION AND REALLY INTERNATIONALLY, SO IT TURNED OUT TO BE A GREAT EVENT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE'S SO MUCH HISTORY THERE.

YOU'VE GOT TO PRESERVE IT AND TELL IT ALL.

IT'S NOT JUST ALABAMA HISTORY, IT'S NATIONAL HISTORY.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE WYATT CASE, ALABAMA'S ROLE IN SHAPING MENTAL HEALTH, JURISPRUDENCE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

IS THAT PART OF WHAT'S SHOWCASED THERE?

>> IT IS.

WE DID AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER COMMISSIONER KATHY SAWYER.

I TOLD PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE OF THE LONGEST RUNNING LAWSUITS IN OUR STATE, AND SHE AS COMMISSIONER SETTLED THAT CASE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING SURE THAT THE STANDARDS FOR PEOPLE, FOR CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, THE STANDARDS THAT WERE SET BY THE WYATT CASE REALLY BECAME WHAT WE KNOW NOW AS JOINT COMMISSION STANDARDS.

AND, SO, IT HAD AN IMPACT ON TREATMENT, IT HAD AN IMPACT ON RIGHTS.

PEOPLE HAD A RIGHT NOT TO BE HELD UNLESS THEY WERE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WAY BRYCE HOSPITAL BECAME OVERCROWDED IS WE DIDN'T HAVE A COMMITMENT LAW.

SO, ANYBODY WHO DECIDED THEIR FAMILY MEMBER WAS BEING DIFFICULT OR, YOU KNOW, NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THEM, THEY COULD BE SENT TO BRYCE AND REALLY BE KEPT THERE FOR MAYBE SOME REASONS THAT WEREN'T THE BEST REASONS.

AND, SO, ONCE WE HAD THE COMMITMENT LAW, THEN, OBVIOUSLY, YOU COULDN'T BE HELD AND YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY UNLESS YOU WERE A DANGER TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS.

SO THAT WAS A BIG PART OF IT.

IN THE BEGINNING, IN 1861, WHEN IT OPENED, WE HAD PETER BRYCE, THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT, WHO HAD GONE AROUND THE UNITED STATES AND ALL AROUND INTERNATIONALLY WORKING TOWARDS SOMETHING CALLED THE MERRILL TREATMENT MOVEMENT, AND IT WAS REALLY ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OUT OF JAILS, FREE FROM RESTRAINT, HAVING A VERY PEACEFUL, WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO BE IN.

THE BUILDING ITSELF WAS BUILT WITH A LOT OF LIGHTING, SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE AND AT PEACE IN THAT BUILDING.

IT WAS ALSO A MARVEL IN TERMS OF IT HAD RUNNING WATER, IT HAD ELECTRICITY, IT WAS HEATED AND COOLED TO 75 DEGREES, AND THAT WAS UNHEARD OF AT THE TIME.

SO, IT'S PRETTY FASCINATING ALL OF THE HISTORY OF BRYCE HOSPITAL.

I HAD A TEXT YESTERDAY FROM A SENATOR THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN CAN WE COME TO SEE BRYCE?

WE HAVE A GROUP OF US, WE WANT TO COME SEE IT.

SO, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY.

JOHN HOUSTON'S GOAL WAS WE NEED TO KNOW OUR HISTORY SO THAT WE DON'T REPEAT IT.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE BRYCE HISTORY, AND A LOT OF WHAT YOU SEE IN OUR CRISIS MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW IS A LOT ABOUT NOT REPEATING THOSE MISTAKES.

THE INVESTMENT IN CRISIS CARE REALLY IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THAT KIND OF TRANSFORMATION IN OUR DEPARTMENT WITHOUT A LAWSUIT.

>> AND I WANT TO GET TO THE CRISIS CARE CENTERS, BUT YOU TALK ABOUT SENATORS WANTING TO GO VISIT, LAWMAKERS WANTING TO SEE THIS, AND I'M STRUCK BY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ON THE SHOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT HOW THERE IS A RENEWED INTEREST, A RENEWED PRIORITIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH FROM THE LEGISLATURE, FROM THE GOVERNOR, WHEREAS WE DID FALL BACK, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE RECESSION FOR SOME TIME.

DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, DO YOU THINK BRYCE MUSEUM CAN BE INSTRUCTIVE TO TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY, TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE BALL AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AS WE GO FORWARD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WERE SO GRATEFUL SPEAKER LEDBETTER WAS THERE AND SPOKE AND REITERATED HIS COMMITMENT TO MENTAL HEALTH AND TO ADDRESSING THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.

WE HAD 17 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE THERE, SO WE DO ABSOLUTELY -- THE SUPPORT GROUP, IT JUST DEMONSTRATES TO ME THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE ISSUE AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT, TALK ABOUT THE CRISIS CENTERS.

I CAN'T KEEP UP.

Y'ALL ARE MOVING SO QUICK.

TO SET UP THE CRISIS CENTERS AROUND THE STATE, IT STARTED SMALL BUT NOW IT'S GROWING.

WHERE ARE WE IN TERMS OF HOW MANY CRISIS CENTERS, WHERE ARE THEY, AND MAYBE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

>> I HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE KEEPING UP MYSELF SOMETIMES.

SO, HUNTSVILLE, BIRMINGHAM, TUSCALOOSA, MONTGOMERY AND MOBILE.

SO THE NEWEST ONE IS TUSCALOOSA.

THEY OPENED LAST OCTOBER, AND THEY'RE IN A SMALLER LOCATION RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE PROVIDING SOME SERVICES, BUT THEY ARE BUILDING A NEW FACILITY, AND WHEN THEY MOVE INTO THE NEW FACILITY, THEY WILL HAVE MORE BED CAPACITY.

WE ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS AROUND A RURAL CRISIS MODEL WITH OUR COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER IN ANDALUSIA.

IT'S NOT QUITE UP AND RUNNING YET, SO WE DON'T COUNT IT IN THE NUMBER OF FIVE, BUT PROBABLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS YOU WILL SEE A LITTLE MEDIA ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST NOTIFIED BY THE USDA THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET FUNDING TO BUILD THE CRISIS CENTER SO THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

WE HAVE SPECTRA CARE OPENING IN THE FALL WHICH IS THE DOTHAN AREA.

SO WE'RE PRETTY EXCITED.

SO DOTHAN WILL BE THE SIXTH.

PRETTY SOON AFTER THAT, SOUTH CENTRAL, THE ANDALUSIA-BRANTLEY AREA WILL BE ABLE TO OPEN THEIRS.

WE BELIEVE WE NEED 11 CRISIS CENTERS IN THE STATE, SO, OBVIOUSLY, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK TO GET FUNDING FOR 11 CRISIS CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

RIGHT NOW, WE JUST HIT -- WE'VE SERVED OVER 12,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE CRISIS CENTERS, AND WE WERE LOOKING AT A GRAPH YESTERDAY, AND IT REALLY DOES SHOW THAT THE LONGER THEY ARE OPEN THE MORE PEOPLE THEY ARE SERVING.

AND, SO, TO HIT THAT KIND OF 12,000 NUMBER WAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR US, SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED.

IT'S WORKING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP AT A CRISIS CENTER WHO ARE SUICIDAL, AND, SO, IT'S SAVING LIVES, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THAT EFFORT.

AND OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE ACCESS TO CRISIS SERVICES FOR EVERYONE IN THE STATE.

>> YOU MENTIONED SUICIDE.

TALK ABOUT -- REMIND OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT WHY THE CRISIS CENTERS ARE SO IMPORTANT, WHO -- YOU KNOW, WHY WOULD YOU NEED A CRISIS CENTER IN YOUR REGION?

>> SO, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED WHEN WE EXPERIENCED A BUDGET CUT IS WE SORT OF SHRANK DOWN OUR SERVICES, AND YOU COULD GET OUTPATIENT SERVICES, OR YOU COULD HAVE YOUR CIVIL RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY AND GO TO ONE OF OUR STATE FACILITIES AND THERE WAS REALLY NOTHING IN BETWEEN.

OFTENTIMES, WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN A MENTAL HEALTH CRIES, THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS DIAL 911, AND IF YOU DIAL 911 YOU GET E.M.S.

OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, IF YOU GET THOSE TWO, WHERE CAN THEY TAKE YOU?

TO JAIL OR THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

AND, SO, THE WHOLE CRISIS INITIATIVE IS ABOUT TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO THE RIGHT KIND OF CARE SO THAT THEY DON'T WIND UP IN JAIL OR THEY DON'T WIND UP BOARDING IN AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WITHOUT CARE.

SO THE 24-7 ASPECT OF THE CRISIS CENTERS, THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE, WHEN YOU'RE IN THAT CRISIS, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED HELP, NOT TWO WEEKS LATER OR SIX WEEKS LATER WHEN YOU CAN GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN OUTPATIENT VISIT.

YOU REALLY NEED, AT THAT MOMENT, TO HAVE ACCESS TO 24-7 CARE.

IF YOU GET THAT CARE, YOUR SITUATION DOESN'T DETERIORATE TO WHERE YOU WIND UP BEING A DANGER TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS AND WIND UP IN A CIVIL COMMITMENT.

AND, SO, IN SOME WAYS, IT'S TRYING TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF CIVIL COMMITMENTS, BUT, REALLY, IT'S ABOUT 24-7 ACCESS TO CARE.

AND, OF COURSE, 988 IS A BIG PART OF THAT IN TRYING TO SHIFT PEOPLE FROM DIALING 911 TO 988, SO THEY CAN GET CRISIS SERVICES, GO TO A CRISIS CENTER OR HAVE A MOBILE CRISIS TEAM DEPLOYED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S BEEN INTERESTING TO SEE THE FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING, IN THE STATE HOUSE, LAWMAKERS, TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE THINGS.

IT'S BEEN A REAL CHANGE.

WHILE I HAVE YOU, WE'RE ABOUT TO BE BACK TO SCHOOL.

IT'S JULY BUT IT STARTS EARLY IN AUGUST.

THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASED FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS WHICH I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES IN TERMS OF MENTAL HEALTH -- ANXIETY AMONGST STUDENTS AND EVERYTHING.

AS WE GET BACK TO SCHOOL, HOW SHOULD TEACHERS, PARENTS, ADMINISTRATORS GO ABOUT MAYBE THINKING ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACING STUDENTS AS THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL?

>> SO WE GET REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, AND I DO THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION FOR POLICY-MAKERS THIS YEAR.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING A LOT ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS THIS SHIFT FOR KIDS FROM A PLAY-BASED CHILDHOOD TO A PHONE-BASED CHILDHOOD WHERE, WHEN WE WERE KIDS, WE WOULD GO OUT AND PLAY WITH OTHER KIDS, BUT, REALLY, WHEN SMARTPHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAME ALONG, KIDS STOPPED DOING THAT AND REALLY SPENT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME ON THE PHONE.

AND, SO, I HAVE A READING LIST FOR PARENTS, FOR LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS.

IT'S A NEW BOOK CALLED "THE ANXIOUS GENERATION" THAT REALLY LOOKS AT WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH OUR KIDS AND WHY ARE WE SEEING SUCH AN INCREASE IN ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT, IF KIDS ARE ON THEIR PHONES MORE THAN THREE HOURS A DAY, THEY ARE AT DOUBLE THE RISK OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

THE AVERAGE AS OF THE SUMMER OF 2023 FOR KIDS IS 4.8 HOURS.

SO, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

>> WAY MORE.

>> RIGHT.

AND WHAT'S THE HARM?

SO, WHAT WE SEE IS SOCIAL DEPRAVATION BECAUSE KIDS ARE NOT INTERACTING WITH OTHER KIDS.

WE SEE SLEEP DEPRAVATION, ATTENTION FRAGMENTATION AND ADDICTION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE APPS, A LOT OF THE VIDEO GAMES, IN PARTICULAR, ARE BUILT TO KEEP YOU COMING BACK.

AND, SO, JUST LIKE A PERSON WITH A GAMBLING ADDICTION WINDS UP GETTING -- GOING BACK AND BACK AND BACK, THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH VIDEO GAMES.

SO, OBVIOUSLY, IT MAKES ME A LITTLE NERVOUS, IF THEY'RE HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE AND THEN THAT EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO AN ADDICTION LATER ON IN LIFE.

AND, SO, A LOT OF WHAT THE BOOK TALKS ABOUT IS WHAT CAN WE DO RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE'S A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN HERE THAT I'LL CERTAINLY BE TALKING TO POLICY-MAKERS ABOUT.

NO SMARTPHONES BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL, NO SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE 16, PHONE-FREE SCHOOLS, MORE INDEPENDENCE, FREE PLAY AND RESPONSIBILITY IN THE REAL WORLD.

BECAUSE THE OTHER WEIRD THING THAT HAPPENED DURING THAT TIME IS YOU HAD KIDS THAT WERE, YOU KNOW, KIDNAPPED OR TAKEN AND, SO, PEOPLE STOPPED JUST SENDING THEIR KIDS OUTSIDE TO PLAY.

SO, THERE ARE JUST SOME THINGS THAT HAPPENED.

WE KNOW IF KIDS ARE USING CELL PHONES, THEY'RE NOT CONNECTING WITH OTHER KIDS.

AND I THINK I HEARD SOMEONE FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM CAME AND SPOKE WITH LEGISLATIVE MEMBERS ABOUT TAKING THE PHONES AWAY AND JUST THE DIFFERENCE IN THE INTERACTION BETWEEN KIDS, TEACHERS WERE MUCH MORE SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOB BECAUSE THE KIDS WERE NOW PAYING ATTENTION.

SO, NEEDLESS TO SAY, THAT IS A BIG PART OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IN THE FALL IS REALLY -- THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN'T CONTROL.

YOU KNOW, IF KIDS ARE EXPERIENCING TRAUMA, IF KIDS ARE HAVING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES, YOU KNOW, WE OBVIOUSLY WANT TO ADDRESS THAT AS WELL, BUT THIS IS A PRETTY SIMPLE THING THAT WE CAN CONTROL, AND WE CAN MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT HOW OUR KIDS ARE USING PHONES AND GETTING THEM REALLY ENGAGED AND INTERACTING WITH OTHER KIDS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE SAME THINGS THAT BUILD RESILIENCE, IF THEY DO EXPERIENCE TRAUMA.

SO, IT'S SORT OF, YOU KNOW, A DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR KIDS.

IT'S, LIKE, WE'VE GOT THIS PHONE THING GOING ON WHERE THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED, AND THEN IF THEY EXPERIENCE TRAUMA ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, COMMISSIONER, FOR COMING ON.

>> SURE.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO UPDATES AS THE CRISIS CENTER BUILD-OUT CONTINUES.

>> YEAH.

WE'RE EXCITED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS AGAIN.

>> THANKS.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

JOINING ME NEXT IS NANCY DENNIS OF THE ALABAMA RETAIL ASSOCIATION AND HUNTER MCDONALD OF THE LOCKER ROOM HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

NANCY DENNIS, THANKS FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY THAT'S UPCOMING.

IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF TIMED FOR BACK TO SCHOOL, RIGHT, PARENTS ARE BUYING CLOTHES AND GEAR AND ALL THE THINGS REQUIRED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, AND A LONG TIME AGO ALABAMA PUT A SALES TAX HOLIDAY IN PLACE TO MAKE THOSE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE.

NANCY, CAN YOU KIND OF WALK THROUGH THAT HISTORY AND WHAT ITEMS ARE ACTUALLY ETHICAL TO THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY?

>> SO, THIS IS THE 19TH YEAR WE'VE HAD A BACK TO SCHOOL TAX HOLIDAY IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

IT REALLY STARTED BECAUSE THE STATES AROUND US HAD A SALES TAX HOLIDAY BACK IN 2006, AND RETAILERS CAME TO THE -- OUR ASSOCIATION AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THIS IN ALABAMA, TOO, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO OTHER STATES.

PEOPLE ARE GOING ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI STATE LINE, FLORIDA STATE LINE AND GEORGIA AND TENNESSEE STATE LINE WERE GOING SHOPPING FOR THE BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHES IN THOSE OTHER STATES.

SO WE ESTABLISHED THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY, THE LEGISLATURE ENACTED THAT IN 2006, AND THIS IS OUR 19TH YEAR.

IT STARTED OFF IN AUGUST AND MOVED TO JULY IN 2017.

AND, SO, THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR THIS YEAR, IT'S ALWAYS IN THE THIRD FULL WEEKEND OF JULY, AND, SO, IT WILL BE JULY 19TH THROUGH THE 21ST.

IT STARTS AT 12:01 A.M. ON JULY 19TH AND GOES THROUGH MIDNIGHT ON JULY 21.

THE ITEMS THAT ARE TAX FREE ARE CLOTHING THAT ARE $100 OR LESS, EACH ITEM.

SO YOU CAN BUY AS MANY $100 OR LESS ITEMS OF CLOTHES IF YOU WANT.

AND THEY WILL BE TAX FREE.

THEN, SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT ARE $50 OR LESS, CERTAIN SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

AND THEN BOOKS THAT ARE $30 OR LESS, TEXTBOOKS THAT ARE $50 OR LESS, AND COMPUTER AND COMPUTER EQUIPMENT THAT'S $750 OR LESS.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

I APPRECIATE THE HISTORY THERE BECAUSE, YOU'RE RIGHT, OKAY, IF I'M A PARENT AND I'M DOING BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING, ESPECIALLY WITH MULTIPLE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL, YOU WILL SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLOTHING.

SO WHETHER IT'S A 10% SALES TAX OR WHATEVER, THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF SAVINGS FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL GEAR.

HUNTER, YOU'RE A LOCAL RETAILER HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

LOCKER ROOM IS, YOU KNOW, SUCH AN ICONIC ESTABLISHMENT HERE IN MONTGOMERY.

DO Y'ALL SEE AN UPTICK WHEN IT COMES TO BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US, SO MUCH SO THAT WE COINCIDE OUR SUMMER SALE TO IT TO ADVANTAGE TO THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY.

WE SELL A LOT OF KHAKI PANTS AND KHAKI SHORTS, AND A LOT OF NECKTIES FOR GRADUATING SENIORS THAT ARE RISING SENIORS COMING UP.

BUT IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND BUYING A LOT OF BASIC ITEMS THAT THEY NEED.

AND IT DOESN'T HURT THAT WE PUT OUR -- PUT A LOT OF STUFF ON SALE, TOO, TO HELP THEM OUT ON THAT.

BUT WE GET REALLY STARTING ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON IS WHEN WE GET THE MOST TRAFFIC FROM IT, AND SATURDAY MORNING IS A ZOO.

SO IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> I'M A CUSTOMER.

I'M WEARING THE LOCKER ROOM RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> SORRY FOR THE COMMERCIAL.

BUT I THINK ISN'T PART OF THIS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO SHOP LOCAL?

LOOK, WITH THE EMERGENCE OF ONLINE SHOPPING -- AMAZON, WAL-MART, WHATEVER -- THERE'S SO MUCH ONLINE SHOPPING.

BUT ISN'T PART OF THIS THE IMPORTANCE OF SHOPPING LOCAL TO SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RETAILERS AND SUPPORT THE LOCAL JOBS, THE LOCAL TAX BASE AND ALL THAT?

TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, HUNTER.

>> WHENEVER POSSIBLE, YOU SHOULD BUY LOCAL BECAUSE YOU'RE SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, AMAZON DOESN'T PAY TO REPAVE THE ROADS.

THEY DON'T PAY TO DO THIS AND THAT IN THAT REGARD, SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED PEOPLE TO SHOP LOCAL, TO KEEP YOUR LOCAL MERCHANTS IN BUSINESS.

AND, ALSO, THE FACT THAT WE EMPLOY A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE, AND THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED NOT BY BIG BOX RETAILERS, THEY'RE BY SMALL, INDEPENDENT COMPANIES.

AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CONSTANTLY TRYING TO ADD AND MAKE OURSELF BETTER, BUT THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO BE IN IT TO WIN, SO TO SPEAK, FOR MONTGOMERY RETAIL PARTNERS.

>> NANCY, DO YOU HEAR A LOT OF THAT FROM YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING IT LOCALLY?

YOU ADVOCATE FOR THAT HERE IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> WE ADVOCATE FOR THAT EVERY DAY.

SO, YES, ALL THE MONEY COMES, WHEN YOU BUY FROM A LOCAL RETAILER, THAT RETAILER IS GOING TO HIRE PEOPLE, THAT RETAILER IS GOING TO DO BUSINESS WITH OTHER LOCAL BUSINESSES.

THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE BANKING LOCALLY.

ALL OF THAT MONEY IS RECIRCULATING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

SO THAT JUST, IT'S SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE SCHOOLS, TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE FIRE AND POLICE PROTECTION AND ALL THOSE THINGS.

THAT ALL COMES WITH BUYING LOCAL.

SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO YOUR ECONOMY.

THOSE LOCAL BUSINESSES ARE REALLY WHAT GIVE YOUR COMMUNITY THE FLAVOR, THE UNIQUENESS.

WHEN YOU GO TO VISIT THE CITY, YOU WANT TO VISIT THE LOCAL BUSINESSES, THE ONES THAT HAVE -- YOU KNOW, THAT HAVE REALLY MADE THE CITY A CITY.

WE HAVE LOTS OF BUSINESSES LIKE THE LOCKER ROOM THAT ARE REALLY IDENTIFIABLE WITH THE CITY OF MONTGOMERY.

>> SURE, ABSOLUTELY.

HE MENTIONED THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TARGETING SALES, RIGHT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> OR TIMING SALES FOR THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY.

HAVE YOU HEARD FROM THE LOCAL ESTABLISH MEANT THEY'RE ALSO -- >> YEAH.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF RETAILERS WHO SELL THESE KINDS OF GOODS, BUT ESPECIALLY A BIG WEEKEND FOR THOSE RETAILERS THAT SELL THOSE ITEMS SPECIFICALLY.

CHILDREN'S CLOTHING STORES, CHILDREN'S SHOE STORES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, WE'VE GOT LOTS OF STORES IN THE STATE, ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN'S CLOTHING, THAT ARE PRESELLING.

SO THEY'RE LETTING YOU COME AND PICK IT OUT, FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT, THEN THE TRANSACTION WILL HAPPEN ON THAT WEEKEND.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT'S WHAT'S IMPORTANT FOR CONSUMERS, TO REALLY DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE THEY GO OUT THERE.

YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR LIST, WHATEVER THE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST IS FOR YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL, THEN YOU HAVE A LIST OF WHAT YOU NEED AND YOU WANT TO BUY -- THIS WEEKEND IS THE WEEKEND TO BUY THE ITEMS THAT ARE TAX FREE BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ITEMS ON THE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST THAT ARE NOT TAX FREE, THINGS LIKE WIPES AND PAPER TOWELS.

THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT ARE TAX FREE ARE INSTRUCTIONAL BASED.

SO IT'S PAPER AND PENCILS AND CRAYONS AND ART SUPPLIES AND ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO YOU REALLY NEED TO DO MORE RESEARCH BEFOREHAND AND THAT INCLUDES KNOWING WHAT HOURS THE BUSINESSES ARE OPEN.

IT ALSO DOES APPLY TO ONLINE SALES, THOUGH.

SO YOU CAN ORDER ONLINE AND PICK UP IN STORE AND, AS LONG AS THE TRANSACTION TAKES PLACE THAT WEEKEND, IT IS TAX FREE.

>> DO Y'ALL HAVE MAYBE A LIST ONLINE OF ITEMS THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY?

SURE, YOU CAN FIEND IT AT ALABAMARETAIL.ORG.

AND ALALRETAIL.ORG, AND ALSO ON THE ALABAMA WEB SITE.

SO THERE'S A LIST OF SPECIFIC ITEMS.

RAIN COATS ARE CONSIDERED CLOTHING AND OTHER THINGS.

>> YOU HAVE A SELECTION OVER HERE OF SOME ITEMS.

>> TO DIAPERS IS A BIG ONE.

IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN THAT ARE NOT IN SCHOOL THAT ARE IN DIAPERS, THAT'S GREAT WEEKEND TO GO AND STOCK UP ON THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

THERE ARE OTHER THINGS LIKE YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT EVERYBODY USES.

PRINTER INK IS TAX FREE.

FLASH DRIVES ARE TAX FREE.

COPY PAPER THAT YOU USE IN YOUR HOME OFFICE IS TAX FREE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY GOOD IDEA TO LOOK AT THAT LIST AND THINK YOU CAN REALLY SAVE A LOT OF MONEY.

IN A FAMILY OF THREE WITH THREE CHILDREN, THAT I ARE GOING TO EASILY SPEND OVER $1,000, WHEN YOU TAKE ALL THOSE THINGS INTO PLAY.

AND THAT'S A $100 SAVINGS.

>> HUNTER, THAT'S THE REASON WHY ESTABLISHMENTS LIKE YOURS AND OTHERS ARE PART OF THE RETAIL ASSOCIATION, BEING PART OF THE ASSOCIATION OF A TRADE GROUP ADVOCATING ON YOUR BEHALF.

>> EXACTLY.

THEY DO SO MUCH FOR US WITHOUT US EVEN KNOWING IT, AND WE GET SO MUCH BENEFIT BEING A MEMBER OF THEIR ORGANIZATION.

>> WELL, LOOK, SALES TAX HOLIDAY IS COMING UP.

TAKE ADVANTAGE.

WE ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.

I MAY BE SEEING YOU OVER AT THE LOCKER ROOM.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NECKTIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND ENCOURAGING OUR VIEWERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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