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

WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

DAY FOUR OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE'S SPECIAL SESSION IS IN THE BOOKS.

THE BILL ALLOCATING MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS OF FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS PASSED THROUGH A SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY, PUTTING IT ONE STEP CLOSER TO FINAL PASSAGE.

BUT THE COMMITTEE AMENDED THE BILL.

SENATOR CHRIS ELLIOTT OF BALDWIN COUNTY PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO SPECIFY THAT HALF OF THE $400 MILLION DOLLARS THAT ARE TO BE SPENT ON WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS WILL BE DEDICATED TO STORMWATER PROJECTS.

SEPARATELY, $100 MILLION OF THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE DEDICATED TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO PUT UP A 35% MATCH TO GET THE FEDERAL MONEY.

ELLIOTT HAS BEEN VOCALLY CRITICAL OF HOW NONE OF THE FIRST ROUND OF AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS WENT TO HIS FAST GROWING BALDWIN COUNTY DISTRICT.

THE STATE CHOSE TO PRIORITIZE PROJECTS BY DIRE NEEDS, WITH MANY GOING TO LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN THE BLACK BELT.

ELLIOT SAID THAT IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT AS FAST-GROWING COMMUNITIES WITH INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS BE ELIGIBLE FOR AT LEAST SOME OF THAT MONEY.

SENATOR GREG ALBRITTON, WHO CHAIRS THE SENATE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE, EXPLAINED HOW THESE FUNDS COULD MAKE A GENERATIONAL IMPACT.

>> WE PUT $225 MILLION IN IT LAST YEAR AND RESULTING IN SOMETHING OVER 320 SOME ODD MILLION DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

AND YOU TAKE THAT, AND ADD IT TO WHAT WE NORMALLY DO, BIL, AND WASTE, AND CLEAN WATER AN OTHER PROGRAMS, THAT WAS SOME OTHER $300 MILLION PUT IN.

AND JUST LAST YEAR, COMBINED TOTALS ALL OF THAT, YOU ARE LOOKING AT $700 MILLION, INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER, AND EVEN STORM WATER OPPORTUNITIES GOING INTO THE GROUND.

THAT'S ASTRONOMICAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALABAMA.

AND THIS YEAR, $395 MILLION IS GOING DIRECTLY INTO SEWER, WATER, AND STORM WATER.

ALSO, THAT'S GOING TO BE ADDED THROUGH THE SAME MEANS.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE CHANGES IN ALABAMA.

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT IT.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING IS GOING TO HAVE GENERATIONAL ADVANCES IN THE STATE.

>> THE AMENDMENT WAS APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.

THE BILL WAS GIVEN A FAVORABLE REPORT, WITH SENATORS ARTHUR ORR, SAM GIVHAN, AND LARRY STUTTS ABSTAINING.

IN THE HOUSE, THE PLAN TO REPAY $59 MILLION TO THE ALABAMA TRUST FUND ALSO PASSED THROUGH COMMITTEE, PUTTING IT IN LINE FOR HOUSE PASSAGE TOMORROW.

THERE WERE NO AMENDMENTS ON THAT BILL.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE CALLING FOR TRANSPARENCY IN HOW THE STATE SPENDS THE ARPA FUNDS.

DEMOCRATS SAID THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE LEGISLATION.

BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AGENCIES CHARGED WITH SPENDING THE MONEY ARE DOING SO IN AN UP FRONT WAY.

>> AS WE DID LAST YEAR, WHEN THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED THE FIRST ROUND OF ARPA FUNDING, WE WILL INSURE THAT THIS MONEY IS SPENT WISELY AND EQUITABLY.

OVERALL, WE SUPPORT HOW THESE FUNDS HAVE BEEN AND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN ALABAMA.

AND THE BILL WE SUPPORT IN THE HOUSE WILL SPEND $400 MILLION TOWARD WATER AND SEWER GRANTS; AND $260 MILLION TOWARD BROADBAND EXPANSION.

AND TOTAL OF 139 MILLION IS PHONING TOWARD PUBLIC HEALTH INCLUDING $1 MILLION TO REIMBURSE HOSPITALS FOR COVID-RELATED EXPENSES.

$40 MILLION EACH TO REIMBURSE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION EMPLOYEES, HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, AND STATE EMPLOYEES INSURANCE BOARD.

>> PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR ADVOCATES GATHERED AT THE STATE HOUSE TODAY TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT A FEW DISABILITY MEASURES BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.

THE COLBY ACT WOULD HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES GAIN ACCESS TO THE SAME RIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES AS OTHER PEOPLE THROUGH SUPPORTED DECISION MAKING.

AND EXTON'S LAW WOULD PROTECT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM DISCRIMINATION IN ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION AT THE STATE LEVEL.

I SPOKE WITH COLBY SPANGLER, FOR WHOM THE BILL IS NAMED, AND HIS MOTHER, KIM SPANGLER, WHO ADVOCATES FOR THE ARC OF ALABAMA.

>> IT HELPED PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FOR THEM AUTO CHOOSE THEMSELF WHERE THEY WANT TO WORK, VOTE AT, WHERE THEY WANT TO LIVE.

>> RIGHT NOW, THERE'S 17 OTHER STATES IN THE NATION THAT HAVE LAWS MUCH LIKE THE COLBY ACT WHICH PUTS THE PERSON WITH THE DISABILITY IN CHARGE, GIVES THEM A VOICE AND INSTEAD OF HAVING TO GO INTO GUARDIANSHIP.

THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GUARDIANSHIP.

RIGHT NOW WE HOPE TO BRING IT TO ALABAMA AND JOIN THE 30 STATES THAT ARE WORKING THE SAME WAY WE ARE TO BRING SUPPORTED-DECISION MAKING LAWS HERE.

AND EVERYBODY WE'RE TALKING TO HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE AND PEOPLE WE'VE TALKED TO ARE SUPPORTIVE AND SPONSORED FOR THE BILL.

AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES DESERVE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SAME WAY WE DO.

AND THEIR VOICE COUNTS AND IT MATTERS.

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

>> THE DE SOTO CAVERNS ARE KNOWN FOR THE ONYX CATHEDRAL, VERY HIGH AND LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

IT HAS A LONG AND FASCINATING HISTORY.

HOME TO A 2,000-YEAR-OLD NATIVE BURIAL SITE AND OLDEST GRAFFITI IN THE CAVE AND SOURCE OF SALT PETER FOR BEGUN POWDER DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND SPEAK EASY TOO DURING PROHIBITION.

>> JOINING ME IS REPRESENTATIVE GINNY SHAVER.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND A BILL, ISSUES YOU WERE WORKING ON, MENTIONED IN THE STATE'S STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH, ADOPTION.

AND YOU WERE WORKING ON IT FOR YEARS AND YOU ARE COMING TO REPLACE CURRENT LAW CONCERNING ADOPTIONS IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH HOW YOU GOT HERE?

>> SURE, TODD.

THAT'S CORRECT.

ADOPT ALABAMA ADOPTION CODE HAS NOT BEEN TOUCHED IN ESSENTIALLY 30 YEARS.

AND AFTER WE PASSED THE HUMAN LAW PROTECTION ACT ESSENTIALLY BANNING ABORTION IN THE STATE, OUR FOCUS IS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO PROVIDE FOR RESOURCES FOR MOTHERS TO PLACE THEIR BABIES OR KEEP THEIR BABIES.

AND OUR FOCUS TURNED TO WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THE ADOPTION PROCESS.

I HAD IDEAS ON ADOPTION AND SO DO SOME OTHER MEMBERS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A GROUP OF PEOPLE AS LARGE AS THE LEGISLATURE, YOU FIND MANY WHO ARE PERSONALLY TOUCHED AND AFFECTED ABOUT ADOPTION.

IT'S PERSONAL TO ME.

I HAVE A SISTER WHO WAS ADOPTED.

AND I'VE STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT WE CAN DO, TO MAKE IT EASIER AND BETTER.

FOUND OUT FROM THEN SPEAKER McCUTCHEON, COMMITTEE, ALABAMA LAW INSTITUTE COMMITTEE THAT HAD ALREADY FORMED AND STARTED WORK OVER FOUR YEARS AGO.

>> OH, WOW.

>> TO TOTALLY REVAMP THE ALABAMA ADOPTION CODE.

>> THEY HAD A HEAD START?

>> I STARTED WORKING WITH THE COMMITTEE LATE IN 2021.

ALSO, SOME OTHER LEGISLATORS, CHAIRMAN MATT SIMPSON, AND TERRY COLLINS, ALSO, THEY MONITORED THE COMMITTEE WHICH WAS MADE UP OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALL FACETS OF THE ADOPTION ISSUE.

NOT ONLY LAW INSTITUTE EMPLOYEES BUT RETIRED AND CURRENT JUDGES, ADOPTION ATTORNEYS, DHR AND STAKEHOLDERS AT THE TABLE WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ON THE SUBJECT MATTER TO THOROUGHLY, AND I DO MEAN THOROUGHLY, TOTALLY REVAMP THE CODE.

I DO HEAR SOMETIMES THERE'S BARRIERS TO THE RED TAPE AND SUCH THAT FRUSTRATE ADOPTIVE PARENTS, PARENTS THAT WANT TO ADOPT.

SO, IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE ATTEMPTING TO FIX, REMOVING SOME OF THE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS?

>> YES, THE CHANGES TAKE INTO ACCOUNT, THE NEED TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND ALSO, TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND ALL OF THE ONES INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE.

>> RIGHT, THERE ARE COMPLICATED FACTORS THERE OF BIRTH PARENTS AND PROTECTING THE CHILD AND RIGHTS AND ALL OF THAT KIND OF THING.

SO, IT'S A SENSITIVE AND COMPLICATED SUBJECT.

>> IT IS A VERY COMPLICATED SUBJECT.

>> AND I KNOW THAT YOU PASSED A LAW LAST YEAR HAVING TO DO WITH INCREASING THE TAX CREDIT THAT ADOPTIVE PARENTS COULD GET?

IS THAT NOW LAW?

>> IT IS.

WE DID DOUBLE THE ADOPTION TAX CREDIT AND EXPANDED WHO IT APPLIES TO.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE EFFECT FOR THE 2023 TAX YEAR.

FORMS ARE READY FOR THIS TAX YEAR.

>> SO, IF SOMEBODY WAS ADOPTED LAST YEAR, AND DOING TAXES RIGHT NOW, THEY SHOULD PURSUE THIS CREDIT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

LET ME ASK YOU SOME OTHER BILLS THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON.

I KNOW THAT YOU WORKED ON LEGISLATION REGARDING BOATING AND CITATIONS AND OTHER THINGS FOR BOATING.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, I LIVE ON WISE LAKE, YOU OUGHT TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE A BOOK, YOU NEED TO KNOW.

AREAS OF CONCERN FOR ME, FROM MY HOME IS WEISS LAKE AND BOATING LEGISLATION, HAVING GROWN UP ON THE LAKE AND BOATING, I DID NOT REALIZE THAT IF SOMEBODY GETS A BOATING CITATION, TICKET, WHETHER IT'S FOR IMPROPER LIFE VESTS OR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, IT'S AN ACTUAL MISDEMEANOR, CRIMINAL.

DIFFERENT THAN A SPEEDING TICKET.

SO, PROFESSIONAL PERSON, PEOPLE TRYING TO GET IN THE MILITARY, THEY CAN CHECK A BOX AND SAY I'VE NEVER BEEN IN TROUBLE.

AND IT SHOWS UP, OH, YOU HAD A MISDEMEANOR CHARGE HERE WAY BACK FOR A LIFE VEST.

SO, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT JUST A REGULAR CITATION.

>> RIGHT, A REGULAR BOATING CITATION, THIS BILL MAKES IT A VIOLATION, NOT A MISDEMEANOR.

>> I BET YOU HAVE HAD SOME FEEDBACK ON THIS?

>> ALL POSITIVE.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S BEGINNING OF THE NEW TERM AND YOU ARE IN A MORE SENIOR POSITION NOW AND I'M SERIOUS FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, NEW MEMBERS COMING IN AND GETTING STARTED, HOW ARE THINGS GOING SO FAR?

A NEW INTERESTING DYNAMIC IN THE HOUSE?

>> IT IS.

THERE'S A LARGE CLASS THAT WE LIKE TO CALL IT, WHEN I CAME IN, WHICH WAS IN 2018.

2018.

>> RIGHT.

THERE WAS A LARGE CLASS THEN AND I KIND OF COMPARE IT TO THEN.

AND THERE'S ANOTHER LARGE CLASS THIS TIME.

AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD MIX OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, WALKS OF LIFE AND OPINIONS.

I THINK THEY BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE.

>> HAVE YOU OFFERED ANY ADVICE FROM ONCE HAVING BEEN A FRESHMAN YOURSELF?

>> I DO.

>> I DON'T REALLY EVER RECALL TRYING TO KEEP MY FOOT OUT OF A MOUSE TRAP BUT I DO TRY TO HELP THEM THAT ARE COMING AFTER ME WITH LITTLE POINTERS.

>> AND NOT EXACTLY EASY TO NAVIGATE, BUT THEY WILL FIND THEIR FOOTING.

WE'LL FOLLOW THESE BILLS.

I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON.

AND PLEASE UPDATE US WITH THE ADOPTION ISSUE, OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PRIORITY FOR THE SPEAKER, AND FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> IT IS A PRIORITY FOR SPEAKER LEDBETTER FOR SURE.

LIKE I SAID, OUR CAUCUS AND PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IS TOUCHED BY ADOPTION IN SOME WAY.

DO I HAVE TIME TO MENTION -- >> PLEASE DO.

YES, GO AHEAD.

>> ONE THING THAT I DISCOVERED, BACK IN 2002, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION RIGHT TO KNOW ACT REQUIRED THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO PUBLISH THIS RESOURCE DIRECT FOR FOR WOMEN, CHILDRENS', AND FAMILY, HAS ALL OF THE RESOURCES IN EACH COUNTY, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, JUST HELP FOR WOMEN WITH INFANTS, ADOPTION RESOURCES, AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO UPDATE THE GUIDE AND GETTING UPDATED INFORMATION FROM EACH COUNTY.

IT'S COMPLETED.

THEY ARE WORKING ON GRAPHICS NOW AND WE HOPE WE'LL GET THE INFORMATION READILY AVAILABLE ONLINE AND OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

LIKE I SAID, IT'S OUR GOAL TO TRY TO HELP WOMEN TO KEEP OR TO BE ABLE TO PLACE THEIR BABIES.

>> SO, IF YOU ARE AN EXPECTANT OR NEW, YOU CAN FIND INFORMATION IN YOUR COUNTY, YOUR HOMETOWN.

>> RIGHT.

>> CHILD CARE, NUTRITION.

>> AND BENEFITS, WHAT BENEFITS ARE AVAILABLE.

>> SO, WHENEVER THAT COMES ONLINE, WE'LL FEATURE THAT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED.

>> REPRESENTATIVE GINNY SHAVER THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> CAHABA LILLY NAMED FOR THE CAHABA RIVER NAMED FOR THE RIVER OF THE MAJOR AQUATIC SYSTEM IN G, ALABAMA AND IT'S KNOWN FOR THE STRIKING 3-INCH WIDE, 6 PETALS, CONNECTING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE STAMENS AND THE LILLY'S CLASSIC NAME IS FOR BEAUTIFUL CROWNLIKE MEMBRANE AND SHOWS THE CHARACTERISTICS.

IT'S A SWIFT FLOWING WATER OVER THE ROCKS AND THE PLANTS BULGE AND BED DURING WINTER.

FLOWERING COMMENCING IN MAY REACHING PEAK IN LATE MAY AND EARLY JUNE.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL FOR CANOERS AND KAYAKERS TO VIEW DURING THE SPRING PERIOD.

>> JOINING ME NEXT, JEREMY WALKER OF THE ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.

THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

>> IT WAS REALTOR DAY YESTERDAY IN THE CAPITOL.

AND YOU HAD OVER 200 REALTORS GATHERING FOR THE EVENT AND TELL ME, HOW DID IT GO?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING, IT STAYS, LIKE YESTERDAY, JUST REINFORCES THE ATTITUDE THAT I HAVE, AND 250 MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE FROM THEIR BUSINESSES TO SHOW UP AND ADVOCATE HERE AT THE CAPITOL AND IT'S WHAT MAKES SUCH A SPECIAL ORGANIZATION.

>> I KNOW I PARTICIPATED IN THE AUTO VENT BECAUSE I WAS PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE PANEL AND TALKING ABOUT SINGLETON AND READ, WHAT ELSE DID YOU HAVE ON THE PANEL?

>> SECRETARY GREG CANFIELD, VERY INSIGHTFUL FOR US TO HEAR ABOUT THE INCENTIVE PACKAGES AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO BE INVOLVED AND WE SAY A LOT OF SOME OF OUR MEMBERS ARE THE BEST KECK DEVELOPERS AND THEY CELEBRATE THAT IN EVERY COMMUNITY ACROSS THE STATE.

AND YOU HAD A PANEL AGAINST THE FARMERS FEDERATION, THE TORT ISSUE AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STICK AROUND, I WAS CURIOUS HOW THAT WENT.

>> PAUL PINION WITH ALFA AND RUSSELL DAVIS WITH THE HOME BUILDERS.

TWO GREAT LEADERS THAT I LOOK UP TO.

THEY RUN EXCEPTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE LOOK FORWARD TO DEALING WITH THEM.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT EFFECTS EVERY SMALL BUSINESSES.

NOT JUST THE BIG CASES THAT MAKE IT TO THE SUPREME COURT OR THE APPELLATE LEVEL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CASES THAT ARE ONLY LOCALLY TRIED AND EFFECTED IN THE CIRCUIT COURT AND CONCERNED ABOUT FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS AND BAD JUDGES AND BAD RULINGS HAVE A DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON OUR MEMBERS.

>> AND YOU ARE BEING ACTIVE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL SUPPORTING CANDIDATES THAT WANT TO PREVENT LAWSUIT ABUSE.

>> RIGHT, WE'RE INTERESTED IN FINDING JUDICIAL CANDIDATES AND JUDGES WHO BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW.

IT SHOULDN'T BE CATERING TO ANYONE GROUP, IT'S FOR THE ALABAMIANS IN THE STATE.

AND I THINK FAR TOO OFTEN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES HAVE NOT BEEN TREATED FAIRLY IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

>> THE PANEL THAT I WAS MODERATING ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES, GREGORY AND SENATOR SINGLETON.

ONE THING I ASKED ABOUT THE ECONOMY, AND WE PITCHED IT LIKE THIS, AS MUCH AS ANYBODY, REALTORS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECONOMY IT EFFECTS THEM MUCH OR AS MORE THAN ANY OTHER BUSINESS.

AND YOU LOOK OUT THERE AND YOU SEE RISING INTEREST RATES, INFLATION, POSSIBLE RECESSION ON THE HORIZON AND THERE ARE CONCERNS.

AND I APPRECIATE SENATOR SINGLETON AND COMMENTS ON THAT.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR ON THE GROUND ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF THE ECONOMIC OUTLOOK.

WE HEAR GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.

AND THE GOOD NEWS, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT ARE MOVING ACROSS ALABAMA AND A HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND ALABAMA PROVIDES THAT.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND THERE'S A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY OUT THERE.

AND REAL ESTATE TENDS TO BE THE FIRST SECTOR OF THE THINGS OUT THERE, AND WE'VE SEEN DECREASE OF HOME SALES, IN JANUARY 22% DECREASE, YEAR OVER YEAR FROM JANUARY OF LAST YEAR.

THAT'S A CAUSE OF CONCERN.

THE RISING INTEREST RATES OUT THERE WITH THE FED AGGRESSIVELY TRYING TO FIGHT INFLATION AND BUYERS AND SELLERS ON THE SIDELINES JUST WAITING FOR THINGS TO STABILIZE.

AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE WANT, WOULD LOVE TO SEE A MOVE IN RATES AND PAUSE AND GET TRUE ECONOMIC DATA AND LITTLE MORE LONGER THAN A MONTH, YOU KNOW, MAY BE A LITTLE TOO AGGRESSIVE.

>> LIKE THE CANARY IN THE COALMINE, THE REALTORS CAN BE LIKE THAT.

NOW, WHAT ISSUES ARE YOU ADVOCATING THIS TIME AROUND?

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT A FEW ISSUES.

ANYTHING EFFECTING LIABILITY ON OUR MEMBERS.

WE'VE SEEN A RAPID EXPANSION OF LIABILITY ON PRIVATE OWNERS.

AND BUSINESS LICENSE REFORM, SEEING A NUMBER OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES AGGRESSIVELY OVERTAXING THE MEMBERS.

AND WE LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS ON THAT.

AND WE WANT TO APPLAUD GOVERNOR IVEY WHO HAS TAKEN A BIG LEGAL ROLE IN COMBATING THIS.

SHE ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO CUT RED TAPE AND THAT'S SOMETHING OUR MEMBERS BELIEVE STRONGLY IN.

AND STATE GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAVE REGULATORY AGENCIES OUT THERE, AND TRULY ACCOUNTABLE TO NO ONE, UNFORTUNATELY.

AND THEY ARE RAISING FEES ON EVERY WORKER, PROFESSION, TRADE AND OCCUPATION IN ALABAMA.

AND IT'S A VERY INEFFICIENT SYSTEM.

AND WE APPLAUD HER LEADERSHIP IN TAKING A LOOK AT MANY OF THE ISSUES AND WE'RE EAGERLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT OUTCOME.

>> AND CONGRESS, NOT JUST CONGRESS, LEGISLATURE OR CONGRESS, IT'S ALL THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF THEM.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO FEES AND FINES.

>> AND WE FOUGHT THIS AND THE FEDERAL AGENCY TRIED TO PRIVATIZE PRIVATE PROPERTY IN THE EVICTION MORATORIUM.

>> AND YOU WON THAT CASE, THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY.

THAT WAS A BIG, NATIONAL HIGH PROFILE CASE AND THE ALABAMA REALTORS TOOK THAT TO THE SUPREME COURT.

>> RIGHT, I WAS SO PROUD OF THAT, TO BE WILLING TO TAKE THE LEAD.

AND TAKING A LEADERSHIP ROLE IS HARD TO DO.

BUT OUR LEADERS NEVER SHIED AWAY FROM ADVOCATING FOR THEIR MEMBERS AND OUR ASSOCIATION.

>> AND YOU OBVIOUSLY HOST LAWMAKERS AT YOUR EVENT AND I'M WONDERING WHAT FEEDBACK YOU HEAR FROM THE LAWMAKERS OF THE EVENTS OF THE DAY AND HEARING FROM YOUR MEMBERS.

>> WELL, THEY ARE ALWAYS KIND TO GRACE US WITH THEIR TIME, LAWMAKERS.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF COMPETING EVENTS AND THINGS ON THEIR CALENDAR.

BUT WE'RE IN TRUE GRATITUDE WHEN THEY SHOW UP, AND THEY HAVE AN OPEN DOOR TO OUR MEMBERS.

THAT'S A CREDIT TO THEM.

AND WE DID AN OUTDOOR RECEPTION AND GOD REALLY PAINTED A BEAUTIFUL DAY, PICTURE FOR US BECAUSE THE WEATHER COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE PERFECT.

>> RIGHT, YOU NEVER KNOW IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.

>> NO, WE DON'T.

NOT IN ALABAMA!

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER, IT CHANGES IN A WEEK.

>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT THANKS FOR COMING BY AND EXPLAINING THESE ISSUES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THIS HAS BEEN JEREMY WALKER OF THE ALABAMA STATE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> CHEAHA MOUNTAIN OFTEN CALLED THE HIGHEST POINT IN ALABAMA, LOCATED IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA IN CHEAHA STATE PARK SURROUNDED BY THE TALLADEGA NATIONAL FOREST.

THIS DRAMATIC LANDSCAPE GETS THE NAME FROM THE CREEK INDIAN NAME, THE MOUNTAIN, MEANING HIGH PLACE.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30 WITH MORE COVERAGE OF THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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