From our state House studio in Montgomery.

I'm Todd Stacey, welcome to Capitol Journal.

Leading the news tonight.

A verdic in the trial of Ibrahim Yazeed for the murder of 19 year old Aniah Blanchard.

A macon County jury today foun Yazeed guilty of felony murder.

That's a charge just below capital murder, which would have come with the possibility of the death penalty.

Attorney General Steve Marshall said he was disappointed to not be able to pursue the death penalty, but that his office, which has prosecuted this case, will insist on Yazeed serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Blanchard's murder and the impending case made national headlines as Yazeed was out on bond after being charged with assault at the time of the murder.

That fact led Alabama lawmakers to pass a constitutional amendment, known as a nine year law, that allows judges to deny bail to those charged with violent crimes.

Today, the sponsor of that measure.

State representative Chip Brown of Mobile, said lives are being saved because of it.

Well, it's been a long time coming.

I mean, I feel for the Blanchard and the Harris families as they've had to go through this over the last seven years.

And, you know, it's it's, a nice legacy continues every single day across the state.

And, you know, that's the thing I'm I'm most proud of.

And I know her family is most proud of that her legacy continue to change lives in this state.

And that's life through Anais Law.

And it's used in, you know, counties across the state every day to keep guys that, you know, people that don't need to be out, awaiting trial, dangerous criminals off the streets.

And, and so I think there's a sense of relief that that's finally behind u and I know behind them as well.

I wanted to go back to Representative Brown's bill.

Nice law, because had it not been for that bill and keeping her namesake in the public eye, keeping her name being spoken, as you just mentioned, not only in Alabama but across the country, to amend the law to ensure that those who just think they can kill or commit heinous crimes can easily walk out on bail.

And I've represented defendants over the years.

So it was a tough one for me.

Even when he sponsored it.

But I was one on the phon with the family five years ago as they cried and wondere if aniya would ever come home.

As they searched.

The house today passed legislation that would restrict Alabama's primary elections to those who are registered with their respective party.

House Bill 541 from Stat Representative Ernie Yarbrough would move Alabama to what' called a closed primary system, meaning only registered Republicans could vote in that primary and only registered Democrats could vote in that primary.

Yarborough faced tough questions on the House floor, including from some fellow Republicans concerned about the implication for independent voters.

the bill we have before us.

HB 541, known as the Save act, stands for the safeguard Alabama voter engagement.

This bill takes effect January 1st or 27, and just requires qualified voters to register for their party to vote in the party primary, either by voting or online or at the board of registrars.

The biggest issue I have is, is unlike some folks in this, in this, body I have a very purple district.

I have a district with a lot of independent voters, and I feel like those independent voters most of the tim don't want to be affiliated or go on record to say which party they're going to vote for.

They want the ability to go t the polls and pick the ballot.

That's the person that they would like to vote for.

And by doing this I think what I'm saying to them, where we had school choice that I supported to say you have the choice to make the right decision for what you believe is right for your child.

I believe we're going backwards here.

I believe we're telling that voter no.

We want to force you into choosing.

If you don't want to choose, you're going to be forced into choosing.

When you go to the ballot box on that first primary in 28.

Whichever ballot you ask for, you will be labeled and not jus labeled, but recorded publicly that that's the party that you're affiliated with.

That bill passed and now goes to the Senate.

And I'll sit down with Mr.

Yarborough later in the show to talk in more detail about his bill.

Senate leaders warned us that some spicier issues would be coming before that body soon.

That happened today with legislation renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America in state law to match Presiden Donald Trump's executive order.

Democrats objected early and often to that bill, engaging in a filibuster that brought action on the floor to a halt.

The hours long debate finally came to an end when Republicans carried the bill over, citing a lack of members to keep a supermajority in the chamber.

But not before Democrats had their say.

Gas prices are as high as they are today.

We're in the middle of a war that the president said he would never carry us into a war, but he has us into a war, and we are talking about a Gulf of America.

House Bill two, the Gulf of America Act.

And bring a dime to our coffers.

And we all know that we're going to have some real budgetary issues.

There are technical rules that we have on the floor, and we wanted to make sure that we're always have the majority that's out there of 21 votes or more.

There was two people I have to go to speeches right now, and we didn't want to take a chance of a quorum call and thus not be in charge of that.

So the technical rules are we wanted to make sure that we stayed in control of the floor, and not having that definite.

We wanted to go ahead and make a definite, which is go ahead and adjourn and we'll bring those bills back up.

And when we come back to the 31st anniversary following today's action on the Senate floor.

President Pro Tem Garland Gutter spoke to reporters.

You saw him there.

He reflected back on what's been accomplished during the first three fourths of the legislative session.

As lawmakers head into their spring break next week.

He also looked ahead to more challenging bills that will likely bring more filibusters, including the closed primary bill that passed the House today.

I think there's been a lot of progress made not only in the bills that we have passed already, but behind the scenes of getting the bills prepped and ready to be on the floor.

And then I think that's where most of our progress has, man, that in the committees this week.

You'll see tha when we come back, everybody's needing a much needed res and relaxation for about a week.

We've been at it pretty hard for a while, and in our minds are abou as worn out as our bodies are.

So we're going home and seeing our families and our kids for a little while, I think is a positive thing.

We'll be ready to come back an hit it hard for the last took.

The House, passe the closed primary bill today.

What what's the outlook for that up here?

We have been watching that bill somewhat closely.

We have not had a discussion, and we will be doing that discussion when we come back on that Tuesday, which is the 31st there.

We'll be having those discussions then about exactly wher this body wants to handle that.

We wanted that to start in the house of the word originated from.

He didn't go all the way through the process and it did came up today.

So we'll be looking at that on Tuesday.

And I'll give you a better answer then.

As far as where we are now, we'll take a short break and be back with tonight's guests.

Stay with us.

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Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is State Representative Jeremy Gray of Opelika.

Representative Thanks for coming on the show.

Thank you for having me.

Absolutely.

Well, we'r getting to the homestretch here.

We are, you know, getting to spring break.

We're very glad about that.

You know get a little spicy on the floor, a little test toward the end of the session.

So it's interesting.

What did I ask you about a bill that you had moving this week having to do with student tracking?

Yeah.

High school student is tracking.

Can, you know, soup to nuts?

Tell me what this bill does.

Yeah.

So this is student athlete eligibility and and transitioning.

So we understand that everyone needs to be some kind of athlete, whether it's baseball or football.

And we some we just stop at the high school level.

Some of us go to the collegiate level and some of those that are fortunate.

We go to the pros and make the big bucks.

So what this bill would do historically, depending on where you are, if you had a seven day schoo where it's now six eight, now, maybe you have the resources where your athletic director is keeping up with it, or the head coach is keeping up with like as far as your classes.

And when recruiters come in, they can go talk to the guidance counselors and all those things where every school is not like that.

And so what this bill is, does, is it creates a mechanism to make that easier.

Or in the ninth grade, if I'm a ninth grader and I'm playing through ninth through 12th, it's tracking everything that I'm doing.

So if I say that I'm in a ban or I want to go to school for, you know, performing arts or basketball, football is tracking me to make sure that I have the necessary credits.

So I actually go to college that my GPA and all that is aligned.

So I could see a situation wher if they weren't doing that or, you know, like I said, not all schools have the kind of resources they get to.

The end is there.

And then, you know, left, left without anywhere to go.

And they didn't know the whole time.

Is that kind of the I see, you know, I went to North Carolina State and I always say, why do you not recrui people at Opelika High School?

But I was like, most of them are not eligible, right?

Like they go through, nine through 12.

And a lot of times it's the ninth grade is going to get you, where are you making maybe a D or A and math or science.

And that hurts you.

You're thinking tha when you start in the 10th grade it starts actually starts in the ninth grade.

And so it's a lot of athletes just kind of just fall through the cracks because no one is tracking their progress to make sure they're eligible.

Maybe they're eligible as far as talent but not academics.

That's interesting.

Okay.

So it's through committees in committee this week.

Yeah.

There's enough time to get it back.

I think this is more of an educational, to see the pros and the con who would be against the offer.

And so we'll just kind of educational, we make a get on the floor, but it won't have time to actually pass the House in the Senate.

But most time with bills it takes a couple years to pass a bill.

Yeah, sure.

And it could be done maybe at the department level or something like that.

But I understand it because it's not just sport.

Yeah I mean, I did a lot of theater.

I did like SGA, stuff like that, which does count toward.

Right, you know, scholarships and things like that.

So yeah.

Well that's an interesting concept.

Well, speaking of sports, I wanted to have you on for a while to ask about the, the colleges.

Yeah.

You were a former college athlete.

So you have an informed opinion about this?

I mean, what we're witnessing now, I was talking with Jamal figures about this recently.

It just doesn't.

It's not the same sport, you know, whether you're talking about basketball, football, even baseball now because of been I know because of the transfer and way that way that works I know you've had legislation to address it in the past.

What are we what can we do to address this, to be fair to players, but actually have a, you know, a sport that resembles college athletics?

Yeah, the debate is a solution, but it's a solution that everyone is kind of dodging.

If you make players sign contracts, performance contracts, or if they leave, they're locked into that kind of like what happened in the NFL or the MLB.

But the the bad thing about it is then you have to have a collective bargaining agreement.

And so you get into the weeds.

So no you have to insure the players.

You have to do all those things.

So it is a common sense way of doing it.

But I just think this is the easier way because pretty much you're a ten nine and I give you the money you pay your own taxes and is, is is really anything that I have to do as a administrator or a college or how do you want to look at it.

And so I think is a way to fix it.

There are people could enjoy it, but I don't think people are really prepared to negotiate contracts with agents and things of that nature.

So I feel lik it really would be the model it.

Right.

And so I think that's wh a lot of people like it like it is, even though they're sayin they don't like it, like it is, because it just allowed the cash transfer and not all the other things that goes along with it.

Yeah, I agree with that because it's not just the you know, I think everybody was a most people agreed that something had to happen on that issue.

Yeah.

Player were being treated fairly.

Yeah.

But now it's just I mean the collective.

Yeah.

Revenue sharing right.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's it's insane.

But then you put in the transfer.

And it's just like what.

I mean you saw what Indiana did.

They take advantage of the rules.

But yeah.

What's this conversation that needs to happen.

I know that happening at the national level.

Maybe that's where it should happen.

But I wanted to get your opinion I appreciate that okay.

Before I let you go, you passed a bill this year having to do with, screenings for prostate cancer.

It was interesting cause it traveled alongside the mammogram screenings for breast cancer.

Talk about the importance of this issue.

Yeah, we understan when we look at men in general, one out of eight men will you know, have prostate cancer.

And if you kind of narro it down to African-American men, be one out of six, right.

And so when we're looking at how do we look at things from a preventative component of screening?

A lot of people don't have the money to, you know, afford the upfront costs.

So we eliminated the cost sharing that it's co-pays, deductibles, anything that will be a barrier for, you know, someone wants t actually go with 40 years old.

All right.

Race or 50 years old to g through this prostate screening because it's more common and it is not.

And so I think this is jus a way to promote on both sides where, you know, breasts or, you know, prostate A that we can actually get people going and get checked up.

Because if we're saving money on the front end, that means we're not giving millions and millions of dollars on the back end.

Sure, that screening could literally saved your life.

Yeah, yeah, well that's good.

I know the governor is getting ready to sign.

Yeah.

So we'll we'll be there for that.

All right.

Well, it's tournament time.

You got a bracket.

I don't I don't have a bracket.

And I'm busy.

Yeah, I'm too busy.

I don't I'm not sure who's going to win, but it's probably going to be a win.

See, I kno Duke is kind of having trouble right now, so yeah, I looked for Duke to win the.

When they get in the thick of it.

Oh, hard to be right.

Yeah.

Look we're out of time.

Thanks again.

Thank you.

We'll be right back.

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Melville Archeological Park contains the remains of one of the largest prehistoric Native American settlements in the United States, founded around 1120.

Melville was located o the banks of the Black Warrior River, 14 mile south of present day Tuscaloosa.

A thriving ceremonial and political center of Mississippian culture.

The site was occupie for more than three centuries, but was abandoned by the early 16th century.

Welcome back to Capitol Journal.

Joining me next is state Representative Ernie Yarbrough from Trinity.

Representative Thanks for coming on the show.

Thank you for having me.

I'm glad to be here.

You had a big day on the floor for your closed primary bill.

I was on the floor past.

We showed some of that debate earlier.

Debate was pretty testy.

A little a little more tha I really anticipated, you know.

You know, given a pretty good vetting your bill.

But let's star from the beginning.

Why do you.

Why are you bringing this bill?

Why is it necessary?

Sure.

No.

Yeah.

I think this bill is important because, it's important that we.

I've used voter integrity, and it's important that the name of the bill is safe, save act.

Safeguard Alabama voter engagement.

When a voter engages in the political system that we have in Alabama.

I think it's incumbent upon us to do all we can to make sure that they know that when they engage and they vote Republican or Democrat, they know what they're getting.

You have a party, parties that have platforms, and those platforms and those parties go out and they, as it were, engage the voters.

Hey, this is our party.

This is our platform.

We want you to support u because of these reasons.

Right.

And so given the fact that that's that's the kind of the first way that a voter engages with a, a candidate through the lens of a party, right.

And then, of course, there's the one on one conversations.

We felt like that if you're going to do that, then there needs to be an alignment between the principles and policies of the platform of the party, and the person who is is going to be the potential candidate that the voters voting for.

Also, because when you go i and you participate in a primary which belongs to a party, right, you're also oftentimes voting for that party's local and state executive committee members who are on the back of the ballot.

Right.

And who are who are the people that are going to set the policies, procedures, the direction of the party.

And so, you know, in a nutshell, the concept behind a closed primary is that you want people voting in the primaries who, number one, know what they're getting and who believe in the platform of the party.

So you know, that it kind of like reinforces the structural integrity of the process.

So that I think it gives voters confidence that they know what it is that they're getting when they vote for a Republican or Democrat or whatever party that is out there.

Right.

And so, practically, how would it work?

Because I've heard you talk about this in committee.

And I think it's important to clarify because or you could go register.

Just when you register to vote, click a click a party.

But you can also do it like at the ballot box.

So you can choose like at the time you go vote.

You don't have to be preregiste as a Republican or a Democrat.

That's right, that's right.

So for the first time.

So here's how it works.

So, if you want or if you want to, the bill goes into effect January 1st of 27, right.

So first primaries 28.

So if you do nothing then what you do, you just go in the primary.

You pick a ballot as you do now, Republican and Democrat.

And whichever ballot you pick that will register you with that party.

Right.

Now before that if you want to go and register with a party, you can do it online.

But the Secretary of State, you can do it in person at the board of registrars as well.

And, but if you don't do any of that, you just go and pick a ballot and that will register you with the parties.

You're automatically automatically registered.

That's right.

And so the blackout period, in terms of switch switching parties between parties is 60 days before the primary to the corresponding general election.

And the reason why is that 60 days before is because, at day 55, the probate judge of the county is required by state law to give the election data to the absentee election manager.

So there had to be a you had to be before that, obviously.

And so a few days in there for them to get the data and stuff together.

But then after the corresponding general until the whole until a year and a half, two years later, you know, out of that 60 da window before the next primary, you can change your party affiliation online or at the board of registrars in person.

The one argument I keep hearing is, you know, the system as it is now.

Yes, it's it's primaries and you vote in your primary and everything, but there's just a lot of independent voters out there that, you know, probably participate more of and probably participate in the Republican primary because it is lately tantamount to election.

Right.

Mean?

Sure.

It's kind of like the Democrat was in the 80s and before.

So what about that?

I mean, what about those voters who don't necessarily, like you said?

So, ascribe to the the part platform and maybe don't really care much but they do want to participate.

And they know that when that Republican primaries, when we're going to choose our governor, we're going to choose our senator.

So are we are we leavin those people out of the process?

I mean, you know I would say no, because, again, you can choose which primary you want to vote in.

But, you know, again, it is a it is a party's primary.

And in that context, you're also picking local and state officers for that party to set the direction of the party.

So, I think absolutely not.

We're not leaving anyone behind.

And, you know the general election, you vote.

Yeah, we all get the same ballot.

It is what it is.

But but I do think that if if we're going to have parties and have primaries, then it is incumbent upon us to do our best to make sure that that a party is who they are and their candidates should reflect that.

You know, but there's a process there where you can come in and you can vote.

Like I said, they have first primary, and the goal here is not to to shut anyone out at all.

In fact, right now, if you go online, right, if a person voted in a Republican or Democrat primary, that's all publicly accessible data right now.

So it's no as if that is not already there.

Right.

But I just believe that in this process, I know 600 doors and I engage with voters.

So there's never going to be a time in place where it's not incumbent upon u to to go and engage the voter.

Right.

There's no shortcut to that, regardless of what party you decide to run with or whatever.

But I do think tha when you and I knocked the door, one of the first questions I got asked was, are you Republican or Democrat?

Right.

Because that name, that party right, carries a concept or a understanding in people's minds.

So the fact that people have this, this ideological, you know, understanding of what that party means, I think when you when you add clarity to that and you lean int whatever that party platform is, it actually gives clarity for the voters.

When they go to choose, they know what they're getting and they know what to expect.

And so I think it's important from that perspective.

And as people, I think we've seen people are moving to Alabama.

I think sometimes people are leaving other blue states potentially.

And I found that at least in my district, where they're not endorsed because they wanted to com where that is more conservative.

And so I think it's important that we we do all we can to structurally protect that and preserve it.

Like I said, passed the House today.

Does it have time to I mean, getting late in the sessio only seven days left.

So.

Yeah.

No, I mean, it's got time, right?

I mean, I would say I'm cautiously optimistic, right?

I guess in politics you senators can move slower.

That's right.

No, 100%.

And so Senator Sa Given is carrying it upstairs.

You know, obviousl you saw the speaker of the House co-sponsored it, came out for it.

That's kind of rare.

He doesn't get involved.

That's right, that's right.

And then also, I think the man who will b our next Governor Koch double, came out for it.

And, I know there's been a lot of, of support upstairs from people like Governor Ainsworth.

So, you know, I'm cautiously optimistic.

I hope that it does move forward.

Obviously if they they tweak it, change it upstairs, we'll have a meeting of the minds.

And, you know, whatever we can do to to get it out.

I think the best serv the people of our state at me, at the end of the day it's all about voter integrity.

And that when a voter engages with a party in their party primary they know what they're getting.

Well.

Well, while I still have the only a little bit of time, but, speaking of the Senate, your lake and rally act that almost passed last year, it got held up at the last minute there, having to do with MoUs between state and federal, state and local agencies and Ice.

Yes.

Right.

A lot's happene in over the last year with Ice.

You had the whole Minnesota thing going on.

So where is this bill Is it going to pass this year.

And do you think there's going to be more reluctance becaus of the situation in Minneapolis.

Yeah.

So again, obviously as a as a previous bill, cautiously optimistic this time in the session, I think when we get back it should be in and out out of committee pretty quick in the Senate, which it was last year.

Again, Senator given is carrying that bill as well.

And I think it actually, if you look at my bill and think about what happened in Minneapolis, that the tensions really calmed down when Homan came in and he actually go a lot of cooperation from state and local law enforcement with the federal government.

Right.

And so that's what this bill is all about.

It's all about hey, let's let the state let's let state and local law enforcement have them.

I used to work with the federal government.

So now these criminal illegal aliens who are here illegally committing crimes, they're not just being turned loose into the community from the prison.

They're being worked with th federal government right there.

So they don't have to go into the community and find them, or they get them from the prison system because we don't want I think Americans don't want people here illegally who are committing crimes.

Yeah.

Well, absolutely.

That's that is at least in the polling sticks out, you know, over both parties.

Sure.

Well, look, I think we're out of time, but we're going to be watching these two bills as the session winds down.

Those are going to be two to watch.

Thanks again for your time.

Thank you sir.

We'll be right back.

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That's our show for tonight.

Thanks for watching.

Be sure to tune in tomorro night for Capitol Journals Week in Review as we recap this busy week in Alabama politics.

That's 730 tomorrow here on apt for our Capital Journal team.

I'm Todd Stacey.

We'll see you next time.