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

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

TODAY IS THE FOURTH DAY OF THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND IT SAW THE FIRST BILLS PASS THROUGH THEIR CHAMBERS OF ORIGIN.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE MET FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS BEFORE ADJOURNING FOR SPRING BREAK, MEANING THEY WON'T MEET AGAIN UNTIL APRIL 4.

FOR TODAY'S ACTION, WE'LL START IN THE HOUSE, WHERE TWO PRIORITY BILLS WERE BEFORE THE BODY STARTING THIS MORNING.

HOUSE BILL 1 FROM REPRESENTATIVE MATT SIMPSON OF DAPHNE WAS FIRST ON THE AGENDA.

THE BILL STIFFENS PENALTIES FOR THOSE CONVICTED OF TRAFFICKING FENTANYL IN THE STATE OF ALABAMA.

THE DEADLY DRUG HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR AN INCREASE IN OPIOID OVERDOSES AND DEATHS, INCLUDING AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

SIMPSON GAINED A BIPARTISAN, UNANIMOUS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, A RARE OCCURRENCE FOR A CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL.

>> THE CODE ALREADY HAS A MIXTURE OF FENTANYL IN THE BILL MENTIONED.

THE BILL TODAY ONLY CORRESPONDED SINGLE COMPONENT FENTANYL.

SO IF YOU HAVE A GRAM OF PURE SINGLE COMPONENT FENTANYL, THAT CAN KILL UP TO 500 PEOPLE.

THAT BILL DID NOT ADDRESS LACED WITH OXYCONTIN OR OTHER LACES BUT ONLY ADDRESSED PURE FENTANYL.

WE DID IT THAT WAY BECAUSE WE WANT TO GO AFTER THE PEOPLE BRINGING IT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WE DON'T WANT TO GO AFTER THE KID ON THE STREET OR THE ADDICT OR THE USERS.

WE WANT TO GO AFTER THE TRAFFICKERS AND WE WANT THEM TO KNOW WE'RE COMING AFTER YOU AND THERE'S GOING TO BE TEETH TO THIS LAW AND IF YOU'RE CONVICTED, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO PRISON FOR A LONG TIME.

NEXT UP WAS HOUSE BILL 101 FROM REPRESENTATIVE GINNY SHAVER OF LEESBURG.

IT AIMS TO STREAMLINE ALABAMA'S ADOPTION PROCESS TO MAKE IT LESS COSTLY AND BURDENSOME FOR PARENTS TO ADOPT.

SHAVER SAID SHE AND A WORKING GROUP OF ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN CRAFTING THIS LEGISLATION FOR YEARS.

IT ALSO PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

>> I'M GLAD TO HAVE IT CROSS THE FINISH LINE.

IT'S BEEN A LONGS TIME.

MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS BILL HAS ONLY BEEN ONE 1/2 YEARS BUT IT'S BEEN VERY INTENSIVE.

A LOT OF WORK BY THE COMMITTEE AND I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO THE COMMITTEE.

MAKE THIS CLEAR.

IT WAS JUDGES, CURRENT AND RETIRED ADOPTION ATTORNEYS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM DHR, PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTUALITY IN THE BUSINESS AND KNOW WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND AND DEAL WITH IT IN THEIR PROFESSIONS EVERY DAY SO THEY WERE THE EXPERTS THAT KNOW THE INS AND OUTS AND EVERY DETAIL TO KNOW HOW TO TWEAK IT AND MAKE IT BETTER SO I WANT TO GIVE THE COMMITTEE THE CREDIT FOR THIS BILL.

>> THE SENATE ALSO TOOK UP THEIR PRIORITY BILLS TODAY.

SENATE BILL 113 FROM SEN. GARLAN GUDGER OF CULLMAN, WOULD REQUIRE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, INCLUDING HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, TO ALLOW IN-PERSON VISITS IN SEVERAL SCENARIOS, SUCH AS END-OF-LIFE, DURING CHILDBIRTH AND FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS.

DURING FLOOR DEBATE, STATE SENATOR MERIKA COLEMAN OF BIRMINGHAM ASKED GUDGER IF THE BILL CONTAINED LANGUAGE THAT WILL PROTECT PATIENTS FROM VISITORS WHO MAY HAVE A CONTAGIOUS CONDITION.

SEN. COLEMAN'S CONCERN WAS DUE TO HER REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE FROM VISITING THE HOSPITAL TO SEE HER NOW DECEASED HUSBAND.

>> IF I HAD GONE INTO THE HOSPITAL CARRYING SOMETHING AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO SOMETHING I HAVE -- IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION, COVID -- HOW ARE WE GOING TO ENSURE THAT THE VISITORS COMING IN DON'T FURTHER EXPOSE THE PEOPLE THAT WE JUST REALLY WANT TO BE THERE TO HELP AND SUPPORT.

>> IF IT'S NOTICEABLY SOMEBODY COMING IN THE HOSPITAL AND HAS A VISITOR AND NEEDS TO BE CHECKED, WHETHER IT'S COVID OR FLU OR ANYTHING AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT VISITOR TO GO INTO THE PATIENT'S ROOM AND AFFECT THE OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT PATIENT, ESPECIALLY 23 YOU'RE LOOKING AT A CANCER PATIENT WITH LOW WHITE BLOOD CELLS OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THEN DO THE HOP'S PROCEDURES AND POLICIES THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN THIS BILL.

THEY'RE ABLE TO TEST ANYBODY THAT COMES IN.

IF THE DOCTOR DEEMS THIS PARTICULAR PATIENT DOESN'T NEED TO HAVE VISITORS, FOR EXAMPLE, CHURCH GROUPS, THE GENERAL POPULATION, TO COME AND VISIT, THAT DOCTORS CAN STILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO NOT ALLOW VISITORS IN THAT ROOM EXCEPT FOR ONE ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER AT LEAST ONCE A DAY FOR TWO HOURS MINIMUM, AND IF THERE IS VISITING HOURS AND VISITING HOURS.

>> THAT BILL PASSED UNANIMOUSLY AND NOW GOES TO THE HOUSE.

SENATE BILL 1 FROM SENATOR APRIL WEAVER OF BRIARFIELD SEEKS TO AMEND THE STATE'S "“GOOD TIME"” POLICY FOR INCENTIVIZING INMATES GOOD BEHAVIOR BEHIND BARS.

SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON OF GREENSBORO ARGUED FOR SOME CHANGES TO THE BILL, SO IT WOULDN'T ROLL BACK GOOD TIME CREDITS SO DRASTICALLY AND ENSURING THOSE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF ASSAULT OR PARTICIPATE IN PEACEFUL PROTESTS AREN'T UNFAIRLY PUNISHED.

>> THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING, PEOPLE WHO MAY BE IN THOSE SITUATIONS AS SELF-DEFENSE BEING IDENTIFIED IT'S NOT TAKING AWAY THEIR GOOD TIME BECAUSE THEY WERE IN A SELF-DEFENSE STATE.

WE ARE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO MAY BE JUST PEACEFULLY PROTESTING IS NOT BEING CONSIDERED THAT THEY'RE RIOTING AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET THE DATA THAT YOU NEED THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR.

>> SENATOR SINGLETON AND I WORKED OVER HIS SUB THAT HE JUST OFFERED YESTERDAY AND WE CAME TO THE AGREEMENT THAT THESE ARE SOME AREAS THAT WE COULD AGREE ON.

>> WEAVER ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENT AND THE SENATE VOTED TO ADD IT TO THE BILL BEFORE PASSING IT 301 AND SENDING IT TO THE HOUSE.

THE BILL WAS NAMED AFTER BIBB COUNTY SHERIFF DEPUTY BRAD JOHNSON, WHOSE ALLEGED KILLER WAS AN INMATE WHO HAD A SHORTENED SENTENCE BECAUSE OF GOOD TIME POLICIES.

JOHNSON'S COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND DEPUTY CHRIS POOLE WAS ALSO SHOT DURING THE INCIDENT THAT TOOK JOHNSON'S LIFE.

DEPUTY POOLE WAS IN THE SENATE GALLERY WHEN THE BILL PASSED THE SENATE.

>> ON BEHALF THE DEPUTY BRAD JOHNSON AND HIS COLLEAGUES I THANK MY COLLEAGUES FOR THIS TODAY.

DEPUTY POOL WE'RE GLAD YOU COULD BE WITH US AND WE APPRECIATE YOU AND WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR RECOVERY AND HOPEFULLY BY THIS STEP THAT WE HAVE TAKEN TODAY WE HAVE MADE SAFER COMMUNITIES FOR ALL OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THINGS LIKE THIS AGAIN.

AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE TO HELP GET THIS BILL PASSED.

>> I WILL SPEAK WITH SENATOR SINGLETON ABOUT HIS AMENDMENT WHEN WE COME BACK.

>> JOINING ME IS STATE SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON MINORITY LEADER FOR THE ALABAMA STATE SENATE.

MR. LEADER THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

>> SO IT'S BEEN A LONG THREE WEEKS.

THE YOU'RE FINISHING UP TODAY HAVING ADJOURNED FOR SPRING BREAK BUT AN ISSUE THAT YOU WERE REALLY INVOLVED IN CAME BEFORE THE FLOOR.

TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD TIME STATUTE.

SENATOR WEAVER WAS PARENT INVOLVED IN THIS AND WANTED A BILL TO REFORM THAT POLICY AT THE PRISONS BUT YOU ENGAGED AND HAD A SUBSTITUTE OF YOUR OWN EVENTUALLY APPLE.

WALK ME THROUGH SOME OF YOUR OBJECTIONS TO HER BILL AND HOW YOU INVOLVED YOURS.

>> UNDER THE GOOD TIME LAW OF THE STATE OF ALABAMA EVERY PERSON THAT BASICALLY GOES IN HAS -- THEY FALL INTO ONE OF FOUR CATEGORIES OF GOOD TIME LAW.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS BACK THAT OUT.

FOR EVERY 30 DAYS YOU WILL GET 75 DAYS OF GOOD TIME LAW.

THAT'S A START IN CATEGORY 1.

AND HERS WOULD BE 30 FOR 30.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT THIS BILL HAVING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WE'RE UNDER A FEDERAL COURT ORDER FOR OVERCROWDEDNESS.

HER BILL RIGHT NOW BY TAKING IT AWAY FROM THE INMATES WOULD ADD ANOTHER 810 DAYS TO A 10 YEAR SENTENCE WHEN YOU JUST START LOOKING AT THE SENTENCES.

I MADE AN OFFER FOR EVERY 30 DAYS WE WILL GIVE 60 INSTEAD OF 75.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REDUCTION ON MY BILL A PERSON WILL ONLY STAY IN JAIL ON THE SAME SENTENCE ONLY 241 MORE DAYS AND I THINK THAT'S MORE MUCH MORE TO WHAT A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD LOOK AT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IT IN TERMS OF OUR OVERCROWDEDNESS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WOULD TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND SAY MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING TO STREAMLINE THIS BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE'RE CAUSING PEOPLE TO STAY INSIDE OF THE PRISON SYSTEM MUCH LONGER.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING BY GOING BE THE BILL AS WRITTEN IT WOULD BE A SIGNAL TO DOJ/THE COURTS THAT PERHAPS, WAIT, THEY'RE NOT DOING WHAT WE ASKED THEM TO DO IN TERMS OF THE PRISON POPULATION.

>> YES.

AND I'M AFRAID OF THAT.

>> AND TO YOUR CREDIT, YOU HAVE BEEN FOR A STATE SOLUTION THIS WHOLE TIME AND NOT WANTED A TAKE OVER.

WHERE DID YOU END UP?

YOU HAD A SUBSTITUTE BILL BUT IT BECAME AN AMENDMENT.

>> THE BILL ADDRESSED OTHER THINGS.

IT ADDRESSED RIOTING AND WHETHER OR NOT A PERSON ON THE INSIDE -- BECAUSE THE PERSON THAT UNFORTUNATELY KILLED THOSE OFFICERS ON THAT DAY HAD ESCAPED, THEY WERE ARE STILL OUT AND GETTING GOOD TIME CREDIT FOR THAT.

>> NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE.

>> NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE CASE.

I AGREE.

I THINK IF YOU ESCAPE, IF YOU MAKE ASSAULT, IF YOU MURDER SOMEONE -- THAT'S NOT A GOOD TIME.

IT SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY.

BUT WHAT I WAS AGAINST WAS THE BLANKET COVERAGE OF IT.

EVEN THOUGH GUYS WHO ARE IN THEIR -- WHO WANT TO DO RIGHT AND TRYING TO DO RIGHT, DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE -- I'M A SECOND CHANCE KIND OF GUY.

SO I BELIEVE IN PEOPLE CAN GET BETTER.

SO FOR THOSE PEOPLE WE'RE PUNISHING THEM FOR A BAD ACT AND THAT'S WHAT I DIDN'T WANT TO HAPPEN.

SO IN ANY INSTANCE WHERE A PERSON MAY BE DEFENDING THEMSELVES, OR AN ASSAULT, INSTEAD OF TAKING YOUR GOOD TIME FROM ASSAULT, IF THE WARDEN LOOKS AT IT AND SEES YOU'RE DEFENDING YOURSELF IT WOULD BE SIMPLE SELF-DEFENSE AND NO GOOD TIME WOULD BE TAKEN FROM YOU.

THERE WAS A PRECISE DEFINITION.

ON RIOTS.

I LOOK IF A PERSON WANTED A PEACEFUL PROTEST AND WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP RIOTING IN THE BUILD AND WE EXCLUDED THE RIGHT TO PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

>> CAREFUL DEPOSITIONS THERE SO WE ALSO PUT IN A REPORTING MECHANISM IF AN AMENDMENT THAT I GAVE THAT WILL SEEK A DATABASE AND GET THE NUMBERS OR THE INCIDENTS AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ON OUR GOOD TIME AND THAT WAS SOMETHING SHE WANTED IN THIS AND SHE FELT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COULD NOT DO IT SO WHAT I'M OFFERING IN THE BILL WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO NOW TO KEEP THOSE RECORDS.

>> SO ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT PASSED THE SENATE.

>> I STILL VOTED NO AGAINST THE BILL.

LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

I VOTED NO BECAUSE I HAS A BLANKET AFFECT VERSUS TARGETING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BAD ACTORS WE'RE STILL PUNISHING EVERYBODY.

>> BUT MORE CONSIDERABLE THAT BE IT STARTED.

AND DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE MORE CHANGES IN THE HOUSE MAYBE?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY AN AGREED UPON BILL BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SENATOR WEAVER HAS WORKED THIS BILL VERY, VERY WELL.

I THINK THAT YOU KNOW THE AMENDMENTS THAT WE GOT ON US PROBABLY ARE GOING TO BE AS CLOSE AS WE'RE GOING TO GET.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GOING TO EVER COME OFF THOSE NUMBERS IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS IN THE CATEGORIES SO I THINK THIS WOULD PROBABLY GOTTEN IT AS BEST AS WE CAN GET IT.

>> ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THEY CAN SEND BACK EXECUTIVE AMENDMENTS.

>> YES.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

AND WHAT I WANT WHICH THAT IS THEY RUN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THEY HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS TOO.

AND.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO BALANCE IN THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER, WHAT WAS OUT THERE, BECAUSE WHAT WE STARTED TO DO IS JUST CODIFY THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER AND THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT MY SUBSTITUTE DID WAS CODIFY THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER.

>> SWITCHING GEARS, WHILE I HAVE GOT YOU, WE'RE GOING TO SPRING BREAK.

YOU WILL HAVE A WEEK OFF.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE GOING TO BE THE BIG TICKET ITEMS THAT WE SEE IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> I THINK NUMBER 1 IS GOING TO BE INCENTIVES.

WE HAVE A JOB SET THAT IS GOING TO COME UP.

I THINK THERE'S FOUR BILLS UNDER THE THAT.

IT HAS TO BE RENEWED.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS POUR MONTHS.

>> WE HAVE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE FINALLY GOTTEN SOME AGREEMENTS HERE AND THERE AS TO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE BILLS AND THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BIG TICKET ITEM THAT'S COMING BACK AND I THINK WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING.

AND IT'S VERY BIPARTISAN.

I THINK THAT WE WILL WORK THROUGH IT VERY WELL.

I KNOW I HAVE BEEN A THE TABLE AND THERE'S CONSIDERATION ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR LEADER REED IN LEADING THIS IS MAKING SEWER THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE OUR INPUT AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE NEGOTIATIONS IN THIS BILL.

SO I THINK THAT IT HAS BEEN A BILL THAT HAS BEEN VETTED FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE ISLE AND I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE DETAILS WHEN A BILL IS DROPPED.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME SENATOR BOBBY SINGLETON.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE IT.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JONES FROM AUBURN, CHAIRMAN.

HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

ALWAYS GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.

>> YOU'RE FINSIHED WITH THE FIRST WEEK OF THE REGULAR SESSION.

THAT MEANS YOU HAVE BEEN IN YOUR POSITION AS RULES CHAIRMAN PRESIDING OVER THAT FLOW OF LEGISLATION.

HOW DID IT GO THIS 1ST WEEK?

>> IT'S BEEN A GREAT 1ST WEEK.

WE STARTED THE SESSION AND THEN THE GOVERNOR PUT US IMMEDIATELY INTO THE ESSENTIAL SESSION WITH ARPA FUNDS.

THIS WEEK WE REALLY GOT INTO IT BUSINESS OF PEOPLE FILING BILLS AND WORKING THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS WHERE THE REAL MEET OF LEGISLATION IS DONE IS IN THAT COMMITTEE ENVIRONMENT.

SO IT'S BEEN GREAT SEEING WHAT BILLS ARE COMING OUT, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR MEMBERS AND TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THAT FLOW OF DIFFERENT LEGISLATION.

SO A LOT OF WORK DONE BY OUR COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN THIS WEEK, A LOT OF SPONSORS OF GREAT LEGISLATION THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THE PROCESS AS WE KICK OFF THIS SESSION.

>> SO CAN YOU KIND OF REMIND US OF YOUR ROLE IN THAT PROCESS, BECAUSE, ALREADY.

BILLS GET FILED, GET SEND TO COMMITTEE.

IF THEY COME OUT OF COMMITTEE THEY'RE SENT TO THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR Y'ALL TO MAKE A DECISION, CORRECT?

>> CERTAINLY.

RULES COMMITTEE EXISTS, I LIKE TO SAY, RIGHT AT THAT POLICY IN POLITICS INTERSECTION.

WE WORK THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATION IS PASSED THROUGH THE COMMITTEE, DID THE AMENDMENTS DO WHAT THE PEOPLE INTEND FOR IT TO DO AND TRY TO GET A MEANING OF WHERE THAT LEGISLATION NEEDS TO GO TO THE FLOOR AT WHAT TIME, SCHEDULING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FLOW OF LEGISLATION HAPPENS IN AN EFFICIENT MANNER FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING ON IT.

THE STAKEHOLDERS THAT A AN INTEREST IN HOW THAT LEGISLATION WOULD EFFECT IF IT TURNS INTO AN ACT.

SO WHEN THE COMMITTEES PASS THOSE BILLS IT COMES TO THE RULES COMMITTEE, AND THEN WE WILL EITHER LET THEM FLOW OUT THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED THE REGULAR ORDER CALENDAR WHICH WE'RE ON NOW SO THEY'RE BASICALLY ON THE CALENDAR AS THEY'RE APPROVED BY COMMITTEE AND THOSE COMMITTEES REPORT THEM AS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE.

AND THEN ANY RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY MEMBERS COMES BEFORE THE RULES COMMITTEE FOR APPROVAL TO GO TO A VOTE OF THE ENTIRE HOUSE.

SO OURS IS SORT OF A COLLECTING POINT FOR THE BILLS AS THEY COME OUT OF COMMITTEE.

RESOLUTIONS AS FILED BY THE MEMBERS TO TRY TO CREATE AN EVENT EFFICIENT FLOW TO THE MEMBERS OF THE WHOLE VOTE OF THE BODY.

>> AND IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ONCE WE GET INTO THE MEAT THE SESSION WHEN THERE ARE -- THERE COULD BE A THOUSAND BILLS OUT THERE.

HE MAYBE ALL OF THOSE WON'T PASS COMMITTEE BUT YOU COULD HAVE HUNDREDS THROUGH COMMITTEE INTO THE RULES COMMITTEE AND IF YOU JUST OPEN IT UP TO BASICALLY DOING IT CHRONOLOGICALLY THAT COULD BE A REAL MESS IN TERMS OF BOTTLING UP THE MORE PRIORITIZED BILLS.

IS THAT A FAIR WAY TO PUT IT?

>> IT IS VERY FAIR.

1ST COUPLE OF WEEKS IT'S EASY BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE.

LIKE I SAY WORKING THROUGH THAT REGULAR ORDER AS THEY COME IN.

SO BEYOND THIS POINT AND AFTER THE BREAK THAT WE'RE ON, WE WILL COME BACK AND WE WILL START WORKING UNDER A ESSENTIAL ORDER CALENDAR WHERE WE WILL TAKE THOSE AS A COMMITTEE AND WE WILL ESTABLISH A LIST OF BILLS THAT SEEM TO BE A PRIORITY FOR OUR MEMBERS, THAT IS AS THEY COME OUT OF THE COMMITTEES TO FIND WHAT IS THE BEST FLOW TO PUT THOSE BILLS ON THE CALENDAR IN ORDER THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THE SPEAKER AND IMPORTANT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRY TO GET THAT FLOW SO EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE TO GET THEIR LEGISLATION FLEW.

WE HAVE SOME CALENDARS THAT WILL COME UP.

IN FACT OUR SUNSET COMMITTEE, THEY HAVE BILLS THAT HAVE TO BE PASSED BY A STATUTE, BY -- BEFORE THE 10TH LEGISLATIVE DAY.

SO WHEN WE GET BACK, WE WILL BE WORKING WITH CHAIRMAN WILCOX TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THOSE ON THE CALENDAR.

SO I HAVE A SUNSET CALENDAR AND WE MAY HAVE A DAY THAT IS NOTHING BUT SUNSET BILLS.

SO WORKING WITH THOSE, LINING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSTITUTION FOR OUR BODY AND THEN STARTING THAT SPECIAL ORDER CALENDAR WHICH IS PICKED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE RULES COMMITTEE TO ESTABLISH A FLOW OF LEGISLATION ON THE CALENDAR.

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF RULES I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS.

ON THE FLOOR TODAY THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EXCHANGE BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVE MOORE AND THE SPEAKER ABOUT MAYBE A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCEDURE ON THE FLOOR.

SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT SHE WASN'T GOING TO GET TO SPEAK ON AMENDMENTS.

CAN YOU KIND OF WALK ME THROUGH WHAT HAPPENED.

>> TALKING TO MS. MOORE SHE WENT TO A COMMITTEE MEETING AND SHE'S NOT A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE AND THEY HAD A PRESENTATION.

AND USUALLY FROM A CHAIRMAN'S STANDPOINT OF A COMMITTEE, THERE'S NOT JUST INTERACTION FROM THE AUDIENCE UNLESS THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING THAT IS ASKED FOR WHICH CAN BE REQUESTED BY ANY MEMBER OF THE STATE OR ANY MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, TO ALLOW PUBLIC INPUT, AND IT WAS NO FORMAL LEGISLATION GOING PAST.

IT WAS JUST A PRESENTATION.

AND MS. MOORE ATTENDED THAT MEETING AND TRIED TO INTERJECT AND I THINK THERE'S A DISAGREEMENT ON THE METEOROLOGIST WITH THE CHAIRMAN.

AND TODAY ON THE FLOOR SHE HAD QUESTIONS OF THAT AND HOW AN AMENDMENT WOULD FLOW TO THE FLOOR OR NOT.

WE HAD A RULE CHANGE TO WHERE BILLS COME OUT OF COMMITTEE IF THEY'RE AMENDED AND THAT AMENDMENT IS ROLLED IN TO THE LEGISLATION SO IT'S CLEARLY STATED FOR TRANSPARENCY SAKE OF WHERE THAT AMENDMENT AFFECTS THAT BILL AND IT'S A NEW -- WHAT PROCEDURE AND I WANT TO WORK WITH MS. MOORE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WHOLE GOAL OF THAT IS TRANSPARENCY.

AND SHE'S WANTING TRANSPARENCY AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE A VOICE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHY THAT RULE IS IN PLACE TO CREATE MORE TRANSPARENCY.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST SOME CONFUSION IN THIS 1ST WEEK.

AND SHE CERTAINLY HAD AS A RIGHT TO ASK THAT QUESTION AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH HER TO MAKE SURE THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THAT AND HAPPY TO HER IN ANY WAY.

>> WELL, SPEAKING OF THE FLOOR, THERE WERE TWO PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BILLS THAT PASSED.

ONE WAS HB1, THE BIG PRIORITY BILL ON FENTANYL.

REPRESENTATIVE SIMPSON'S BILL.

HE SAT HERE AND EXPLAINED IT TO US SO I WON'T ASK YOU TO GO THROUGH IT.

PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TO ME THAT IT WAS UNANIMOUS, CONSIDERING A LOT OF TIMES ON THESE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILLS WHEN IT COMES TO INCREASING PENALTIES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE PAUSE ON THAT KIND OF STUFF AND MAYBE NOT SUPPORT IT.

IT WASN'T THE CASE THIS TIME.

THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE.

TALK ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT.

>> WELL, THIS FENTANYL SITUATION IS AFFECTING EVERYONE.

IT IS A CRISES THAT IS SO POTENT, THIS TOXIC ITEM COMING ACROSS OUR BORDER INTO OUR STATE IS AFFECTING EVERYONE'S LIVES.

WHEN SOMEONE MAY MAKE A LIFE LESSON MISTAKE WITH OTHER DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, THEY'RE TRYING, THIS IS A LIFE ENDING MISTAKE UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE THE POTENCY -- I HAVE EXPLAINED IT TO MY KIDS AS SORT OF A NUCLEAR BOMB OF DRUGS.

WHERE IT'S NOT JUST GOING TO BE AN INJURY.

THIS IS LIFE ENDING.

IF YOU HAVE TOO HIGH OF A DOSAGE IN ANYTHING -- SO TRUSTING TABLETS AND TRUSTING PILLS -- YOU JUST CAN'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

AND ACROSS THE BOARD, ACROSS PARTY LINES, IT'S AN ISSUE AFFECTING EVERYONE IN ALABAMA.

AND ALABAMA IS TIRED OF IT.

PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

THEY ARE READY TO HOLD THE LINE.

IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO STOP THIS FENTANYL FROM COMING ACROSS THE BORDER WHEN IT GETS TO ALABAMA., WHEN IT'S DEALING WITH THE DEALERS THAT ARE PUTTING THIS TOXIC ITEM OUT THERE, IT'S A PRIORITY OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AND THE SPEAKER SAID THIS IS MY PRIORITY, LET'S GET THIS DONE, AND CHAIRMAN SIMPSON HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB WITH THIS BILL GETTING THE CORRECT INFORMATION, IT WENT THROUGH COMMITTEE WITHOUT AMENDMENT, JUST REALLY TO THE FLOOR AND THEN AS YOU SAW 105-ZERO WHICH YOU RARELY SEE ON SOMETHING THIS CONTROVERSIAL, IT'S A LINE THAT NEEDED TO BE DRAWN AND I'M PROUD OF THE PEOPLE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR DRAWING THAT LINE TODAY.

>> THE OTHER -- THE ADOPTION OVER ALL WE HAD REPRESENTATIVE SCHAFER HERE ON THAT ALSO UNANIMOUS.

SO YOU HAD A SUCCESSFUL 1ST WEEK ON THE FLOOR.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A VERY GOOD DAY.

WE MOVED ALABAMA AND CLEARED THE WAY FOR EASIER ADOPTION PROCESS IN ALABAMA.

IT'S NOT A BAD WEEK IN MY MIND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE DID AND APPLAUD THE WORK MY FELLOW MEMBERS HAVE DONE AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE SPEAKER SO GET US HERE.

>> SO THEY HAVE EARNED THEIR SPRING BREAK.

>> THEY HAVE.

>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU.

ENJOYED IT AS ALWAYS.

>> WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> DANIEL PIRATE WAS ALABAMA'S 1ST MAJOR INDUSTRIALIST THAT FOUNDED THE CITY OF PRATTVILLE AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER.

HIS FACTORY COMPLEX BECAME THE WORLD'S LARGEST MANUFACTURER OF COTTON ENGINES.

PIRATE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ALABAMA'S TRANSFORMATION FROM A RURAL ECONOMY TO A MORE DIVERSE INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY, DEVOTED TO MANUFACTURING AND THE PRODUCTION OF COAL, IRON AND STEEL.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW FOR 7:30 FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" WEAK IN ARE THEM.

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