Alabama lawmakers begin session with votes on gambling and school vouchers ahead

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers began the 2024 legislative session Tuesday with key decisions on bills related to school vouchers, gambling and elections looming ahead of them.

Gov. Kay Ivey is backing legislation to create education savings accounts, which use public funds to send students to private schools. Some conservative politicians have made a rallying cry for options that would allow parents to tap public dollars for private school and homeschooling expenses.

The legislation introduced Tuesday afternoon would set up a $100 million fund to provide up to $7,000 tuition vouchers initially aimed at low- and middle-income families and families of students with disabilities. Republican legislative leaders said Tuesday that they want to strike a balance that expands options for parents without draining public school funds. Ivey was set to discuss the proposal in her State of the State address Tuesday night.

“I think we’ve landed at a very good place, a healthy but manageable amount for initiating the education savings accounts,” bill sponsor state Sen. Arthur Orr said, adding that he anticipates the bill will be in committee next week. Orr declined to discuss details before the governor’s speech.

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The bill, titled the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act, or the CHOOSE Act, would allow families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level — which would be about $77,460 for a family of three — to access the public dollars for private school tuition or other expenses. The income cap would go away after three years, but lower-income families and families with students with disabilities have priority for receiving funds.

Legislation introduced last year that would have given parents $6,900 per child was criticized by opponents for initial estimates who said it would drain more than $500 million from public education. A new version of the bill introduced Tuesday would cap the annual cost at $400 million.

Some Republicans have favored the more sweeping proposals. Democrats have expressed concern about anything that would strip large sums from public education.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said proposed gambling legislation — which would authorize a statewide vote on whether to allow a state lottery and a select number of casino sites in the state — will be introduced “sooner rather than later.” Several House members said they anticipate the bill will be introduced this week for members to review ahead of a vote as soon as next week.

There has not been a statewide vote on gambling since former Gov. Don Siegelman’s proposed lottery failed in 1999. Bills have stalled under a mix of conservative opposition to legalized gambling as a revenue source and disputes over who would get casino licenses.

“I think the speaker is committed to bringing it to a vote,” said Republican Sen. Greg Albritton, who proposed gambling legislation in previous sessions. “If they get it through the House, we’ll get it to the Senate, and we are going to have a fight on our hands there, too.”

Democratic Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, of Hayneville, whose district includes a long-running gambling hall, said he hopes the legislation provides “equitable treatment and fairness” to locations where voters previously approved some type of gambling. Lawrence said he wants to review the full bill before determining how he will vote.

“The devil is always in the details,” Lawrence said.

The Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee was set to take up a proposal Wednesday that would make it a crime to help someone vote by absentee ballot unless they are a family member or household member.

Republican supporters say the change is needed to combat voter fraud. Opponents have called it an attempt to make it harder for people to vote. Similar legislation sparked heated debate last year.

The bill would make it a misdemeanor offense to order, prefill, request, collect or deliver an absentee ballot for someone who is not a household or close family member. The penalty increases to a felony if the person is paid. The bill provides an exemption for election officials to help people and for those who are blind, disabled or who cannot read to ask someone to help them.

The committee will also take up a bill that would replace the board that oversees the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The bill by Republican Sen. Chris Elliott, of Josephine, would replace the current board with members appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor and legislative leaders. Elliott and other lawmakers last year expressed unhappiness that the department hosted a lecture focused on LGBTQ+ history and did not cancel it after lawmakers raised concerns.

“I think it’s important for boards that have authority that is delegated from the executive branch or the legislative branch be responsive to those branches and to those elected officials who represent the people to stay in Alabama,” Elliott said Tuesday.

Another bill before the committee would limit the type of flags that can fly outside public buildings.