End of the 2021 Alabama Legislative Session
The 2021 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature came to a close at midnight on Monday, May 17. Here are the results of the key bills we were monitoring:
GAMBLING
The pro-gambling forces failed to get the votes necessary to pass the comprehensive gambling bill in the House, so the gambling bill (HB319) is “dead” for now. Governor Ivey has signaled that she may call a special session in the coming months to address the gambling issue and we will let you know if she does. If you have any contact with her or her staff, ask them not to call a special session on gambling.
In the meantime, we will continue to work to educate Alabamians about the “dark side” of the gambling enterprise and I am available to speak to your church or association of churches in your community about why Christians should oppose gambling. Pray that legislators will continue to be confused and divided so that they are not able to reach any agreements on gambling.
“MEDICAL” MARIJUANA
Senate Bill 46 (SB46) passed both houses and the Governor signed the bill into law this week. This bill legalizes marijuana for certain medical conditions, does not allow it to be smoked or vaped and supposedly has a variety of other restrictions placed on its use. However, like with alcohol, you can rest assured that the legislature will come back every year and remove one restriction at a time. The marijuana industry’s playbook is to begin pushing for recreational marijuana once people become accustomed to having marijuana in the state.
It should be noted that when “medical” marijuana was first legalized in Colorado, 74% of the youth who were treated for drug addiction said that their addiction started with marijuana they accessed using a family member’s “medical” marijuana card!
A doctor cannot prescribe marijuana and a pharmacist cannot fill a marijuana prescription. It must be obtained from a “medical” marijuana dispensary, so you will see dispensaries popping up all over the state. We did manage to get an amendment that requires local officials to approve a dispensary in their jurisdiction before the “Medical” Marijuana Commission can approve a certain location, but that is not much help.
And, speaking of the “Medical” Marijuana Commission, the “small government, cut-spending” Republicans in the House and Senate, by passing SB46, just added an entirely new bureaucracy to our state government. If they eventually pass a comprehensive gambling bill, that will be yet another bureaucracy they will create. Click here to see how your State Senator voted on SB46 and click here to see how your House member voted on the bill.
ALCOHOL
The Senate and the House passed a series of bills and the Governor signed them into law allowing direct shipment of alcoholic beverages to households in Alabama. It is a little difficult for underaged young people to walk into a liquor store or wine shop and purchase alcoholic beverages. Thanks to your Alabama Legislature, all they have to do now is order it online using the credit card info on their parents’ computer and have it delivered to their home. Delivery personnel are supposed to check for IDs to make sure the person receiving the alcohol is the proper age, but how many delivery companies do you think will continue to do that on a consistent basis?
YOGA
The Yoga bill passed, so now the Hindu religion is allowed in public schools in K-12 grades. We cannot teach the Bible, but we can get credit for a practice that is intrinsically tied to Hinduism. We did get an amendment added that requires parents to be notified of Yoga’s origins. However, instead of saying it is a part of the Hindu religion, the notification simply states that Yoga has “eastern cultural” ties. Why is the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Jeremy Gray (who earns his living teaching Yoga) afraid to state the truth about the connections between Yoga and Hinduism?
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION & ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (VCAP)
SB10, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, would have protected children from having hormone treatments and surgical procedures performed on them that would forever change their gender. There were exceptions in the bill for other uses of hormone treatments, but this bill would have prevented parents from using these treatments and procedures in order to intentionally change the sex of their child.
This bill passed the Senate early in the Session and it passed the House Health Committee. However, it languished in “limbo” until the last night of the Session when it was added to a special order calendar one hour before the Legislature had to adjourn for the year (the last of 11 bills on that calendar, which meant there was no time to get to it). The Speaker claimed it was divisive, but he allowed “medical” marijuana and gambling to continue to get attention and those two bills were far more divisive. In fact, we were told that as many as 70 House members were willing to vote for the VCAP bill. We are disappointed that alcohol, marijuana and gambling were of more concern to legislators than protecting children from procedures that would forever alter their lives.
“BORN ALIVE” BILL
Rep. Ginny Shaver’s “born alive” bill was the one bright spot during the 2021 Legislative Session. This bill received by-partisan support and passed both houses (it passed the Senate on the last night of the Session). The bill now goes to the Governor to sign and we anticipate that she will do so.
This bill states that if a child is born alive during an attempted abortion, the doctor and medical staff must then take whatever action is necessary to save the baby’s life. Even pro-abortionist legislators agreed that this is the right thing to do.
FINAL WORDS I want to thank you for your prayers and support of ALCAP. If and when a special session is called, we will try to keep you updated. The 2022 Regular Session will begin the second Tuesday of January next year and we will keep you informed about legislation that concerns God’s people. At the end of that Session I will hand the baton to whoever is selected to succeed me in this important ministry. Please be in prayer for the ALCAP Executive Director Search Committee as they continue their work seeking God’s man to lead this ministry in the years ahead.
Urgent – Update on “Medical” Marijuana Bill (SB46) and Gambling Bill (SB319)
MARIJUANA
The “medical” marijuana bill (SB46) passed both the House and the Senate and is now on Governor Ivey’s desk for her to sign or veto. Please call Governor Ivey’s office TODAY and ask her to veto SB46. The House and Senate may override her veto, but there is a chance they would not. It would also be good to contact your House member and state Senator and ask him/her not to override a possible veto on SB46. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member or State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
GAMBLING On Monday, May 17, the Alabama House and Senate will convene for the last legislative day. It is possible that the House will revisit SB319 (the comprehensive gambling bill that includes a lottery, casino gambling, a compact with the Poarch Creek Indians expanding their gambling operations, sports betting and online gambling). If they are able to work out a compromise with all of the different gambling interests, they could decide to try one last time to pass this terrible bill. We are hoping several House members will filibuster the bill until the clock runs out on this 2021 Legislative Session, but we need to let all of the House members know that we are watching and opposed to any gambling expansion bill(s). Please contact your House member TODAY and ask him/her to oppose SB319. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Legislative Update 5/7/2021 Week 12
GAMBLING
With only one legislative day left in the 2021 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature (scheduled for May 17), SB319, Sen. Jim McClendon’s gambling bill appears to be “dead!” This bill calls for a constitutional amendment to be voted on by the people of Alabama, legalizing a state-sponsored lottery, full-fledged casino gambling at existing dog tracks and other locations, a compact with the Poarch Creek Indians, allowing them to have full-fledged casino gambling at their current locations and build a new casino in Northeast Alabama, and it would legalize sports betting and online gambling.
“Greedlock” (gridlock that occurs when various gambling enterprises cannot agree on a way for everyone to get a “piece of the gambling pie” cannot agree) seems to have been the major contributing factor. However, we have also heard that many, many pastors and church members contacted their State Senators and House Members, and that was certainly an important part of what stopped this massive gambling expansion in our state.
A last-minute attempt late Thursday night to bring the gambling bill to the floor of the House with a substitute that would have made it a “lottery only” bill, failed and caused a great deal of resentment among legislators. The Legislature will take a week off and return for the last day of the session on May 17.
It is unlikely the gambling bill will be on the House calendar that last day of the 2021 Legislative Session. However, we thought gambling was “dead” earlier in the session only to see it “rise from the ashes.” With that in mind, it is important for people to contact both their House members and State Senators and let them know of your opposition to any attempts at revisiting the gambling bill.
Since Governor Ivey was very involved in pushing the gambling bills, contact her office and let her know of your opposition to gambling. It is possible she could call a special session before next year in order to get gambling legislation passed, so let her know that you do not want her wasting tax-payer dollars on a special session to pass this terrible and immoral economic policy that takes from the poor and gives to the rich (“The Reverse Robin Hood Effect”). Ask her to give the Attorney General the resources he needs to shut down all the illegal gambling operations that she has indicated are “running rampant.” If illegal gambling is “running rampant” it is because the governor will not enforce the current laws against gambling.
“MEDICAL” MARIJUANA
In spite of heroic efforts by several members of the Alabama House of Representatives, the “medical” marijuana bill (SB46, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson) passed by a vote of 68-34 with one abstention. The Senate then concurred with the House amendments, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk for her signature. We are disappointed, but we will do everything we can to keep marijuana legalization from continuing to expand. In many states where “medical” marijuana has been legalized, recreational marijuana legalization has often followed.
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION AND PROTECTION ACT (VCAP)
SB10, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, passed out of the Senate and out of the House Health Committee, but it continues to be kept off the House floor. This bill will protect children from hormone blockers and surgical procedures in order to change their birth sex before they are old enough to make that decision for themselves. We hope and pray that Speaker Mac McCutcheon will allow it to come to the floor for a vote on the final legislative day (May 17) and that the members of the House will vote YES on SB10.
ACTION ALERT: Contact Speaker Mac McCutcheon and ask him to place SB10 near the top of the House Special Order Calendar on May 17. Also, contact your own House member and encourage him/her to vote YES on SB10 if it comes up for debate. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
YOGA
HB246, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray, passed the House several weeks ago and then it passed the Senate late Thursday night just before the Senate adjourned. This bill will now go to the Governor for her signature. It will allow the Hindu practice of Yoga to be taught in public K-12 grades. The proponents argued publicly that it is “just stretching exercises.” However, stretching exercises are already allowed in public schools. Yoga is a Hindu practice that involves Eastern meditation and is heavily religious in nature. Sen. Dan Roberts successfully added an amendment requiring that parents sign a document to allow their child to participate in yoga practices.
ALCOHOL
Several alcohol-related bills passed this session, including a couple of bills that allow direct shipment of alcohol to the homes of individuals. Governor Ivey signed these bills into law, so don’t be surprised when you start reading of more underaged drinking problems in our state. Pray that I am wrong! We do not want to see any child or family hurt by this mind-altering and addictive drug.
ALCAP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SEARCH UPDATE As most of you are aware, I have announced my plan to retire from ALCAP and American Character Builders at the end of the 2022 Legislative Session (April 30, 2022). The search committee tasked with finding my successor, has prepared a special announcement on how to recommend and/or apply for this position. Click here for a copy of the announcement.
Legislative Update 4/30/2021 Week 11
GAMBLING
With only three legislative days left in the 2021 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, gambling legislation is making its final, big push. Next Tuesday, May 4, the House Tourism Committee is scheduled to meet and vote to send SB319 to the full House for debate and a vote. This is Sen. Jim McClendon’s gambling bill which calls for a constitutional amendment to be voted on by the people of Alabama, legalizing a state-sponsored lottery, full-fledged casino gambling at existing dog tracks and possibly other locations, a compact with the Poarch Creek Indians, allowing them to have full-fledged casino gambling at their current locations and build a new casino in Northeast Alabama. SB319 will also legalize sports betting and online gambling that will put a casino in the hands of anyone with a smart phone, tablet or computer, including children (who will know how to circumvent any restrictions on their devices).
The House is working on changes to this bill and the enabling legislation, introduced by Sen. Del Marsh. If SB319 (the main constitutional amendment) passes the House with amendments, the bill will go back to the Senate for them to either “concur,” “non-concur” and/or go to a conference committee between the two houses for a compromise bill to be “worked out.” If a compromise bill is agreed upon, that bill will require three fifths of the body of each house to approve. If that happens, the constitutional amendment will be place on the November 2022 ballot for the voters of Alabama to decide, but not before tens of millions of dollars will be spent by the pro-gambling forces (lottery management companies, casino gambling bosses, slot machine manufacturers and gambling software companies) to convince the citizens of Alabama how great and wonderful gambling will be for the state. We all know, however, that the only real winners will be the gambling bosses and the gambling companies.
There is still time to stop this push for gambling in the Alabama State House! Call and/or email your Alabama House Member TODAY and respectfully, but firmly let him/her know that you want them to vote NO on SB319! They will possibly argue that this gambling legislation will restrict illegal gambling in the state, but data show that illegal gambling actually increases after gambling legalization takes place. That’s like saying, “Prostitution is rampant, so let’s legalize it and restrict it,” or “Human sex trafficking is rampant, so let’s legalize it and restrict it.” If they want to stop illegal gambling, Governor Ivey should rescind her order that blocks the Attorney General from using State Troopers to shut down illegal gambling operations and that would solve the problem! The legislature could also strengthen the penalties for illegal gambling without expanding it.
ACTION ALERT: Contact your Alabama House Member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB319. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
“MEDICAL” MARIJUANA
The “medical” marijuana bill (SB46, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson and already passed by the full senate) is also likely to come to the floor of the House of Representatives sometime during these last three legislative days. In every state where “medical” marijuana has been legalized, recreational marijuana soon follows or is being pushed. This bill will make marijuana available to children and youth, and it sends a message that marijuana is safe — IT IS NOT!
ACTION ALERT: Contact your House member today and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46 (“medical” marijuana). Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
We, especially, need those of you who live in the districts of the following House members to contact your House member…
- Pettus, Killen 256-762-2916 pjpettus@aol.com
- Greer, Rogersville 256-412-8695 lynngreer15@gmail.com
- Sorrell, Florence 256-577-8562 jasorrell@comcast.net
- Moore, Hartselle 334-345-7517 pdmoore1@gmail.com
- Crawford, Athens 256-656-1224 danny.f.crawford@gmail.com
- Estes, Winfield 205-468-0643 jtracyestes@gmail.com
- Reynolds, Huntsville 256-479-6035 reynoldsdist21@gmail.com
- Robbins, Sylacauga 205-907-5091 bwrobbinsatty@gmail.com
- Wood, Valley 706-773-9404 debbie.wood@alhouse.gov
- Smith, Prattville 205-294-4828 vansmith53@gmail.com
- Drake, Leeds dickiedrake45@gmail.com
- Sullivan, Northport 205-792-0718 wrsullivan09@gmail.com
- Easterbrook, Fruitdale 251-423-5336 brett.easterbrook@yahoo.com
- Baker, Brewton 251-363-9101 staterep@co.escambia.al.us
- Oliver, Dadeville 334-803-1889 rotorems@gmail.com
- Sorrells, Hartford 334-248-2511 jeffsorrells22285@gmail.com
- Dismukes, Elmore 334-322-2873 wdismukes@customfloorcovering.biz
- Wilcox, Mobile 251-421-8309 wilcox.margie@gmail.com
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION AND PROTECTION ACT (VCAP)
SB10, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, passed out of the Senate and out of the House Health Committee, but it has stalled for the time being. This bill will protect children from hormone blockers and surgical procedures in order to change their birth sex before they are old enough to make that decision for themselves.
ACTION ALERT: While you are contacting House members about voting NO on gambling expansion and voting NO on “medical” marijuana, ask them to vote YES on SB10 (the VCAP bill). With only 3 legislative days left in this session, time is running out to pass this important bill.
YOGA
We expect HB246, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray, to come to the full senate during these last three legislative days. This bill will allow a Hindu practice to be taught in public K-12 grades. The proponents argue publicly that it is “just stretching exercises.” However, stretching exercises are already allowed in public schools. Yoga is a Hindu practice that involves Eastern meditation and is heavily religious in nature. ACTION ALERT: Contact your Alabama State Senator and ask him/her to vote NO on HB246 (the “Yoga” bill). Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Legislative Update 4/16/2021 Week 9
GAMBLING
The Alabama Senate passed SB319 on Tuesday evening. This bill, sponsored by Sen. Jim McClendon, started out as a “lottery only” bill. However, a substitute was introduced that included everything that had been found in Sen. Del Marsh’s bill, SB214, that failed to pass earlier in the session. SB319 now includes a state-sponsored lottery, sports betting, casinos throughout the state and a compact with the Poarch Creek Indians that will allow them to have full-fledged casinos at their current locations and allow them to build a new casino in Northeast Alabama. Perhaps the worst part of this bill is that it will allow online gambling, which will put a casino in the hands of anyone with a smart phone or tablet (including children who know how to circumvent age restrictions).
SB319 now goes to the House of Representatives for a vote. The President Pro-Tem of the Senate, Sen. Greg Reed, announced on Thursday that meetings are already taking place behind the scenes in order to work out any details to insure that the House will pass this bill and additional enabling legislation.
We must immediately begin contacting members of the Alabama House of Representatives asking them to oppose SB319. They could have this bill in committee next week and it may even get to the floor of the House for a vote sometime next week.The Senate passed SB319 by a vote count of 23-9. They only needed 21 votes to pass the bill. Four senators who voted against the original bill sponsored by Sen. Marsh changed their votes to “yes.” Those senators were Barfoot, Elliott, Gudger and Sessions. While we are disappointed in these individuals who changed their votes, along with others who voted “yes” on gambling expansion, we want to thank the following senators who stood strong in opposition and voted “no.” Please thank them for their courage and for not caving to the immense pressure that was being applied to these senators by the Governor, the senate leadership and the gambling lobby: Gerald Allen (Tuscaloosa); Tom Butler (Huntsville); Clyde Chambliss (Prattville); Sam Givhan (Huntsville); Arthur Orr (Decatur); Dan Roberts (Birmingham); Clay Scofield (Guntersville); Shay Shelnutt (Trussville); and Larry Stutts (Sheffield). Click here to send your thank you to the State Senator’s listed above. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message.
ACTION ALERT: Contact your member of the Alabama House of Representatives and ask him/her to vote NO on SB319. Call, email, text or write TODAY! Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
“MEDICAL” MARIJUANA
The “medical” marijuana bill (SB46, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson and already passed by the full senate) passed out of the House Judiciary Committee last week and the House Health Committee this week. It now will go to the House Rules Committee to be placed on the calendar for debate by the full House of Representatives. This bill is designed to be a “stepping stone” to legalizing recreational marijuana in spite of denials by the the sponsor. In every state where “medical” marijuana has been legalized, recreational marijuana soon follows or is being pushed. ALCAP does not oppose research being done and medicines being developed that might use the cannabis plant, but this bill does not insure dosages and purity of a drug that is mind-altering and addictive. This bill will make marijuana available to children and youth, and it sends a message that marijuana is safe — IT IS NOT!
ACTION ALERT: Contact your House member today and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46 (“medical” marijuana). Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION AND PROTECTION ACT (VCAP)
SB10, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, passed out of the Senate and out of the House Health Committee, but it has stalled for the time being. I reached out to the Speaker of the House, Rep. Mac McCutcheon, and he assured me that negotiations are on-going to try and bring this bill to the House floor. This bill will protect children from hormone blockers and surgical procedures in order to change their birth sex before they are old enough to make that decision for themselves.
ACTION ALERT: While you are contacting House members about voting NO on gambling expansion and voting NO on “medical” marijuana, ask them to vote YES on SB10 (the VCAP bill). With only 7 legislative days left in this session, time is running out to pass this important bill.
ALCOHOL
Alcohol continues to flow in Montgomery! This week, a bill legalizing direct delivery of alcohol to individual residences was signed into law by Governor Ivey. Other bills still making their way through the Alabama Legislature include one that would allow wineries to ship directly to residents in the state and another bill that will allow drive-through sales of alcoholic beverages. (What could possibly go wrong with all of these bills that remove decades of restrictions on a mind-altering and addictive drug?! — NOTE: I am being sarcastic!)
YOGA
HB246, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray, has passed the House and it passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. We expect this bill to come the full senate soon since, as we stated already, there are only 7 legislative days left. This bill will allow a Hindu practice to be taught in public K-12 grades. The proponents argue publicly that it is “just stretching exercises.” However, stretching exercises are already allowed in public schools. Yoga is a Hindu practice that involves Eastern meditation and is heavily religious in nature. This picture was taken from Rep. Gray’s FaceBook page.
ACTION ALERT: Contact your Alabama State Senator and ask him/her to vote NO on HB246 (the “Yoga” bill). Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Alabama Senate to take up Senate Bill 319 (SB319) tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13
Due to Governor Ivey’s “arm-twisting” of State Lawmakers reported by the media at the end of last week, we have received word that the Alabama Senate plans to take up Senate Bill 319 (SB319) tomorrow, Tuesday, April 13. The pro-gambling forces are declaring that they have the votes to pass the bill. We have also heard that a substitute bill will be introduced on the Senate floor that will add casinos back into the legislation.
The most significant aspect of the bill, however, is that it will include online gambling, making every laptop, tablet and smart phone in Alabama a casino and, specifically, a slot machine! It is imperative that EVERYONE contact your Alabama Senator TODAY and ask him/her to vote NO on SB319!!! Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
After contacting your State Senator, please begin contacting your House Member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB319 and any other pro-gambling bill that may come to the House. Also, we would encourage you to contact Governor Kay Ivey’s office and urge her to stop pushing for pro-gambling legislation. She was quoted in one news article last week saying that gambling is “rampant” in Alabama. So is prostitution, domestic violence, sex-trafficking and a host of other activities that are evil, but we don’t legalize and tax those activities. We enforce the laws regarding those activities in order to keep them from becoming worse. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Governor Ivey, if gambling is rampant in Alabama, it is because you and your immediate predecessor removed the ability of the Attorney General to use state troopers to stop the spread of illegal gambling activities. Once you legalize more forms of gambling, more and more people will begin to gamble, especially young people. You don’t stop gambling activity by legalizing it!
For more information on why gambling is bad for citizens and bad for the economy, visit our website, www.ALCAP.com and www.StopPredatoryGambling.org. Again, please contact your Alabama Senator TODAY and ask him/her to vote NO on SB319! Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator .
Legislative Update 4/9/2021 Week 8
GAMBLING
The Senate passed the enabling legislation (SB320) for a legalized lottery (with a number of amendments) on Wednesday of this week. However, after that, they brought SB319 to the floor for debate. SB319 is the actual Constitutional Amendment that would legalized a state-sponsored lottery in Alabama. They passed a procedural vote to allow debate to take place, but then we were surprised when the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Jim McClendon, moved to “carry the bill over at the call of the chair.” This means that the bill can come to the floor at any time on any given day that the Senate is in session. On Thursday, the Senate adjourned until next Tuesday without bringing up SB319. News reports indicated that Sen. McClendon’s reason for carrying the bill over is that he did not feel confident that he had the votes to pass it. This indicates that your phone calls, texts and emails are having an impact! DO NOT STOP!
ACTION ALERT: Please continue to contact your State Senator and ask him/her to vote NO on SB319 if and when it comes back to the floor. There are only 9 legislative days left in this session and they should end the session by mid-May, so time is running out for them to pass this horrendous bill (and that’s a good thing)! Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Also, please contact Governor Kay Ivey’s office and share your disappointment in her public support for gambling expansion in Alabama. A news outlet this week reported that she is urging legislators to pass gambling legislation this session. Governor Ivey beat several gubernatorial candidates (both Republicans and Democrats) who were advocating for gambling expansion during the 2018 race for Governor of Alabama, while she continually commented that she was not going to push for gambling. Now, she is pushing for gambling!
“MEDICAL” MARIJUANA
SB46, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, passed out of the Senate a few weeks ago and this week it passed out of the House Judiciary Committee. It is rare for a bill to go through two committees before it goes to the floor of the House for a vote, but SB46 has now been sent to the House Health Committee for their approval (or disapproval). Please contact your House member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46. If your House member serves on the House Health Committee, we especially need for you to contact him/her and ask them to oppose this bill in committee:
- Scott Stadthagen, District 9, Cullman, Marshall and Morgan Counties, lives in Hartselle; 334-261-0436; Scott.stadthagen@alhouse.gov
- Jeff Sorrells, District 87, Geneva and Houston Co, lives in Hartford. 334-261-0542
- Chris Sells, District 90, Montgomery Co, lives in Greenville. 334-261-0568; csea@centurytel.net
- Ed Oliver, District 81, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa Co, lives in Dadeville. 334-803-1889; Ed.oliver@alhouse.gov
- Arnold Mooney, District 43, Shelby Co. Lives in Inverness area. 205-620-6610. Arnold.mooney@alhouse.gov
- Charlotte Meadows, District 74, Montgomery. 334-261-0569; Charlotte.meadows@alhouse.gov
- Rhett Marques, District 91, Coffee Co, lives in Enterprise. 334-261-0473; Rhett.Marques@alhouse.gov
- Joe Lovvorn, District 79, Lee County, lives in Auburn. 334-261-0540; joe.lovvorn@alhouse.gov
- Craig Lipscomb, District 30, Etowah and St. Clair Co, lives in Gadsden. 334-261-0546; Craig.lipscomb@alhouse.gov
- Wes Kitchens, District 27, Blount, Dekalb and Marshall Co. 334-261-0539; weskitchens@mclo.org
- (Chairman) Paul Lee, District 86, Houston Co, lives in Dothan. PLee@wrcjobs.com, attends Logos Baptist
We have heard marijuana lobbyists brag that they are on the verge of making a great deal of money if Alabama succumbs to this marijuana legalization attempt. Keep in mind that “medical” marijuana is a “backdoor” route to legalizing recreational marijuana. This is the playbook that marijuana proponents have used in every state and they are using it here in Alabama. It is all about the money!
ACTION ALERT: Please contact your Alabama House Member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
YOGA
HB246 passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Many of the senators who opposed it last week did not get to the meeting in time to vote against the bill, so it now goes to the full Senate. Yoga is not just a “stretching exercise” — it is a religious practice of Hinduism. Exercises that include stretching are already legal in K-12 grade public schools in Alabama. Yoga is illegal because it is a religious practice, no matter what legislators and lobbyists say about it.
ACTION ALERT: Ask your State Senator to vote NO on HB246. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
ALCOHOL
Several bills legalizing the direct delivery of alcohol to consumers have been making their way through the legislature. Though we have opposed these bills, we can report that several (not all) of the bills have added restrictions. For example, the delivery personnel in some bills must go through special training and background checks. They will not be allowed to leave alcohol packages unattended at the door or with underaged residents, but must check IDs to make sure the recipient is of legal age. If no one aged 21 or older is home to receive the delivery, they must return the package to the distribution center or store.
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION AND PROTECTION ACT (VCAP)
We are still waiting for action to be taken on the VCAP bill, HB1, sponsored by Rep. Wes Allen. This bill would make it illegal to give hormone blockers or perform surgical operations for the purpose of changing the sex of a child. ALCAP supports this bill and we will continue to monitor its progress through the legislative process.
“BORN ALIVE” BILL
HB237, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Shaver, requires attending physicians to do everything possible to save the life of a baby which might be born during a “botched” abortion. This bill has passed the House and it was given a favorable report by the Senate Health Committee unanimously, and we are now waiting for it to be placed on the calendar for debate and a vote by the Senate. There are a number of other bills that we have been monitoring, but we do not have additional information to share at this time.
2021 Alabama Legislative Session – Plan to Bring Gambling Bills Up for Debate in Senate on April 6, 2021
ALCAP has learned that the Alabama Senate plans to bring one or more lottery bills to the floor for debate tomorrow, Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Please contact your Alabama State Senator TODAY and let him/her know of your opposition to any and all gambling bills. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Along with this urgent request for action, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Glenn Murdock has updated his audio statement on the gambling issue. We included his original audio statement in our email last week, but I would encourage you to listen to this updated version and share it with others. Click here for a transcript of the audio statement that you can read and share with others.
I apologize for overloading you with emails, but the gambling situation is very fluid and changing quickly.
Again, PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS EMAIL AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS IN YOUR CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND CONTACT YOUR ALABAMA STATE SENATOR TODAY (APRIL 6) OR TOMORROW MORNING (APRIL 7) BEFORE THE SENATE GOES INTO SESSION AT 2:30PM.
The bills that may be considered on the Senate floor include the following:
SB309, SB310 and SB311 are the enabling bills associated with Sen. Del Marsh’s original gambling bill (SB214) that was defeated before the Legislature went on Spring Break. These enabling bills were passed out of the Senate Tourism Committee AFTER SB214 failed, which indicates that the Sen. Marsh believes the casinos in his original bill may be included in amendments to the “lottery only” bills.
SB319 and SB320 are the “lottery only” bills introduced by Sen. Jim McClendon. These bills, as stated earlier, may be amended to include casinos before either bill is passed out of both legislative houses.
Even if a “lottery only” bill is ultimately passed without including casinos, the Poarch Creek Indians could use its passage to demand that a compact be signed allowing them to have full-fledged casinos at their current locations and add one or two new casinos in the state.
ACTION ALERT:
- I encourage you to listen to and share the updated audio statement by Glenn Murdock with everyone you know.
Contact your Alabama State Senator and strongly encourage him/her to oppose any and all pro-gambling bills. Be courteous, but be adamant that we do NOT want gambling expanded in Alabama! Polling, which legislators keep using to argue for passage of some form of gambling expansion, is skewed. I have talked with individuals who have been polled and the way the questions are worded can result in an interpretation that favors gambling even if the person being polled is not in favor of gambling expansion. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Legislative Update 3/19/2021 Week 6
Gambling
Sen. Garlan Gudger’s lottery bill (SB318) was withdrawn from the Senate Tourism Committee on Wednesday of this week, but the sponsor and committee chairman (Sen. Del Marsh) acknowledged that it could be brought back at any point “if needed” (their words).
Sen. Jim McClendon’s lottery bills (SB319 and SB320) were passed out of committee on Wednesday and had their second reading on the Senate floor Thursday morning. He did amend his bills to take out the video lottery terminals (VLTs, which are slot machines that supposedly play the lottery), but his bills still call for a vote of the people to legalize a state-sponsored lottery.
Sen. Marsh’s “enabling legislation” bills (SB309, SB310 and SB311) that are written to detail how his original bill (SB214) that calls for a state-sponsored lottery and several state-sanctioned casinos, as well as requiring a compact be signed with the Poarch Creek Indians, allowing them to have full-fledged casinos and build at least one additional casino, were passed out of the Senate Tourism Committee and had their second reading on Thursday on the Senate Floor. Sen. Marsh said he wanted to pass these bills “in case” they were needed later. This leads many of us to believe that he fully intends for the original legislation that was contained in SB214 to come back in some form. Otherwise, there was no need to pass enabling legislation.
The battle over gambling has NOT ended. Everyone must stay vigilant. In press reports following the defeat of Sen. Marsh’s SB214 week before last, Marsh admitted that pastors calling the offices of their senators DID have an impact on his gambling bill being defeated. This shows how important it is for pastors and church members to flood the email boxes and phone lines of their state senators, encouraging them to vote NO on ANY and ALL gambling bills.
As stated above, we believe that even the so-called “lottery only” bills will be used to reinsert full-fledged casino gambling into the legislation, so we must not become complacent. There are plenty of reasons to oppose a “simple lottery only” bill, but ALCAP continues to maintain that any lottery bill will eventually result in casinos, sports betting and online gambling.
ACTION ALERT: Please contact your Alabama State Senator and encourage him/her to vote NO on ANY and ALL pro-gambling bills, including SB309, SB310, SB311, SB318, SB319 and SB320. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Pro-Life
ALCAP congratulates Rep. Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) on getting HB237 passed in the House. This bill is often referred to as the “Born Alive Bill.” The bill states that physicians have a duty to care for babies who are born alive after a failed abortion and establishes criminal penalties for not doing so. The bill now goes to the Senate and ALCAP urges a YES vote by the senators.
Vulnerable Child Accountability and Protection Act (VCAP)
SB10 has passed the Senate and we are still waiting for it to get to the floor of the House for a vote. Continue to pray that this bill will pass. It protects children from receiving hormone blockers or surgery specifically for the purpose of trying to change their sex.
Yoga
As we shared in last week’s update, HB246, the Yoga bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray, passed the full House. It has been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee and we expect it to be on the agenda for that committee on March 31, after the Legislature returns from spring break. ALCAP is urging a NO vote by the state senators on HB246.
“Medical” Marijuana
SB46, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, which already passed the Senate, is still waiting to be voted out of two House committees before going to the full House for debate. There is still time to contact your Alabama House Member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Alcohol
Alcohol-related bills continue to make their way through both houses. We have voiced our concerns about expanding the availability of alcohol in the state, but most legislators don’t seem to care about making alcohol (a mind-altering and addictive drug) more and more available. No wonder our state is seeing more and more alcohol-related problems including under-age drinking, drunk driving, etc. The Alabama Legislature will be on spring break the week of March 22-26, so there will be no ALCAP Legislative Update next week.
Legislative Update 3/12/2021 Week 5
Gambling
Well, apparently, many Alabama Senators are obsessed with gambling. The lottery/casino bill failed to garner enough votes this week to pass out of the Alabama Senate, so immediately SIX new lottery bills were introduced. Senate Bill 309 (SB309), SB310 and SB311 were introduced by Sen. Del Marsh (R-Anniston); SB318 was introduced by Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman); and SB319 and SB320 were introduced by Sen. Jim McClendon (R-Springville). Marsh’s bills were meant to be enabling legislation for SB214 had it passed and some believe the original bill could come back. Some of the lottery bills are for a lottery “only,” but involve Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) that are like slot machines and could be placed all over the state in restaurants and convenience stores. It is likely, too, that handheld devices could be used to “play the lottery.” All of this will make gambling pervasive in the state.
In addition, if a constitutional amendment is passed that legalizes a state-sponsored lottery, this could incentivize the Poarch Creek Indians to demand that a compact be signed allowing them to have full-fledged casinos and perhaps add one or two more casinos in the state that would be under their jurisdiction.
The gambling bosses are not giving up and going away quietly! We must continue to flood the phones and email boxes of Alabama senators asking them to oppose ALL gambling bills!
Sen. Del Marsh admitted to AL.com that pastors and church members calling their state senators made a difference in changing some of the votes on his expansive gambling bill.
We must not give up fighting for family values in our state! We must not allow the Alabama Legislature to add a new bureaucracy (“Gambling Commission”), target the poorest citizens of our state with fraudulent promises of “striking it rich,” while letting gambling bosses and lottery management companies run our state, and we must not allow the legislators to become dependent on gambling revenues to finance state government and then having to “prop up” the gambling enterprises later when the revenues begin to decline. (The state of New York is considering a bail out of the casinos in their state because they are not bringing in as much money as they promised and they are on the verge of bankruptcy. Click here to read the article about this.)
ACTION ALERT: Call your Alabama Senator TODAY and ask him/her to vote NO on ALL gambling bills! Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
“Medical’ Marijuana
SB46, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence), which passed the Senate last week, was in the House Judiciary Committee this week. A public hearing was held, but a vote will not be taken until next week on whether or not to send the bill to the House floor for a vote. To their credit, the House is also requiring the bill be approved by the House Health Committee, which will deliberate on the bill once it clears the House Judiciary Committee.
ACTION ALERT: Please contact your Alabama House Representative and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Yoga
HB246, sponsored by Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika), passed the full House. It now goes to the Senate. We were unable to get an amendment on the bill requiring that parents sign a disclosure document that acknowledges that Yoga is intrinsically tied to the Hindu religion, but we hope to get that amendment added in the Senate. We would prefer that the Senate not pass the bill (amended or not).
ACTION ALERT: Please contact your Alabama Senator and ask him/her to vote NO on HB246. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
Alcohol
The bills legalizing direct delivery of alcoholic beverages to the homes of individuals (there are several) are still making their way through the Legislature. ALCAP opposes all of these bills.
SB287, which will result in the privatization of liquor stores in Alabama and will mean more stores, open longer hours and on more days, with more people drinking, continues to be of concern. We are watching this legislation very closely.
A new bill, SB334, sponsored by Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn), would legalize the purchase of alcoholic beverages at drive-thru windows. What could possibly go wrong with this?! (Note the sarcasm!) ALCAP obviously opposes this.
Vulnerable Child Accountability and Protection Act (VCAP) The senate version of this bill (SB10) passed the Senate last week and received a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee this week. The House version (HB1) already passed out of the House Judiciary Committee with an amendment. We expect the Senate version to do the same when the committee votes on it next week. SB10 will then go to the full House for debate and a vote. Pray that this bill will pass. It protects children from receiving hormone blockers or surgery for the purpose of trying to change their sex.
Legislative Update 3/5/2021 Week 4
GAMBLING
Senate Bill 214 (SB214), sponsored by Sen. Del Marsh, is still waiting to be brought back to the floor of the Alabama Senate. Some have speculated that Marsh’s reason for not bringing it back for debate is because he doesn’t have the number of votes he needs in order to pass it (he needs 21 votes in the Senate). Others speculate that he is continuing to make changes to the bill in order to make it more acceptable to more senators (in other words, he’s “buying” their votes with promised benefits for the various districts represented by the different senators). Whatever the case, we anticipate the bill could come to the senate floor as early as next Tuesday, March 9, 2021. It is still important for everyone to call his/her state senator and ask them to vote NO on SB214. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION & PROTECTION ACT (VCAP)
HB1 and SB10 are companion bills. Both bills prohibit gender change therapy for minors and prohibit the withholding of certain information from parents. HB1 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee, but SB10 actually passed out of the full Senate and has now gone to the House where it will have to go through a committee before going to the floor of the House for a vote. ALCAP supports these bills and we will keep you posted as they progress through the House.
“MEDICAL” MARIJUANA
SB46, the “medical” marijuana bill, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, passed out of the full Senate with ten NO votes. If your state senator is listed here, please let him know how grateful you are for his opposition to SB46: Butler, Roberts, Scofield, Shelnutt, Allen, Givhan, Holley, Orr, Reed and Stutts. Click here then click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message.
SB46 now goes to the House and we hope to stop it there. Please contact your Alabama House Member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46 (the “medical” marijuana bill). Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator
ALCOHOL
We are monitoring several bills that will allow the delivery of alcoholic beverages directly to the homes of Alabama residents. If you have contact with your House Member or State Senator, please ask him or her to vote NO on all bills related to the direct delivery of alcoholic beverages.
This week, SB287 was introduced in the Senate. This bill calls for the privatization of liquor sales in Alabama. ALCAP has always opposed “privatization” because it will result in MANY more liquor store locations, operating longer hours and more days of the week. This will result in more people drinking and greater social costs to the state. If you don’t want to see your local Walmart, Walgreens and CVS stores becoming liquor stores, or you don’t want to see privately owned liquor stores opening on every corner in your community, you need to contact your legislators (especially, your state senator) and ask them to vote NO on SB287. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator or House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator
YOGA
HB246 which will allow the Hindu religious practice of Yoga to be taught in public schools has passed out of committee and been placed on the House Special Order Calendar a couple of times already. However, the House has still not gotten to it and the bill is again scheduled for next Tuesday, March 9. It is far enough down on the calendar that they might not get to it on Tuesday either, but we will continue to monitor the bill. ALCAP is opposed to this bill and urges legislators to vote NO on HB246. For more information on why we oppose Yoga being taught in schools, watch the attached video interview with Clete Hux of the Apologetics Resource Center.
Legislative Update 2/26/2021
GAMBLING
As a reminder, on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, Sen. Del Marsh introduced Senate Bill 214 (SB214), calling for a constitutional amendment to be voted on by the citizens of Alabama that would legalize gambling in the state. The bill was voted out of the Senate Tourism Committee that Wednesday by a unanimous vote and Sen. Marsh indicated it would be on the floor of the Senate the next day (Thursday, February 11). He added that he would move that they “carry over” the final vote until after the Legislature’s scheduled 10-day break. This was to give the senators time to hear from their constituents. When they returned on February 23, Marsh indicated that he would not bring the bill to the floor for two weeks. This leads me to believe that he does not have the votes to pass it yet or he is trying to add even more gambling to the bill. Rumor has it that instead of 5-7 casinos, they are now talking about 8-10 casinos throughout the state. Hopefully, we can get constituents to pressure their senators to oppose this bill. We will keep everyone updated by way of our ALCAP Alerts. Everyone still has time to contact their State Senator and urge him/her to vote NO on SB214. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know your State Senator’s name. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
We are not talking about a simple “paper lottery,” but wide-spread gambling involving electronic gambling devices (slot machines and possibly online gambling “in the palm of your hand”); full-fledged casinos up and down the state; and a compact with the Poarch Creek Indians which would allow them to add a casino in Northeast Alabama near Huntsville and Chattanooga, TN, and now, possibly, a casino in every district of Alabama.
The argument from legislators who favor this bill is that they “just want to allow the people of Alabama to vote on gambling,” but what they really mean is they want to allow the big lottery management companies, the casino operators and the tribal gambling bosses to BUY the votes of the people. These gambling enterprises will combine their resources and grossly outspend gambling opponents.
Who will be the opponents? — Mostly the churches which will have to take the precious few ministry and missions dollars they have to fight this constitutional amendment. Gambling (whether you are talking about lottery games or casino gambling) will prey on the poorest people in our state and will lead to many more people losing everything they have on the false promise that they will “strike it rich!” In the end, churches will also lose as they are called upon to help families that will have lost everything they own (including their mortgages) through government-sanctioned and government-sponsored gambling.
For more information, click on the following links…
Document shared with the Governor’s Gambling Policy Study Committee last summer – Report to the Governor’s Gambling Policy Study Committee by Joseph C. Godfrey. Stop Predatory Gambling
SB46 – “MEDICAL MARIJUANA
Senate Bill 46 (SB46), the “Medical” marijuana bill, unfortunately, passed out of the Alabama Senate 21-8. The senators who voted NO included Senators Allen, Butler, Givhan, Holley, Orr, Reed, Roberts, Scofield, Shelnutt and Stutts. If you live in the district of any of these senators, please contact them and thank them for their NO vote. Click on their picture, fill out the form with your contact information, then “continue” to send your message. The bill now goes to the Alabama House of Representatives. Speaker Mac McCutcheon indicated that it will go through two House committees before it comes to the floor of the House for a vote: 1) The House Judiciary Committee; and 2) the House Health Committee. Please contact your Alabama House member and ask him/her to vote NO on SB46. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
VULNERABLE CHILD COMPASSION AND PROTECTION ACT (VCAP)
The two versions of this bill (one in the Senate and one in the House) were both in committee recently. House Bill 1 (HB1) had a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, was amended in committee, and then given a “favorable report,” meaning it now goes to the full House for debate and a vote. Senate Bill 10 (SB10), after a public hearing, was passed out of the Senate Health Committee. Both bills prohibit gender change therapy for minors and prohibit the withholding of certain related information from parents. ALCAP supports both of these bills and we encourage you to let your State Senator and State House Member know that you want them to vote YES on both bills. Click here if you know your State Senator’s name. Click here if you know your State House Member’s name. Click on their picture and fill out the form to continue with your message. Click here if you do not know the name of your State Senator or House Member. Enter your zip-code. You will be directed to a page where you must scroll down to find your State Legislator.
ALCOHOL
Several bills are making their way through the House and Senate that will allow for direct shipment of alcoholic beverages directly to the homes of Alabama citizens. Do not expect delivery service personnel to check IDs of those receiving the shipments! If any of these bills are passed by both houses and signed by the Governor, the result will be alcoholic beverages becoming available without any restrictions. Let me remind everyone that alcohol is a mind-altering and addictive drug and should be very restricted in its availability. It is not like buying regular grocery items online. Please see the instructions above to contact your Senator and House member and ask them to oppose all alcohol direct-delivery bills.
YOGA
HB246 has been introduced in the Alabama House of Representatives and was given a “favorable report” by the House Education Policy Committee, sending it to the full House for debate and a vote. This bill attempts to overturn existing law that bans the practice of yoga and meditation in public schools throughout the state. I interviewed Rev. Clete Hux, Executive Director of the Apologetics Resource Center in Birmingham, concerning why this bill is really a “Trojan Horse” that will establish the Hindu religion in public schools. ALCAP produced a 21-minute video of an interview with Clete Hux discussing this issue. You can view this interview here…
