Blog
Public policy should make life better for everyone, not just a select few. Throughout the year, Arise tracks a range of state and federal policy proposals and assesses what they would mean for Alabamians who are struggling to make ends meet. Our blog provides quick updates on these proposals and offers tips on what you can do to help build an Alabama where all people have an opportunity to reach their full potential.
Blog
Arise legislative update: April 22, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson brings you up to speed on all that happened last week at the State House plus gets you ready for the upcoming week. As the session is nearing an end, we still have action to take on securing public transportation funding and increasing penalties for child labor violations. We also are trying [...]
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Arise legislative update: April 15, 2024
Arise's Akiesha Anderson gives an update on where things stand in the Alabama Legislature as lawmakers begin to wind down the 2024 regular session. We still are keeping an eye on numerous bills, including the state budgets and legislation related to child care, death penalty reform and voting rights. Akiesha provides a rundown on some [...]
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Alabama Arise Action Legislative Day 2024
Arise held our 2024 Legislative Day on Tuesday, April 2. More than 230 supporters joined us in Montgomery to urge their lawmakers to close Alabama's Medicaid coverage gap, invest in public transportation and fund a summer nutrition program for children. Thank you to everyone who spoke out for a better Alabama for all! Full [...]
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Arise legislative update: April 8, 2024
Arise's Dev Wakeley provides this week's legislative update with a look at bills related to workers' rights, including one that would disincentivize companies from voluntarily recognizing unions. To speak out about these bills and others that we're tracking in the Alabama Legislature, visit alarise.org and click "Take Action." Full video transcript below: Hi, [...]
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Arise legislative update: March 25, 2024
While the Alabama Legislature is on spring break this week, Arise's Akiesha Anderson takes some time to update everyone on what's happened recently and what's on the horizon when lawmakers return next week. Akiesha also talks about our upcoming Legislative Day, scheduled for Tuesday, April 2. Full video transcript Hi there. Akiesha Anderson here, policy [...]
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Arise legislative update: March 18, 2024
The Alabama Legislature is coming back into session after taking off last week. Arise's Akiesha Anderson provides updates on what's happened most recently -- including unfortunate news on anti-DEI legislation -- and gets you ready for another busy week ahead. Legislation we're monitoring this week includes a bill to reform Alabama's felony murder rule and [...]
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Arise legislative update: March 11, 2024
Arise's 2024 Legislative Day will be held on April 2 in Montgomery. Please join us there and speak up for a better Alabama for all! Arise's Presdelane Harris provides more information on what you need to know about this annual event. Register at https://alariseaction.org/legislative-day-2024. Full video transcript Hello, I'm Pres Harris, organizing director at Alabama [...]
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Government for the people?
Lately, I am struck by how many elected officials view their job as serving private industry and large corporations instead of their constituents and voters. This belief comes out in the ways some officials discuss Alabama’s “labor force participation” concerns. Instead of increasing workers’ autonomy by investing in public transportation, affordable housing, health care or [...]
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Recent Alabama execution underscores ongoing need for death penalty reform
This year already has seen a number of Alabama Arise priorities in the news, and death penalty reform is no exception. Unfortunately, Alabama recently became the first state to perform an execution using the unsafe and untested method known as nitrogen hypoxia. The state executed Kenneth Smith using this method on Jan. 25, despite concerns [...]
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State, federal budgets need to do more for children
It’s budget season at the Alabama Legislature and in Congress. But many of our state and federal representatives are not doing enough to meet the very real needs of ordinary people. Gov. Kay Ivey has now proposed an Education Trust Fund budget as well as a General Fund budget, which funds Medicaid, mental health care [...]