We welcome Arise’s LaTrell Clifford Wood to this week’s legislative recap to celebrate some good news: The Senate added $10 million to the Education Trust Fund budget for Summer EBT food assistance! Once the House agrees to this change with this modified budget and the governor signs off on it, the funding will start in 2025. This investment will reduce hunger for more than 500,000 Alabama schoolchildren during the summer months.

Hi everybody, my name is LaTrell Clifford Wood and I’m the Hunger Policy Advocate here at Alabama Arise. I’m excited to be here to talk to you today about two big legislative wins we’ve seen pertaining to hunger issues this session. That is Summer EBT and double up bucks.

Summer EBT will provide eligible school-age children with $40 per summer month for food in Summer 2025. While Double Up Bucks provides more fresh fruits and vegetables to SNAP recipients at select locations across the state.

Last week we saw appropriations made for Summer EBT in the Senate-passed version of the Education Trust Fund budget. This Tuesday we expect to see the budget return to the House floor where we anticipate it will move forward to Governor Ivey’s desk.

The inclusion of Summer EBT can be attributed, in part, to members like you, who’ve called, emailed and advocated for appropriation as it stands. It has amazed me to see the impact of your efforts firsthand. Summer EBT was by far our most sent action alert this session with over 2,400 emails sent to legislators. This is what collective advocacy can do.

I hope you all continue to be ready to keep the momentum as we continue to fight poverty and food apartheid across the state of Alabama. Thank you.