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
New hardship driver’s license rule will allow thousands of Alabamians to meet basic needs
A new rule could make it easier for many Alabamians to meet their basic needs. This change will allow tens of thousands of people who lost their driver’s licenses for reasons unrelated to public safety to apply for a hardship license from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The new regulation took effect Sunday. Some [...]
Blog
Apply today for a policy fellowship with Arise!
We’re excited to announce a tremendous opportunity to nurture policy talent for crucial issues facing Alabama and the nation. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities has selected Alabama Arise to participate in the competitive State Policy Fellowship program. The Center seeks candidates with recent graduate degrees in public policy, social work, public health, economics, [...]
Blog
New year, new name, same mission!
A new year means a new start. At Alabama Arise, we’re excited to start 2019 with a new website, a new logo and a new (but familiar) name! If you came here looking for Arise Citizens’ Policy Project (ACPP), you may be a bit confused. For years, we asked people to make tax-deductible donations to [...]
Member Resources
How you can influence the legislative process
You can use your power as a constituent to influence legislators all year long. You can call them, write them or meet them in person. Arise’s Legislative Days are great, but it’s even better to contact lawmakers in their home districts. Find contact information by calling 334-261-0500 (House) or 334-261-0800 (Senate) or by visiting www.legislature.state.al.us. [...]
Blog
Governor candidates answer Arise questions on housing, lending, transportation
Arise reached out to 2018 Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates to seek their thoughts on policies that affect low-income people in Alabama. (We contacted candidates via email or other electronic means available on their websites. Those resources were not available for all candidates.) Arise does not support or oppose any candidates for elected office. This [...]
Blog
Governor candidates answer Arise questions on taxes, budgets
Arise reached out to 2018 Democratic and Republican gubernatorial candidates to seek their thoughts on policies that affect low-income people in Alabama. (We contacted candidates via email or other electronic means available on their websites. Those resources were not available for all candidates.) Arise does not support or oppose any candidates for elected office. This [...]
Blog
Push to block Alabama tax break for private school tuition succeeds; Ivey signs bill to create hardship driver’s licenses
Arise members had two big reasons to celebrate Thursday, as Gov. Kay Ivey signed a pair of bills that finalize policy wins related to our organization’s 2018 issue priorities. One law will halt (at least for now) an effort to create a new state tax break for private school tuition in Alabama, while the other [...]
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Alabama Legislature rejects tax break for private school tuition
Update: Gov. Kay Ivey signed HB 251 into law on March 22 – without the language that would have cost public schools millions of dollars a year. Thank you to all the Arise members and everyone else who helped protect education funding in Alabama! Great news, y’all: Arise members just helped save millions of dollars a year [...]
Blog
Education budget, landlord-tenant changes, HIV drug bill advance in Alabama Legislature
K-12 teachers in Alabama wouldn’t get a raise next year under the Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget that a House committee approved Wednesday. The House is expected to vote on the plan next week. The committee’s $5.9 billion budget would restore $10 million of state funding for Alabama State University that the Senate had removed. [...]
Blog
Alabama House passes bill that would erode renters’ rights
In a setback for renters throughout Alabama, the House voted 78-4 Thursday to erode protections for the state’s tenants. HB 421, sponsored by Rep. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, now moves to the Senate. HB 421 would reduce the number of curable, or fixable, breaches of a lease in a year from the current four to [...]