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April 2018 Newsletter
The Alabama Legislature had a fairly quiet regular session in 2018 – but it was a big year for Arise. Thanks to our members’ dedicated advocacy, we made meaningful breakthroughs on public transportation and criminal justice debt reform. Arise members also led the charge to defeat a proposed state tax break for private school tuition and to prevent the Legislature from creating new barriers to food assistance and health care access.
Fact Sheet
Alabama Arise submits comments in opposition to Alabama’s ‘flagrantly cruel’ Medicaid work requirement proposal
Alabama’s proposed new Medicaid work requirement waiver would be costly, counterproductive, ineffective and harmful to thousands of families who live in deep poverty, Arise wrote in comments submitted to the Alabama Medicaid Agency on Thursday, March 22. About 1 million Alabamians – mostly children, seniors, people with disabilities, and pregnant women – have Medicaid coverage. [...]
Fact Sheet
SB 55: Allowing ALEA to issue hardship driving permits makes sense for Alabama
Update: SB 55 is now law! Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill on March 22, following votes in the Alabama House (95-1) and Senate (26-1) to pass a conference committee version of the bill on March 15. Earlier, the House voted 88-5 for a similar version on March 1, while the Senate voted 26-1 for [...]
Fact Sheet
4 reasons why a new state tax break for private school tuition would hurt public education in Alabama
Update: Arise members stopped this plan in its tracks! After lawmakers received hundreds of emails and phone calls from our supporters opposing this bill, the Senate amended HB 251 on March 14 to remove the language that would have created a tax break for private school tuition. The House agreed to the change on March [...]
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 [...]
Blog
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 [...]
News Releases
‘Flagrantly cruel’ Medicaid changes would mean ‘poorer, more desperate and less healthy Alabama families,’ Arise tells state officials
Alabama’s proposed new Medicaid work requirement waiver would be costly, counterproductive, ineffective and harmful to thousands of families who live in deep poverty, Arise Citizens’ Policy Project wrote in official comments submitted to state Medicaid officials on Thursday, March 22, 2018. “Threatening loss of health care in an attempt to force work efforts, without providing the [...]
In the News
Lack of affordable housing ‘at crisis levels’ across Alabama
Right now Alabama is 77,000 housing units short for low income families. The crisis was compounded by the April 2011 tornadoes which wiped out many homes. Advocates say the situation is leaving many in substandard housing conditions. ABC 33/40 talked with a state lawmaker and Arise Citizens' Policy Project about the problem and potential solutions.
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. [...]
Fact Sheet
Alabama’s legislative process: Get involved
Most people recognize the vital role that voting plays in a democracy – even if they don't vote. But fewer understand the importance of the citizen's role in influencing legislators to enact good public policy. This fact sheet explains how the Alabama Legislature works and offers a step-by-step guide to effective citizen participation in Alabama's legislative process.