News from the South - Alabama News Feed
House committee approves $10 billion education budget; floor vote expected Thursday
by Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector
April 23, 2025
An Alabama House committee Tuesday approved a 2026 Education Trust Fund budget with a few changes, bringing it closer to a vote in the chamber.
SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, increases the current budget by $543.3 million (5.81%), but a substitute from the Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee added an additional $17.6 million. That brings the total growth of the ETF to 6%.
“That’s the maximum we were allowed to increase the budget because of our secondary cap. Next year, that number will be 5.75% under this current budget,” Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, the chair of the committee, said Tuesday.
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The Senate approved the nearly $10 billion budget on April 10.
Garrett said one of his priorities in the budget is continuing to invest in public education in the state. SB 305, also sponsored by Orr, allows the Legislature to appropriate additional funds to schools based on student needs. The House added an additional $58 million to begin the transition to the new model.
SB 111, also sponsored by Orr, would appropriate $375 million over three years for that transition, which aims to get more money to students with particular needs, including children in poverty and English Language Learners.
The budget also includes $135 million for the CHOOSE Act, a voucher-like program that will award students with funds to be used for education-related expenses, including private school tuition. The program was initially slated to get $100 million, but Orr said that demand for the program led the chairs to increase the allocation.
The program is currently limited to special needs students and those making under 300% of the poverty line, about $79,950 for a family of three. The program will be open to all applicants starting in 2027, without any income limits. About two-thirds of the 37,000 applicants for the program this year are already in private school or homeschooled.
“I realize that there’s different opinions about school choice,” Garrett said. “We have the CHOOSE Act, and we’re committed to that. But we are committing more than that funding into the public schools. And I think that what we’re doing, especially looking at student needs, is very, very important.”
There are also additional line items for workmen’s compensation for educators, SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville; and paid parental leave, SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile.
Teachers will receive $1,000 for classroom supplies, and the state will allocate $100 per student for textbooks. Teachers will not get a raise this year, but Garrett said the education community wanted an increase in the Public Education Employees’ Health Insurance Plan. There is a $99.2 million increase in PEEHIP.
“What we were hearing from the education community was that they really wanted that PEEHIP increase covered, and that’s almost $100 million out of the budget,” he said.
The Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative will see a 31% ($32.2 million) funding increase while the Alabama Reading Initiative’s (ARI) funding would grow by 6.4% ($9 million). The two programs’ funds remain unchanged from what the Senate passed earlier this month.
State Superintendent Eric Mackey supported the budget and hopes they pass smoothly.
“I think they’ve done their homework,” he said. “ They’ve found the right balance.”
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said the House would vote on the ETF on Thursday.
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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.
The post House committee approves $10 billion education budget; floor vote expected Thursday appeared first on alabamareflector.com
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The content primarily features Alabama Republicans, including Rep. Danny Garrett and Sen. Arthur Orr, discussing education-related budget decisions. The article emphasizes conservative policies such as increased funding for education with a focus on school choice programs like the CHOOSE Act. The content reflects a pro-business and fiscal conservative viewpoint, prioritizing both public education and private school options through vouchers. Additionally, the article presents the state legislature’s approach to funding without delving into significant criticism or highlighting opposing viewpoints. While it discusses education funding and policies, the tone and focus suggest a conservative policy approach, typical of a Center-Right orientation.
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
Back-to-School Season in Alabama | Aug. 4, 2025 | News 19 at 6 p.m.
SUMMARY: Alabama schools are starting the new year with a focus on student health, attendance, and readiness. A new law banning phone use in schools is in effect, and educators emphasize the importance of consistent attendance to reduce chronic absenteeism. Greene County Superintendent Corey Jones reports about 900 students returning, with teachers prepared to support diverse needs, including nontraditional and homeless students. The Alabama Department of Public Health advises physicals for all students, especially athletes, to ensure proper growth and mental health. Governor Kay Ivey encourages students to be brave and strive for their best year yet, highlighting their potential to impact Alabama’s future.
Leaders across the state are sharing what students and parents need to know as the new school year kicks off.
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News from the South - Alabama News Feed
AGs from 15 states sue to block attacks on medically necessary care for transgender youth
by Ben Solis, Alabama Reflector
August 4, 2025
This story is a collaboration between Michigan Advance in collaboration with Wisconsin Examiner.
A coalition of 15 state attorneys general have filed a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s effort to restrict access to medically-necessary care for transgender, intersex and nonbinary youth.
The lawsuit challenges recent federal action to deter doctors and medical providers from offering gender affirming care to youth under the age of 19 years old, including states like Michigan where that care is legal and protected.
Joining the suit are the attorneys general of Michigan, New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
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“The Trump administration shouldn’t be interfering with the provision of health care,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul in a statement Friday. “The administration should be respecting individual liberty and equal rights, not shamefully targeting transgender people.”
The attorneys general have asserted that President Donald Trump’s White House is overstepping its authority, using threats of criminal prosecution and federal investigations to pressure health care providers.
“The Trump Administration is attempting to strip away lawful, essential healthcare from vulnerable youth. These orders are illegal and dangerous and have no medical or scientific basis,” said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel in a statement. “I will continue to protect families, defend doctors, and stop politicians from putting our kids’ lives at risk.”
Trump in the beginning of his second administration signed an executive order stating that the U.S. would only recognize two sexes, and called for an end to what Trump labeled “gender ideology.” A second order focused on medical restrictions, directing the U.S. Department of Justice to pursue enforcement actions related to that care.
Since then, Nessel’s office said the Department of Justice has issued subpoenas to providers under the guise of criminal law enforcement, but the attorneys general filing the lawsuit Friday argue those efforts lack legal standing and are intended only to intimidate.
“Health care decisions for kids should be made by parents and doctors, not by politicians,” said Erin Knott, executive director of Equality Michigan, a LGBTQ+ advocacy group, in a statement. “The federal government is using funding as a weapon to force providers to abandon their patients and override parents’ rights to make health care decisions for their own children.”
Patricia Wells, a doctor and the medical director of The Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti, Michigan, said in a statement that she and her colleagues are distressed by new punitive changes to funding and regulations, which threaten to dismantle essential care.
“These policies do not protect children; they endanger them,” Wells said. “They undermine trust in the medical system and place affirming providers in an impossible position, forcing hospitals to close clinics and providers to stop offering the very care that helps young people survive and thrive. The loss of these services would not simply be a policy failure; it would be a moral one.”
Wells said the nation must do better.
“These young people deserve our compassion, our evidence-based care, and our unwavering commitment to their well-being,” she said. “I applaud the leadership of the state of Michigan for protecting transgender and gender nonconforming youth, their families, and the caregivers who are saving lives every day.”
Erik Gunn of Wisconsin Examiner contributed to this report.
Michigan Advance is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Michigan Advance maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jon King for questions: info@michiganadvance.com.
Wisconsin Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Wisconsin Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Ruth Conniff for questions: info@wisconsinexaminer.com.
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Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Alabama Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Brian Lyman for questions: info@alabamareflector.com.
The post AGs from 15 states sue to block attacks on medically necessary care for transgender youth appeared first on alabamareflector.com
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Left-Leaning
This article clearly advocates for transgender rights and criticizes the Trump administration’s policies restricting gender-affirming care for youth. The language used is sympathetic toward transgender individuals and emphasizes medical and scientific consensus supporting such care. It highlights legal actions taken by Democratic attorneys general and frames the federal government’s enforcement efforts as overreach and intimidation. While the piece reports facts about the lawsuit and quotes officials and advocates, its framing and selection of sources indicate a perspective aligned with progressive values on LGBTQ+ rights and healthcare access.
News from the South - Alabama News Feed
Flood Watch for Alabama: Storms linger overnight, with cooler weather in the forecast
SUMMARY: A flood watch remains in effect in Alabama, especially east of the I-65 corridor, including counties like Blount, Jefferson, Shelby, and others, until 7 a.m. Sunday due to lingering storms and heavy rain. Flash flood warnings and advisories persist in several central and northeastern areas, with some locations receiving over two inches of rain. Drivers are urged to “turn around, don’t drown” and avoid roadways. Cooler, drier air and a cold front are expected to bring showers and thunderstorms early Sunday, followed by cooler and cloudier conditions into the workweek with highs near 80°F, marking a significant weather shift.
Flood Watch for Alabama: Storms linger overnight, with cooler weather in the forecast
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