Legislative Update - 2024 Legislative Session

Whitney Miller-Nichols, Director of Governmental Relations, CLAS

The 2024 Legislative Session began Tuesday, February 6, when the Alabama House and Senate convened in the State House before attending the Governor’s State of the State address in the Capitol that evening. The Governor used her speech to set the tone for the coming session, signaling support for issues legislators have already announced as priorities or sometimes throwing the gauntlet to garner support for a priority of hers she wants the Legislature to take up.

The first day of session always has the same buzzy excitement as the first day of school, with legislators reaching across the aisle to greet colleagues and friends as they prepare for the constitutionally required 105 days of legislative business, and this year was no different. The big question on everyone’s mind is: What will the Legislature work on in the 2024 session?

CLAS Legislative Platform

Each winter, the CLAS board approves a legislative platform for the coming legislative session. This platform serves as a governing document to guide the Advocacy Team’s efforts on behalf of members throughout the session.

Stay Informed During the Session

Keep an eye on your inbox on Mondays for a weekly Advocacy Update during the legislative session. This email will include a rundown of the previous week’s legislative action and a preview of the coming week. It may occasionally include a Call to Action, where CLAS asks you to reach out to your school’s legislators to share how a piece of legislation will impact your school or community.

CLAS Advocacy Days 2024

Join in the State House on key Wednesdays during the Legislative Session to engage in boots-on-theground advocacy for public education! CLAS staff will start the day with an issue and legislation briefing and prepping CLAS members to visit the State House. The group will attend legislative committee meetings and meet with legislators to share our priorities for the 2024 session. Click here to register.

Use the CLAS Legislator Lookup Tool to find your school’s legislators and check out the legislative directory on pages 37-49 of this publication for their contact information. Schedule meetings with your legislator for the days you will attend CLAS Advocacy Days so that they will hold time for you in their busy schedules. Email whitney@clasleaders.org if you need help confirming a meeting.

As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Education Trust Fund Budget

State revenues earmarked for the Education Trust Fund (ETF) are declining, the Legislature only has $600 million of wiggle room in an FY2024 supplemental appropriation, and the Advancement & Technology Fund balance is at $1 billion. Expect legislators to once again budget conservatively in the ETF as well as share angst about funding for personnel hired with federal COVID dollars.

Education Savings Accounts

Governor Ivey said it in July, Lt. Governor Ainsworth said it in January, and we can expect to hear it many more times before the Legislature adjourns Sine Die in May – “school choice is coming to Alabama.” Lawmakers are keen to add an Education Savings Account (ESA) to Alabama’s robust roster of existing school choice options: open enrollment policies, public magnet schools, charter schools, statewide magnet high schools, virtual schools, friendly home school policies, and a tax credit scholarship program that got a big boost in the 2023 session.

Taxes

The Legislature reduced the state grocery tax in the 2023 session and at the time bandied about the idea of making additional cuts in 2024. There are already discussions about what tax cuts, if any, the Legislature can afford to offer the people of Alabama while still protecting revenues to fund education in Alabama. And CLAS is expecting multiple bills changing how the Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT) revenue is divided., and a tax credit scholarship program that got a big boost in the 2023 session.

School Leaders

Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, filed a bill in December that would designate the assistant principal as the school employee responsible for school discipline, which he describes as an effort to highlight the necessity of an assistant principal at every school. Speaking of assistant principals, ALSDE requested funding for an AP at every school with 250 or more students in their FY2025 budget. The department has also requested stipends for school administrators in line with the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act of 2023 (SB300).

Workforce Development Concerns

Alabama has record low unemployment that is coupled with a labor force participation rate that is 5 points below the national average, leaving employers begging for employees. Speaker of the House Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said in September 2023 that Alabama has 43 workers for every 100 job openings in the state. Expect a spate of bills designed to get people into the workforce, including childcare tax credits and transportation solutions.nt has also requested stipends for school administrators in line with the School Principal Leadership and Mentoring Act of 2023 (SB300).

Gambling

It’s anyone’s guess whether the Legislature will take up legislation to legalize and regulate gambling in 2024.