Three members of our local legislative delegation met with community leaders and citizens at the Limbaugh Community Center in Childersburg on Wednesday, laying out issue they addressed during the most recents session.
Senator Lance Bell noted that, “Our region is growing, and we need all of the leadership present here today working together, especially on a regional basis.”
Bell said that he worked to pass legislation that will no longer allow Hunting and Fishing licences to be used as identification for firearm purchases. He also supported a database for fingerprints and DNA for convicted criminals, as well as those in our state illegally, “Too many attempt to escape prosecution by using aliases, and this will help make identification more reliable. We will have even more information sharing via an expanded statewide criminal activity database, allowing law enforcement agencies to work cooperatively.”
Bell aso supported the “Back the Blue” legislation, which he says will help local and county law enforcement hire and retain good officers, “Immunity in the direct scope of their work is important. That does not apply to anyone simply acting stupidly or outside the law,”
Senator Bell was also instrumental in a bill which renamed and expanded the scope of what was the Alabama Film Office. It is now known as the Alabama Entertainment Office, and will include work to expand an already thriving music industry in Alabama, and allow Alabama to compete with other states for film and television production work.
Senator Keith Kelley opened his remarks by stating that the legislature has codified gender, “It is important that we are able to legally define things like ‘what is a women,’ without leaving the door open for discrimination against those adults who choose to transition.”
Kelley discussed a measure that bans the distracting use of cell phones in our classrooms during school hours, “That doesn’t mean they cannot have them in their lockers, in their vehicles if they are needed, just that we do not need unnecessary distraction of cell phones in the classroom.”
Kelley embraces issues involving out community of veterans in Alabama, “We are creating Veteran Resource Centers. We need to expedite, not hinder the resource processes for veterans. They need to know where they can go to find resources particular to their own lives.”
Kelley was especially proud of the Houston Hunter Bill, which addresses veterans suicide, “Some have complained that it targets veterans for confiscation of their firearms. No, it is a voluntary surrender system that, along with other aspects, allows our veterans to know that they can have a safe place, with an awareness of the danger while they seek help, along with information on where they can go for help.”
Kelly also praised the work of the Veterans Court system, another means of addressing the unique needs of those who face difficulty adjusting back to civilian life after service, especially active combat, “Attending a graduation of our Veterans Court is an amazing experience, not just knowing that it is working, but seeing it in person is heart-warming.”
Kelley also addressed the state budgets, “I would call our budgets healthy, but tight.” Kelley said that one-time funds during covid helped, “But we must acknowledge that money was short term. We will keep working toward gradually reducing and removing taxes on groceries in a manner that keeps our budgets healthy.”
Representative Ben Robbins said that our County Jails will have the backing of the State to work with ICE on issues relating to illegal immigration, “We also strongly remind everyone that exploiting immigrants for labor is a crime and will not be tolerated.”
Hereat home, Robbins addressed the need for at least another grocery option for Childersburg, “We need competition. It’s something that helps consumers, and even helps the competing businesses to grow, focusing on serving a growing audience of consumers.”
Robbins says he is excited about the new housing development that is taking place in Childersburg, “It’s another essential part of growth that we see in new and expanding industry. So many things go hand in hand, and they are being addressed for healthy progress.”
With fishing in general and fishing tournament in particular being a big part of our region, Robbins said he was proud of the work done to address a call for elimination those tournaments, big and small, “All along the Coosa River, we had to address the issue with a balance of conservation of our valuable resources for fishing with both the economic and recreational impact on communities up and down the Coosa. We think we have done that and will make sure it remains strong with the attention that is needed and deserved.”
Robbins closed with his belief that “Innovate Alabama” will be a valuable tool for growth for technology based economics in Alabama, “We invite new business, new ideas, new products and services, with a network of support that can help technology grow in Alabama. We are already the number one most improved state for business and workforce development. Technology will be a part of that growing future.”
The delegation members then opened the meeting for smaller group and individual conversations.
