Alabama's 2024 legislative session was marked by highs and lows through tense negotiations.
Gambling dominated both chambers and ultimately failed by one vote. Still, it cast a long shadow on the proceedings and led to several promising bills dying on the vine. Despite that, the session did have some big wins.
1819 News editor-in-chief Jeff Poor joined the company's CEO Bryan Dawson on Wednesday's episode of "1819 News: The Podcast" to discuss "the good, the bad and the ugly" of this year's legislative session.
Unlike when gambling was brought up in past sessions, all signs pointed to this year being the year.
"It was like the 4th and 31 of legislative politics," Poor said. "It just looks like it's going to happen. [Nathanial] Ledbetter's got the votes going into it. Coming out of it, he still has the votes. He has more than enough votes. He twisted arms, threatened, enticed, did whatever he did, and they had it by a comfortable margin in the House… The House was really leading the charge, if not for one senator."
"Mr. Gambling himself," State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), who previously voted for the legislation in committee, was the surprise "no" vote that kept gambling off an August special election ballot.
"That's why I call it the 4th and 31. How unlikely is that?" Poor said.
He pointed out that as influential as the gaming lobby was during the session, it could be much more powerful if gambling were to become legal.
"Wait till they have real power. Wait till they have real resources, profits that they have made in Alabama. You think they're just going to stand on the sidelines while everything else goes by? Of course not."
While the focus was on gambling, other bills addressing popular issues failed without even a vote.
Poor mentioned bills that addressed sexually explicit children's books in Alabama libraries, turned over library control to local city councils, and reformed the Alabama Department of Archives and History — all of which died or were mainly killed in response to gambling failing by one vote.
"Some of us out here who don't think that gambling would be good for Alabama, we just need to be aware of that," Jeff said. "They got a taste of it. It was that close. What's going to happen next time?"
Poor said some of the wins for the 2024 legislative session included school choice, the divisive concepts bill, changing how the state health officer is appointed and capping property taxes.
He said he expected next year's session to be more low-key than 2024.
"It's an election year, so they typically lay low, pass the budgets and get out of town," he said. "I don't think they'll try gambling again… The House and the Senate are kind of out of sorts right now."
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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