MONTGOMERY — Legislation by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) changing how vacancies are filled on the Alabama Department of Archives and History board was approved by a conference committee of six House and Senate members on Wednesday.
Instead of being filled by the board, as is the current practice, board vacancies under the legislation would be filled on a rotating basis by House and Senate majority and minority legislative leadership, the lieutenant governor and the governor.
ADAH caught several lawmakers' attention after hosting a luncheon in June 2023 about Alabama's LGBTQ history.
The Senate non-concurred on an amendment last week added to the bill by the House that removed board appointees having to be confirmed by the Senate.
State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) said he opposed the amendment and then proceeded to filibuster for three hours last week. The Senate then voted to send the bill to a conference committee.
The version passed by the conference committee added Senate confirmation for board appointees back into the bill. The bill still has to be approved by both the House and Senate on the final day of the legislative session on Wednesday.
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