At last week's Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) event featuring Donald Trump Jr., chairman John Wahl honored lawmakers who sponsored several of the most conservative bills passed during the 2024 legislative session.

According to a spokesman for ALGOP, "The Alabama Republican Party’s Defender of Freedom Award is presented annually to members of the Alabama Legislature who sponsor legislation that reflects the principles of the ALGOP Platform and advances a priority issue for the Party. Recipients are often recognized for championing legislation that aligns with formal resolutions passed by the Alabama Republican Party’s State Executive Committee."

Among other things, those bills strengthened parental rights, protected victims of human trafficking and preempted some of the same protections against divisive ideology for students that President Donald Trump has since championed in his second term.

The 2025 Defender of Freedom Award recipients are:

  1. Representative Donna Givens (R-Loxley) and Senator Lance Bell (R-Pell City) — Sound of Freedom Act The Sound of Freedom Act requires a life sentence for those convicted of human trafficking minors.SEE: 'Sound of Freedom Act' passes Alabama House of Representatives
  2. Representative Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) — The CHOOSE Act (school choice)The law allows the Department of Revenue to manage education savings accounts (ESAs) for approved students. ESAs are funded through a refundable income tax credit available to eligible parents. The individual credit would be $7,000 for students in participating schools, while non-participating school students—such as homeschooled students—are $2,000 per student and $4,000 per family.SEE: Ivey encourages CHOOSE Act participation with deadline closing in a week — ‘Alabama families want school choice’
  3. Representative Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) and Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) — Ballot Harvesting BanThe legislation prevents ballot harvesters from manipulating Alabama's absentee elections process and threatening the security of Alabama elections by making it illegal to pay or to be paid by a third-party organization to pre-fill and/or collect absentee ballot applications. SEE: Ivey signs ballot harvesting ban into law: ‘There will be no funny business in Alabama elections’
  4. Representative Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) and Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) — DEI and Divisive Concepts BanThe law prohibits state agencies, schools and colleges from sponsoring or requiring students and employees to attend or participate in any diversity, equity and inclusion program, training, orientation or coursework that advocates for or requires assent to a divisive concept.SEE: Alabama Legislature advances anti-DEI bill
  5. Representative Matt Woods (R-Jasper) and Senator April Weaver (R-Brierfield) — The Alabama Child Protection Act The Act provides victims of child pornography with a civil remedy. Violators will be liable for actual damages, legal fees, and punitive damages up to $10,000 per image for all forms of child pornography involving actual children.SEE: State Rep. Matt Woods: It's time to combat AI-generated child porn in our state
  6. Representative Matt Woods (R-Jasper) and Senator Greg Reed (R-Jasper)— Parents Right to Know Act (curriculum transparency)The law requires public pre-K-12 schools to post the curricula used in each classroom on the school website at the beginning of each school year or within 30 calendar days after adopting a new or revised curriculum.SEE: Ivey signs ‘Parents’ Right to Know’ legislation into law
  7. Representative Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) and Senator Arthur Orr — SB231 (union recognition without a worker vote)The bill says no employer would be eligible to receive an economic development incentive for a project if the employer voluntarily grants employee recognition rights solely and exclusively based on signed labor organization authorization cards if the selection of a bargaining representative may be conducted through a secret ballot election.SEE: Bill clawing back incentives from companies who voluntarily recognize unionization approved by Senate committee
Rep. Danny Garrett, Image courtesy of Grady Thornton Rep. Donna Givens and John Wahl, Image courtesy Grady Thornton Senator Barfoot and John Wahl; Image courtesy Grady Thornton

Apryl Marie Fogel is a Birmingham resident who frequently appears on and guest hosts radio programs around the state. She can be reached at [email protected].

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