MONTGOMERY — Amended legislation by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) changing how vacancies are filled on the Alabama Department of Archives and History board was sent to a conference committee after three hours of Democrat filibustering 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 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.
“I’m not going to be in agreement with this amendment. I can hold my nose and accept the bill but I can not hold my nose and accept this amendment,” Smitherman said on the Senate floor.
The Senate eventually voted to send the bill to a conference committee made up of three members each from the House and Senate to try to work out a compromise before the end of the legislative session next Wednesday.
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