MONTGOMERY — Legislation to change the appointment and removal process for members of the Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) board of trustees advanced in the House State Government Committee on Wednesday.
State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), who sponsors HB169, presented his bill, noting that it does not change the number of appointees but simply the way they are appointed. The legislation would allow the governor eight appointees, the House speaker four, and the president pro tempore of the Senate four.
Multiple board members for the Friends of the Alabama Archives spoke against the bill, with one noting the bill's language being retroactive to January 1, 2025, would "revoke the membership of two colored board members who were reappointed to the board under existing law in the late 2024 for new terms beginning in January 2025."
"We do not know why the author of this bill in the Senate seeks to remove these members from the Archives board, but I can tell you how it will be received by the African-American community in Alabama," Wanda Battle, Friends of the Alabama Archives board member, said.
State Rep. Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville) asked Kiel why the bill included a retroactive provision to 2025, when it was initially introduced, only to run out of time to be voted on before the legislature adjourned sine die. He said the provision was problematic for him.
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Kiel said he was unaware of who was on the board and that it was "nothing specific against anyone on the board."
State Rep. Marilyn Lands (D-Huntsville) argued it was "unusual" for the governor to have "almost the majority" of picks for the board.
"I guess I'm just not comfortable with that breakup there," she told Kiel.
State Rep. Barbara Boyd (D-Anniston) also spoke out against the bill's retroactive language and warned it was "opening up ... the barnyard gate."
The bill passed as amended and will head to the floor for debate.
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