It wasn't so long ago that State Rep. Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) was walking around the State House as a State Senate intern in 2018.
Colvin will be back at the State House next year as a freshman legislator representing House District 26.
Colvin, 27, interned under State Sens. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) and Clay Scofield (R-Guntersville) during the 2018 legislative session while he studied economics at the University of Alabama. Colvin also attended Snead State Community College. He graduated from Albertville High School in 2014.
Colvin, a financial planner at Ameriprise Financial who has previously worked in the insurance industry, won the House District 26 seat by winning the Republican primary against two opponents in May without a run-off and defeating a Democratic opponent with 88% of the vote.
"At age 27, I will become the youngest member of the Alabama Legislature," Colvin told 1819 News in a recent interview. "I'm excited to bring a fresh perspective to Montgomery as I represent my generation, as well as the constituents of District 26, in policy making."
Colvin said that issues he hopes to focus on in the upcoming legislative session are broadband, education, workforce development, and streamlining Alabama's adoption process.
"We're a very pro-life state, and I believe we're going to stay that way, especially after the overturn of Roe v. Wade," Colvin said. "I think it's time we really get to work on how can we reform our adoption system here in Alabama. Make it an easier system for adults who want to have a child who may not have been able to have one theirselves to get united with these kids growing up in unfortunate situations who haven't had parents."
Colvin said he also wants to focus on getting "people back in the workforce" and "keeping Alabama business-friendly."
"With the labor shortage after the pandemic, we've got to really focus on what can we do to get people back in the workforce," Colvin said. "That's going to be a priority, and I believe the Speaker even touched on that about his agenda. As well as just keeping Alabama business-friendly, we want the whole nation and even across the world to know that Alabama is open for business. That means keeping a tax-friendly environment, a tort-friendly environment, (and) making sure businesses know they can come here and locate in Alabama. You know, give our citizens good, high-paying, quality jobs."
Colvin added that "we want to make sure our kids in K-12 and different colleges are getting the best education they can just to make sure they have the chance to succeed right here in Alabama."
Colvin told 1819 News he believes some type of tax relief for Alabamians will be discussed "if not this next session, definitely in this next quadrennium."
"As a fiscal conservative, especially in this terrible inflationary environment, we want to look for any opportunity we can to provide relief to our taxpayers," Colvin said. "Now granted, a lot of the problems stemming from inflation have come from the federal government, so it's kind of out of our wheelhouse with the money they've just printed off and handed out. As a conservative, I'm always looking for a chance to cut taxes for Alabamians. We've got to be careful over the next few years. I work in the economic field all day, every day, helping people plan their retirement. If we believe the recession is coming, whether it's 2023 or 2024, we can kind of predict some budget decreases, so you've got to be careful in terms of giving out too large of rebates or too big of a tax cut and really causing issues with the budget in the future which we know will burden education and burden plans for workforce development."
"I think there's a fine line there we've got to walk," he continued. "I think there's some area there, hopefully, for some tax cuts or, like you said, with the rebates. My opinion on the rebates is I feel like the federal government's stimulus was part of the reason that really accelerated the inflationary crisis so we want to make sure we're not adding fuel to that fire. But if there is a surplus we're just sitting on, that is the people's money. They spend it better than the government. I think those are going to be definitely some conversations to have. I don't know the exact percentage if there's a rebate or if there's a cut, or what exactly would be cut. From what I've talked to leadership and talked to some of the budget chairmen, I do believe that's a conversation that's going to be had, if not this next session, definitely in this next quadrennium."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
