This is day 27 of the Alabama Regular Legislative Session and there are just four legislative days left in the session. Republican insider, former State Rep. Perry O. Hooper Jr., told 1819 News on Saturday that there are still two very important issues remaining for legislators to address before they go home.
“Alabama is fed up with Silicon Valley oligarchs at Facebook and other Social Media services censoring what they can say and to whom they are allowed to communicate,” Hooper said. “...They are also appalled that the leftist education elites are attempting to cram critical race theory down the throats of our students. Senate Bill 10 and House Bill 312 address these two issues.
“Senate Bill 10 would prohibit major interactive computer service providers such as Facebook or Twitter from taking restrictive or suppressive action against a user of its service based on either a viewpoint expressed or shared by the user or true statements of fact expressed or shared by the user. This bill would also provide for civil remedies for an affected user against the computer provider. This bill has passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is awaiting action by the full Senate.”
If the state Senate passed SB10 on Tuesday, in theory it could be acted upon in committee in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, in time for it to be passed into law on Thursday or Friday.
“House Bill 312 would prohibit the state of Alabama from promoting in teaching of students or training of employees that the United States is inherently racist or sexist or that an individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive,” Hooper said. “The bill also prohibits the theory that an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely on the basis of his or her race This bill has passed out of the House and is awaiting Senate action.
“These are issues that are very important to all freedom-loving patriotic Alabamians. I know because I talk to them every day. If the House and Senate get to work immediately, they can send both these bills to Gov. Ivey to sign into law. Alabama is watching and waiting.”
Tuesday will be day 27 of the 2022 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. Once the 13th legislative day is used, the Alabama Constitution of 1901 forbids that there be a day 31. All work on legislation ends when the legislature gavels out at the end of day 30 or when the clock strikes midnight on that day. The legislature, at their discretion, could leave as early as Tuesday if they finalize work on the Education and General Fund budgets. They have passed both Houses, though there are still issues of concurrence for the House to address. Anything not passed in this regular session must be reintroduced and go through the legislative process again when the next regular session begins in January 2023.
A special session is expected in August to address appropriating the next $1.2 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, and there will probably be an organizational session in January for the new legislature to set its rules for the next quadrennium and to elect new leadership. Both of those sessions will be limited in scope.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandon.moseley@1819News.com.
