Eagle Forum of Alabama revealed its 2025 legislative priorities in its latest newsletter.
“As we celebrate the victories of the 2024 General Election, and follow the news of the new administration starting in 2025, we also know we have our work cut out of us in the next Alabama legislative session,” the newsletter stated.
A top priority will be the Harmful to Minors bill, which would amend Alabama’s obscenity law to no longer exempt libraries that allow children to be exposed to obscene materials. The bill gained support after Moms for Liberty and other groups discovered libraries statewide were shelving sexually explicit materials in children and teen sections.
State Rep. Susan Dubose (R-Hoover) will also attempt to update the Abstinence Act to bar sexually inappropriate materials from Alabama schools.
Dubose will also sponsor a bill to raise the age of medical consent from 14 to 19. Exceptions will be made for married, divorced, pregnant, emancipated minors or those living independently.
Another bill will be the debanking bill, making it illegal for banks to freeze accounts because of religious or political beliefs. The issue has been taken up nationwide and gained attention in Alabama after State Auditor Andrew Sorrell said he was a victim of debanking.
“We value freedom here in Alabama,” Sorrell said. “When the new session of the Alabama Legislature convenes in 2025, lawmakers should make combatting debanking a top priority. No one in our state should have to worry that they will lose their bank account or insurance policy because of their religious and political beliefs, much less their adherence to constitutionally guaranteed rights.”
Several failed bills that Eagle Forum championed in 2024 will be refiled, including the default to safety cell phone bill, which requires phones sold in Alabama to have a default explicit content filter. The Prohibit Banning the Use of Cash Act would prohibit retailers from requiring buyers to use a debit or credit card. In the case of a cash shortage, establishments would be required to offer store credit.
Other legislative priorities will be a bill to allow the use of gold or silver as money,
There will also be a bill to prohibit law enforcement agencies from using drones made in China, a bill protecting Alabamians from the effects of illegal immigration and a bill defining “male” and “female” in Alabama law.
State Rep. Mark Gidley (R-Hokes Bluff) is sponsoring a bill backed by Eagle Forum to restore the public display of the 10 commandments.
There is no gambling bill pre-filed at this time. However, Eagle Forum of Alabama states it will continue vigorously opposing the expansion of gambling.
“This is another challenging agenda for Eagle Forum, but we are dedicated to our work to policy initiatives that protect our way of life and will oppose those that we determine will be detrimental to our state,” Eagle Forum of Alabama stated.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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