LT. General Donnie Walker addressed a joint session of the Alabama Legislature on Feb. 24. (Photo: Robert La Branche)
by Mike Ward
Senior VP of Government & Public Affairs
Huntsville/Madison County Chamber
The Alabama Legislature recently had what the Army might call a “Hooah, Hooah” day!
On February 24, the Alabama House passed six Senate bills to further enhance Alabama’s pro-military posture. That legislative activity came following Lt. General Donnie Walker’s breakfast meeting with key legislative leaders and his presentation to a joint legislative session of the Legislature. Lt. Gen. Walker is the Deputy Commanding General of the Army’s Materiel Command and the Senior Mission Commander of Redstone Arsenal.
The pack of legislation was developed by the Alabama Military Stability Commission, Chaired by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth. Bills included in the package of legislation will make it easier for military families to transition to Alabama by letting them pre-register their children in school, making it easier for military spouses to transfer their professional licenses to work in Alabama.
The package also included legislation to include a Space Force element in the Alabama National Guard and to provide free higher education benefits to spouses and dependents of military personnel who are killed or disabled in the line of service.
We are grateful to Governor Ivey, Lt. Governor Ainsworth and the Alabama Legislature for their support of our military!
Here are some photos from the breakfast and from the gallery during passage of the bills and during the joint legislative session.
Bills passed:
Senator Whatley/Representative Wood (D): SB116 Education, public K-12, establishing a program of advance enrollment for children of military families
Senator Butler/Representative Moore (P): SB141 Military, spouses, occupational licensing boards, date revised by which rules must be adopted, timeframe extended for which a temporary permit to practice is effective, Sec. 31-1-6 am’d.
Senator Jones/Representative Paschal: SB99 Professional counseling, Counseling Compact, licensed professional counselors authorized to practice on a limited basis among compact member states
Senator Shelnutt/Representative Drake: SB167 SB167 Occupational therapy, Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, occupational therapists authorized to practice on a limited basis among compact states
Senator Butler/Representative Moore (P): SB28 National Guard, Space Force, Space National Guard, bill operative only if federal government creates Space National Guard, Secs. 31-2-1, 31-2-3, 31-2-55, 31-2-57, 31-3-1 am’d.
Senator Barfoot/Representative Lovvorn: SB119 Colleges and Universities, Alabama G.I. and Dependents’ Educational Benefit Act, use of scholarship benefits at 2 year or 4 year public or private institutions of higher education physically located in state provided, Sec. 31-6-8 repealed; Secs. 31-6-2, 31-6-2.1, 31-6-3, 31-6-4, 31-6-5, 31-6-6, 31-6-9, 31-6-11, 31-6-12, 31-6- 13, 31-6-14, 31-6-15, 31-6-15.1, 31-6-16 am’d.