STATE OFFICIALS
If you want to make a valuable investment in your business and in the community, the Chamber is the place to start. With premier business and networking opportunities among its countless benefits, the Chamber offers reliable support to help your business grow and prosper. Your membership is an investment that pays dividends in the form of new customers for your business, a stronger economy and an exceptional quality of life in Huntsville/Madison County.
STATE LEGISLATURE
The Legislature convenes in regular annual sessions on the first Tuesday in February, except (1) in the first year of the four-year term, when the session will begin on the first Tuesday in March, and (2) in the last year of a four-year term, when the session will begin on the second Tuesday in January. The length of the regular session is limited to 30 meeting days within a period of 105 calendar days. There are usually two meeting or “legislative” days per week, with other days devoted to committee meetings. Special sessions of the Legislature may be called by the Governor, with the Proclamation listing the subjects which the Governor wishes considered. These sessions are limited to 12 legislative days within a 30 calendar day span. In a regular session, bills may be enacted on any subject. In a special session, legislation must be enacted only on those subjects which the Governor announces in his proclamation or “call.” Anything not in the “call” requires a two-thirds vote of each house to be enacted.
Madison County Legislative Delegation Office:
726 Madison Street
Huntsville, AL 35801
Tel: (256) 539-5441
Fax: (256) 539-5444
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Alabama House of Representatives is comprised of 105 members. Each member represents a district of approximately 40,000 people. The members of the House are elected to four-year terms. Members of the House must be 21 years of age at the time of their election, and must have been citizens of Alabama for three years, having lived in their respective districts for at least one year immediately preceding their election. The Speaker of the House represents one of the 105 districts in the House, and is elected by his or her colleagues to serve as the presiding officer. It takes a quorum of 53 members to conduct business in the Alabama House of Representatives, and a majority of a quorum can pass any bill except a constitutional amendment, which requires 63 votes. During a special legislative session any measures not included in the Governor’s call require a 2/3 majority for passage. All revenue raising legislation must originate in the House just as in the Congress of the United States. An appropriation to a non-government organization, such as a private college, requires a two-thirds vote of those elected.
For more information, visit: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/house-leaders-members?tab=1
Representative Lands was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on March 26, 2024.
Representative Laura Hall was elected in 1993.
She received a B.A. in Biology from Morris College, a Masters Degree in Science Education from Ohio State University, and certification in K-12 Administration from Alabama A&M University.
Representative Hall spent 33 years in education, 25 of those at J.O. Johnson High School. She retired as Assistant to the President for at-Risk Students and Special Projects at Calhoun Community College in Decatur.
Representative Hall serves as chairperson of the Governor’s Commission on AIDS. She also serves as chairperson of the Alabama House of Representatives Black Caucus.
She and her husband, John, are the parents of a daughter, Janeka, and the grandparents of Darren, Breana, and Mia.
Email
Representative Lomax was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 8, 2022.
Email
Representative Ritchie Whorton was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 4, 2014 to serve District 22 which encompasses eastern Madison County and western Jackson County.
A longtime resident of Owens Cross Roads, he graduated from New Hope High School in 1978. After high school, he attended Jacksonville State University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 1983.
Since 1994, Representative Whorton and his business partner have operated All Star Pools where they specialize in unique pool designs. They recently celebrated their 20th anniversary as a small business.
He is a member of Associated Builders and Contractors, the Southeastern Madison County Business Association, Huntsville-Madison County Builders Association, and the North Alabama and New Covenant Emmaus Communities.
Email
Representative Rigsby was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives on November 8, 2022.
Email
ALABAMA STATE SENATE
The Alabama State Senate is composed of 35 Senators, in keeping with Article IV, Section 50, of the Constitution, which limits the House of Representatives at 105 members, and the Senate at 35, and with Article IX, Sections 197 and 198, which establishes membership in the Senate at not less than one-fourth, nor more than one-third, the total membership of the House of Representatives, and allows for additional representation in the event new counties are created. Thus, the Alabama Senate is precisely one-third the size of the House of Representatives, and each Senator represents a district of approximately 137,000 Alabamians.
For more information visit: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/senate-leaders-members?tab=1
Profession: Pharmacist
Education: B.S. in Chemistry and Biology, The University of Alabama; Certificate in Medical Technology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Pharmacy Degree, Auburn University
Memberships and Activities: University Baptist Church (has been on multiple mission trips); Gideon’s International; American Society For Clinical Pathology; Alabama Pharmacy Association; Alabama Republican Executive Committee; Community Free Clinic Board; and the Calhoun Community College Foundation Board. Member of the House 1982-1994; Member of the Senate 1994-2010 and since 2018.
Email
Senator Arthur Orr was elected to the Alabama Senate, November 7, 2006. He was born in 1964 in Decatur. Senator Orr received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was a partner in one of the oldest and largest North Alabama law firms and is now executive vice president over finance and accounting, human resources, property management, legal, technology, marketing and advertising for Cook’s Pest Control, Inc. Senator Orr is married to the former Amy Wallace Bethshares of Decatur. They are members of First Bible Church in Decatur and have one son, Jack and a daughter, Anna.
A former U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, Senator Orr also served as a new country developer (Bangladesh) and staff attorney for Habitat for Humanity International in the Asia/Pacific area for years. He has been active in the Decatur-Morgan County area serving in leadership capacities for numerous boards and organizations. He also helped start the Community Free Clinic for the working poor and serves on its board.
In addition to his local service, Senator Orr serves as Chairman or member of many state boards and commissions. He is also Past President of the Wake Forest Alumni Association. He has received numerous national, state and local awards from education, business, agriculture and other organizations. He is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and a Henry Toll Fellow. He enjoys reading, jogging and travel – having lived in or visited over 60 countries.
Email
Profession: Real Estate Attorney
Education: B.S. in Finance, Auburn University, 1989; J.D., The University of Alabama School of Law, 1994
Memberships and Activities: Whitesburg Baptist Church; Huntsville Rotary Club; and Madison County Bar Association. Member of the Senate since 2018.
Email
Profession: Businessman
Education: The University of Alabama (1978)
Memberships and Activities: First United Methodist Church of Scottsboro; Scottsboro Rotary Club (Past President); Scottsboro-Jackson County Chamber of Commerce (Past President); Leadership Alabama (Class 10 Member); and Leadership Jackson County (Co-Founder). He served on the following 2014-2018 committees: Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry; Finance and Taxation General Fund; Fiscal Responsibility & Economic Development; Transportation & Energy; Veterans & Military Affairs; and Local Legislation Madison County. Member of the Senate since 2014.
Email
FOR ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT:
Michael Ward, CCE, IOM
Senior Vice President, Government & Public Affairs
256-535-2030
Contact Our Government & Public Affairs Team
