[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6613781,"mediaKeyId","2867549-f2e7b68286f0b6da51db28ca57abee3c","parentId",2867549,"title","Alabama Senate adopts special‑order calendar, advances dozens of bills and adopts multiple ceremonial resolutions","audioSeconds",2448,"startMs",1834000,"endMs",4282000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2867549-f2e7b68286f0b6da51db28ca57abee3c&start=1834&end=4282","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2867549-f2e7b68286f0b6da51db28ca57abee3c/thumbnail_1834000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6613781/Alabama/Alabama-Senate-adopts-specialorder-calendar-advances-dozens-of-bills-and-adopts-multiple-ceremonial-resolutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613781-5795af4e038e327897461fba69d7bcb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771017581&Signature=eVWrZ5QcyqEB8~Sd41P0bv9vlVyeR1XcN9zmCp5aAnpQVSAcRtyxn8GW1HpNpu5LHwfz3zRMwmwzb-V7kUAMPTUR9685s-VbioeTVB0ScNsjG7zwJIRgzH95Nkj5XfAOvabsh~ufX59t6dOdPJO7VPDDehS3Fa1icd~chX9n9Ib7Au3GL7gVpYcUBxXIBmZ8DlWn~7p9YIu1IYkNbmhFFr3OPJTzf5Bb0n9lhudsRIDdLUGSY0oGmHMwsoS3U9vYz9IJyERn8S37oKYPFaT4JSJn6D5SuJmxP4jR0OrMqWbDhE8JcDSkOiHp6762PEerL7ZF9ejZGeWCJlIMRTz36w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Senate Sessions","date","2025-04-03T19:59:01.82Z","article","The Alabama Senate moved through a packed session that included adoption of a special order calendar, referral of many introduced bills to committees, and the adoption of multiple ceremonial and commemorative resolutions.

Lawmakers voted on procedural and recognition items throughout the day. A motion to set aside sunset for a special order calendar passed on a long roll call (recorded as 23 ayes, 0 nays at one point), and the chamber later recorded votes adopting the special order calendar in subsequent procedural steps (including a recorded 21 ayes, 0 nays). The chamber also adopted several resolutions recognizing community leaders, anniversaries and statewide observances, and received a large number of committee reports that placed bills on the calendar for future consideration.

Senator Gudger moved the initial long‑roll call to set aside sunset for a special order calendar. Senator Wagner, speaking for the Committee on Rules, presented a special‑order calendar listing bills that the committee prioritized for the legislative day, including several bills addressing business taxes, health care providers, and entity code updates. The Senate adopted the rules committee report and the special order list without objection when called for final adoption.

The body received a long list of bill introductions and referrals. Sponsors introduced bills on topics including income tax (SB 289), campaign practices (SB 290), state superintendent appointment language (SB 291), Lee County matters (SB 292), health insurance (SB 293), pipeline underground damage prevention (SB 294), off‑road vehicles (SB 295), water resources (SB 296), and others. House messages also arrived on multiple subjects, including K‑12 computer science graduation requirements (House Bill 332) and changes to district attorney compensation (House Bill 353 and other measures). Committee reports sent dozens of bills to the calendar with favorable or amended reports.

The Senate adopted multiple resolutions by voice or roll call. Among them were:
- Senate Joint Resolution 55 commending Charles C. Anderson for earning a Business Alabama Lifetime Achievement Award (adopted).
- Senate Joint Resolution 56 recognizing April 8, 2025, as Scouting America Day in Alabama (adopted by roll call).
- Senate Joint Resolution 57 commemorating the 70th anniversary of the nationwide polio eradication campaign (adopted).
- Additional rules committee resolutions creating interim study commissions and commending local winners of sporting events were adopted.

The session also included an extended floor statement by Senator Smitherman, who objected to what he described as the calendar making it difficult for senators representing Black-majority constituencies to get bills placed on the agenda. Smitherman said his district had been shortchanged and urged colleagues to address perceived disparities; his remarks focused on representation in the legislative process rather than a single bill text.

Several committee reports received favorable votes and were placed on the calendar for second reading or future consideration. The Senate also confirmed multiple gubernatorial appointments by referral to the confirmations committee.

Senators said they expected continued, and often lengthy, work in committee and on the floor as the session progressed. The Senate adjourned to reconvene at its stated time for the next legislative day.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Senate","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate set a special order calendar, received numerous committee reports and introductions of bills, and adopted several resolutions recognizing individuals and observances. Senators also debated representation and the calendar process.","taxTitle","Senate, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",62183,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6613786,"Alabama Senate approves bill allowing written religious vaccine exemptions to schools",4823,8352000,13175000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2867549-f2e7b68286f0b6da51db28ca57abee3c&start=8352&end=13175","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2867549-f2e7b68286f0b6da51db28ca57abee3c/thumbnail_8352000.jpg","/articles/6613786/Alabama/Alabama-Senate-approves-bill-allowing-written-religious-vaccine-exemptions-to-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613786-eb9d12aedb145349e223267d0d799fa9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771017581&Signature=UjLMaGSybg6x~edeJYnrWJN0PoDQgR4lQZc87uXrfP9cC3geDTwCJbV1ZqVZp-SpR85yfMTI8mkjwJA8J9qMyngwQEzLBXJ7N52vzCtzFd5r0qq3BDkqQTdDNQN68My7GWOvyQu57GW4Z0l9zfvdZKT3MOv00vwMIHhWOdA5f3LbPVWn1E0f35ZfePSXhccWmBtzIRSmEULUC8xWnvqgLmAWF353pRIbgCOIp0eMvQtyB5C-2fNZmTBfugi~KOs6qQX3vV8ZnWA81doKmx9LOKlAJssYec4yaAnAQId8me9G7-ee0tuUN4i8O7ie5wVe8hNDeQUTJpdB72rOeIyZUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama Senate passed legislation changing how parents may claim religious exemptions from school immunization requirements, approving the measure on a 26-5 final vote after adopting an amendment that requires a recent physician physical or Alabama High School Athletic Association participation form.

Supporters said the bill removes a burdensome middle step — a county health department visit to receive a formal exemption form — and protects parents from what they described as intrusive questioning and, in some counties, fees. Opponents warned the change reduces public-health tracking and could make it harder to identify and contain outbreaks.

Senator Orr introduced the bill as a returning measure that the Senate considered in an earlier session. Orr said the current process requires parents who claim a religious exemption to visit a county health department, and he said health departments in some counties have been charging fees or pressing parents about their beliefs. “Mobile was charging, I believe it was $30 to exercise your religious faith,” Orr said on the floor, and he later said Jefferson County had charged $10. Orr described the proposal as a “streamlined process” used in about two dozen other states, where a written parental statement to the school is sufficient for a religious exemption.

Lawmakers debated the policy and its risks. Senator Coleman Madison said she supports religious freedom but worried the bill removes a public-health data point. “I feel as if [the health department] would be the correct place…to make sure things can be tracked,” Coleman Madison said, noting the value of tracing exposures during outbreaks such as recent measles clusters in other states.

Senator Singleton offered an amendment intended to address those tracking and safety concerns. The amendment, which the Senate adopted 21-7, requires that an exemption accompanied by the written parental statement be paired with either a board-approved physician physical-evaluation form or an Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) participation physical completed within the previous 12 months. Singleton described the change as a compromise to ensure that children who enter classrooms without vaccinations have recent medical clearance, saying it would show the child “has had some medical attention within the last 12 months prior to them opting out.”

Senator Stewart and other members questioned aspects of the amendment during debate: Stewart asked how a physical from months earlier would guarantee a child was not contagious later in the school year. Senator Orr said the amendment represented a negotiation and that he preferred the bill without additional requirements but accepted the change to win support.

After the amendment vote, the Senate moved to third reading. The final recorded vote on Senate Bill 85 was 26 ayes and 5 nays, and the bill was declared passed.

The bill’s text, as debated on the floor, does not eliminate standard immunization records for students who are vaccinated; it changes the administrative step for claiming a religious exemption. Lawmakers on both sides said they expect further discussion as the bill moves to the House. Opponents repeatedly emphasized that public-health surveillance and the ability to trace exposures rely on consistent reporting; proponents emphasized parental religious liberty and removing what they called an unnecessary hurdle.","The Alabama Senate passed legislation that lets parents submit a written religious exemption directly to K–12 schools rather than obtaining a signed form from county health departments. An amendment requiring a recent physician-signed physical or an AHSAA participation form was added before final passage.","actionData","errors"]

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Alabama Senate adopts special‑order calendar, advances dozens of bills and adopts multiple ceremonial resolutions

Alabama Senate approves bill allowing written religious vaccine exemptions to schools