[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6607623,"mediaKeyId","2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f","parentId",2949552,"title","Votes at a glance: confirmations, local bills and appropriations approved by Alabama Senate","audioSeconds",2144,"startMs",4132000,"endMs",6276000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f&start=4132&end=6276","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f/thumbnail_4132000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6607623/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-confirmations-local-bills-and-appropriations-approved-by-Alabama-Senate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607623-7789122affd818eca69a66b18e7452ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102450&Signature=cKicX9U7Cp1QC2Bknm1wZSwVXxvw-Y309YmYZc~hMI6YIwGjXZH~78iQ94ZDVzAfqhkYdO1GvEtth~2ILdas6xqb4ZlytJNXO~pybfE8wJzxSbLROBQ5aVOFB7nU73k5xZj9cHcnIxYHG~MnuCkByvQ3FwIzhlgzBpgW7sOUK6VYs3vTV7vNq2DK02n-yuJZH1E39FMCBfL3p2K8I4H1ELlJiyp2~JUffx93voxKsTUXHd6S~W7b92GNg9Yo5aiqKTh~n6wgmXGEXm3zrGTIC~ZwE9yYIqDYMhd6AqoLZMo5D65wiZtodIeLyBB6rTrlmc1xoxfDdiw2CpCuZ8g0BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Senate Sessions","date","2025-04-10T18:04:11.773Z","article","The Alabama Senate took roll calls and recorded votes on confirmations, local legislation and appropriations during Thursday’s floor session. Below is a concise list of notable recorded actions and their outcomes as reflected in the floor transcript.

Confirmations (committee on confirmation)
- James A. Yance — confirmed to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees; favorable report in committee and Senate confirmation recorded as 24 ayes, 0 nays.
- Meredith Hamilton — confirmed to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees; 24 ayes, 0 nays.
- Bill Lewis — confirmed to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees; 24 ayes, 0 nays.
- Robert D. Jenkins III — confirmed to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees; 24 ayes, 0 nays.
- Chandra Brown Stewart — confirmed to the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees; 24 ayes, 0 nays.
(Several additional University of South Alabama confirmations were reported and carried over by the Senate record for later action.)

Selected bills and local measures (floor recorded outcomes)
- SB 297 (Office of Water Resources, Gudger): final passage recorded 26 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.
- SB 153 (voting rights, Coleman Madison et al.): final passage recorded 27 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.
- SB 206 (veterans benefits, Carnley): final passage recorded 27 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.
- SB 305 (RAISE Act, Orr): final passage recorded 27 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed (discussed in depth in separate coverage).
- SB 109 (appropriations, Tuskegee University): final passage recorded 27 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed (approximated $15 million in annual appropriations with $2 million noted for research and extension in the floor remarks).
- Multiple local bills (examples): House and Senate local bills for county and municipal matters — several were adopted under the BR/EBR procedure with recorded tallies commonly at 26 ayes, 0 nays or similar majorities as noted on the calendar and floor roll calls.

Resolutions and other actions
- SJR 67 (supporting acquisition/secure storage of uranium‑233): referred to Rules Committee.
- SJR 68 (recognizing June as Caribbean Heritage Month): adopted on the floor.
- SJR 69 (naming portion of State Route 81 in Macon County the Andrew Preston Hornsby Sr. Memorial Highway): adopted on the floor.

How to read these entries

- \"BR\"/\"EBR\" references: Many local bills were advanced under the body’s brief local‑legislation procedures; where the transcript records a final passage tally it is listed above.
- Carried‑over confirmations and committee actions: The clerk’s record shows several confirmations marked as \"carried over\" for later consideration; others received immediate recorded confirmation votes.

Why it matters

The roll calls reflect routine legislative business — confirmations for state boards, local legislation for counties and municipalities, and the adoption of appropriations language that can change program funding for colleges, cities and county services. Several of the recorded appropriations and confirmations have direct local effects on institutions such as the University of South Alabama, Tuskegee University, and multiple county government items.

Ending

The Senate concluded its floor session after the adoption of the special order calendar items and several committee reports and adjourned until the next scheduled session. For detailed reporting on any individual bill or confirmation, see the separate in‑depth items on the RAISE Act and the Walter Gonsolin resolution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Senate","oneSentenceSummary","During the session the Senate recorded a series of confirmations, local legislation actions and appropriations votes. Key items included multiple trustees confirmed for the University of South Alabama, passage of several local bills, and approval of several education and appropriations measures on the special order calendar.","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},6607627,"Alabama Senate presents resolution honoring Jefferson County superintendent Walter Gonsolin as national superintendent of the year",557,1162000,1719000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f&start=1162&end=1719","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f/thumbnail_1162000.jpg","/articles/6607627/Alabama/Alabama-Senate-presents-resolution-honoring-Jefferson-County-superintendent-Walter-Gonsolin-as-national-superintendent-of-the-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607627-bfe0e6a488604e2dfae1e839783ecc7e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102450&Signature=K4y9IggpxKKZccHK6Vslymy1gC5Cdgq18gchLJj2TFuttz2FR8DkRiIUHCRf8Ev-uVMYZOtXaxO-LBHPPlDOoFXqOWti~jndue8LRPJVwdIPH3wrQXsbYxdI0Rm1G3-YfdLcyc~~D11GOkWWZHei0zx0zKLfXBMfJ40Hvv2YAjKAUCW4O3Eo2FtYqcwZgwsWBWZsE~9SKoaa0taYN2pyr-K-X8sMVWtwef6ZER1pNbfZ8smu4sk~7MxVRftdJd03vBzohfUjkPUPVIxk1L4V2Itow2lh4Xlvhq8QCkiO7LxuEyK3a2QDIIov2tHirtH9~BiNqDXMaV69ep-g-FjRRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama Senate on Thursday presented a joint resolution commending Dr. Walter B. Gonsolin Jr., superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools, for being named the 2025 American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent of the Year.

Senator Jabo Smitherman led a floor presentation inviting members of the Jefferson County delegation to honor Dr. Gonsolin and asked the secretary to read Senate Joint Resolution 46. The resolution notes Gonsolin’s career as an educator, his leadership of Jefferson County — described in the resolution as the second largest district in Alabama with 57 schools and more than 36,000 students and 4,500 employees — and enumerates achievements such as creating signature academies and increasing industry‑recognized credentials.

Senator Jacky Wagner, chair of the Jefferson County delegation, and other senators rose to congratulate Gonsolin on the Senate floor. Wagner said the honor reflects well on both Jefferson County and the state.

Dr. Gonsolin accepted the resolution and thanked the body. He described the recognition as an opportunity to highlight work across Alabama school districts and said, \"It was an honor to go before the nation and to compete against 48 other states and 48 other superintendents so that we could show that the things that we're doing in the state of Alabama ... matter.\" He also acknowledged staff, board members and family members present in the gallery.

The resolution was read on the floor and a presentation followed, including photographs with the delegation. The floor record does not show a separate roll‑call vote on the resolution at the time it was presented.

Speakers and attributions

- Senator Jabo Smitherman, who introduced the presentation and read remarks about Dr. Gonsolin’s accomplishments.
- Senator Jacky Wagner, who offered congratulations as chair of the Jefferson County delegation.
- Dr. Walter B. Gonsolin Jr., superintendent, who thanked the Senate and attendees.
- Senator Marika Coleman and Senator Dan Roberts, who offered additional congratulatory remarks.

Why it matters

The resolution publicly recognizes a state school system leader for a national award and highlights Jefferson County Public Schools’ programs and achievements. The presentation drew the Jefferson County delegation to the floor and provided an occasion for senators to note the district’s workforce readiness, credentialing and scholarship achievements.

Ending

After remarks and photographs, the Senate returned to business. The resolution text was entered into the record; the transcript shows the reading, presentation and remarks but does not record a separate roll‑call.","The Senate read a joint resolution recognizing Dr. Walter B. Gonsolin Jr. as the 2025 American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Superintendent of the Year and invited him and local delegation members to the floor for remarks and a photo.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6607630,"Alabama Senate advances RAISE Act and a multi‑year education funding package",550,6605000,7155000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f&start=6605&end=7155","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2949552-30445d80cf7ce11c4ea9f6fd8124a42f/thumbnail_6605000.jpg","/articles/6607630/Alabama/Alabama-Senate-advances-RAISE-Act-and-a-multiyear-education-funding-package","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6607630-8695295c6f529d2b38447bb961876d50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771102450&Signature=ju37CgTvPeaDvR03Wp0G2y13e-VzD9RX3nFZkQ73kjfdILQn5~eeO~8StzFhksHBh5jtAWbGM3bdApvhF6ig-s9-YzKErKmRwSR3pusGz0Zzl3y-6KqxGr4jLFCPDIlTjFh3uFX98a~SPn-xla-zqJcg5wYQzPlWPZ9ow-gQDV~Cxp3oV7NUuiPK8r6jKE5iE3WnwQIuALIHWtFdc5cU8-Lq8aeBhwNDH45CfoM~A-49NRJG8-o9ucLpT54JYYNfi9UAgfATHcueIIclmGxpGENSety9BiutfpRfW3xvcNNqeTjM69VgYY4g~b~0pZiG2ggMWiMklgrz4NN1gkBtcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama Senate passed the RAISE Act and a group of linked education appropriations on the special order calendar, advancing a multi‑year plan to shift more state K‑12 funding to a student‑based formula. The package includes Senate Bill 305 (the RAISE Act) and supplemental appropriations to seed the new fund.

Senator Chris Orr, sponsor of SB 305, told colleagues the plan “will now put over $375,000,000 into the RAISE fund,” with those dollars intended to flow to districts over three years: about $100 million in year one, $120.5 million in year two and $150 million in year three. Orr said the money will be distributed under the student‑based formula the RAISE Act creates and that the funding is intended to avoid “yo‑yo” budgeting for school systems that hire staff or make other investments assuming sustained support.

The bill’s substitute and related appropriations both passed the Senate. On final passage for SB 305 the clerk recorded 27 ayes and 0 nays. Other education measures tied to the package — including SB 111, SB 112, SB 113 and SB 114 (supplemental appropriations and Education Trust Fund items) — also cleared the Senate during the same floor period with recorded votes ranging from the high 20s to low 30s on later motions and committee substitutes.

Nut graf: Supporters said the change directs money toward students identified in the formula (poverty, English learners, special education, gifted) and gives local districts flexibility to allocate the combined dollars among those student groups. Opponents and some senators sought assurances the state will not underfund the program later and asked how the new approach will interact with existing local and federal funding streams.

Key details and discussion

- Funding design: Orr said the RAISE fund will be seeded from the Education Opportunity Fund and structured to push money out by the formula rather than by application. \"The state department will have your numbers for your school system,\" Orr said, describing an automated distribution based on counts of poverty, EL and special education students.

- Flexibility for local districts: The committee substitute added language allowing local school boards and superintendents to move funds among the student categories that generated the dollars. Orr described the change as flexibility to address local priorities: \"You don't have to spend in the EL pot... you have the flexibility to spend that hundred thousand dollars among all those student groups.\" He and other sponsors said the flexibility still requires the spending be used for the student groups that drew down the dollars, not for unrelated projects.

- Maintenance of effort and federal requirements: The Senate added language preserving required maintenance‑of‑effort for federal programs and clarified how state and federal rules will intersect. Senators pressed staff and the sponsor on whether district counts and Choice Act dynamics could produce double counting or unintended cuts; Orr and staff said the department and revenue process will track enrollment and spending to avoid double draws.

- Implementation timing and support: Sponsors described the three‑year seeding as an effort to provide a predictable funding glide path while the formula is phased in. Committee sponsors said technical amendments requested by the K‑12 community were incorporated in the committee substitute before floor adoption.

Votes and next steps

- SB 305 (RAISE Act): Motion for final passage made by Senator Orr; recorded vote on final passage: 27 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.
- SB 111 (supplemental appropriations, education): committee substitute adopted; recorded votes during final actions show 28 ayes on third reading; outcome: passed.
- SB 114 (supplemental appropriations): committee substitute and floor amendments adopted; final passage recorded at 30 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.
- SB 113 (supplemental appropriations): committee substitute adopted and amendments adopted; final passage recorded at 31 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.
- SB 112 (Education Trust Fund appropriations): committee substitute adopted; final passage recorded at 32 ayes, 0 nays; outcome: passed.

Senators who spoke most prominently on the floor included Senator Orr (sponsor), who led the presentation and substitute motions, and Senator Jabo Smitherman, who pressed for clarity on application timelines, flexibility, and how the Choice Act and student migration might affect district counts and revenue. Smitherman said she supported the effort overall and emphasized the importance of insulating districts from sudden funding cuts.

Why it matters

Lawmakers described the package as a structural shift in how Alabama directs state K‑12 dollars, tying more funding to student need rather than flat per‑pupil allotments. The changes are intended to concentrate resources for poverty‑affected students, English learners and special education while giving local districts some discretion to direct funds where they see the greatest need.

Implementation questions remain about enrollment tracking under the Choice Act, the department's operational readiness to distribute formula dollars, and how the state will ensure sustainable funding in future budgets. Sponsors said they will continue discussions with the State Department of Education and local superintendents as rules are written and funds are allocated.

Ending

Senator Orr concluded floor remarks by urging continued collaboration: \"We don't want to pull the rug from beneath our school systems,\" he said, describing the three‑year funding plan as a way to build confidence for local investment. The bills now move to the process steps required for enrollment and, where applicable, reconciliation with the House.

","The Alabama Senate passed a package including the RAISE Act (SB 305) and related supplemental appropriations to seed a student-based funding formula with roughly $375 million over three years; sponsors emphasized flexibility for local districts while senators pressed for clarity on implementation and accountability.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: confirmations, local bills and appropriations approved by Alabama Senate

Alabama Senate presents resolution honoring Jefferson County superintendent Walter Gonsolin as national superintendent of the year

Alabama Senate advances RAISE Act and a multi‑year education funding package