Committee advances additional military-focused bills on testing days, medals and National Guard duties

The Military and Veterans Affairs committee also advanced three additional bills affecting military and veteran-related policy.

Senate Bill 158, presented by Senator Price, would require school systems to set aside a day for the military'administered aptitude battery test so military representatives can meet with students. The sponsor said the bill passed the Senate unanimously and framed the measure as serving both military recruiting needs and students' interests. The committee voted to give SB 158 a favorable report.

Representative Moore presented House Bill 323, described as part of a package of "military stability" bills; HB 323 clarifies procedures and authority for state awards and medals, specifying roles for the governor's office and the state's SMD. The committee adopted a favorable report.

House Bill 362 would revise duties and update position titles in the Alabama National Guard legal services office. The presenter characterized HB 362 as technical updates to align titles and duties; the committee gave the bill a favorable report.

Members also noted that a scheduled Military Stability Commission update by Judge Proctor was postponed because Judge Proctor was undergoing open-heart surgery; members said a slideshow and presentation would be scheduled next week regardless of his attendance.

All three bills were reported favorably by the committee during the session; the transcript does not include roll-call tallies for the votes.