Blog
Public policy should make life better for everyone, not just a select few. Throughout the year, Arise tracks a range of state and federal policy proposals and assesses what they would mean for Alabamians who are struggling to make ends meet. Our blog provides quick updates on these proposals and offers tips on what you can do to help build an Alabama where all people have an opportunity to reach their full potential.
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You’re invited to Arise’s 2021 Town Hall Tuesdays!
Arise’s statewide online summer listening sessions are a chance to hear what’s happening on key state policy issues and share your vision for our 2022 policy agenda. Register now to help identify emerging issues and inform our work to build a better Alabama. We’d love to see you at any or all of these sessions! [...]
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Arise legislative recap: May 27, 2021
Arise's Robyn Hyden recaps the Alabama Legislature's 2021 regular session. She discusses several policy wins that Arise members should celebrate, including the defeat of legislation that would limit the right to protest and passage of a bill to promote equitable access to broadband.
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Arise legislative recap: May 21, 2021
Alabama Arise held a legislative wrap-up event Tuesday night to go over what happened – and what didn't happen – during the Legislature's 2021 regular session, which ended Monday. This is a recording of that wrap-up where Arise staff detail the good and bad from the session – and discuss the next steps to continue [...]
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Arise legislative recap: May 10, 2021
Arise's Carol Gundlach breaks down the busy final stretch of the Alabama Legislature's 2021 regular session. Carol reviews where things stand on the General Fund budget and broadband access. And she flags two potential action alerts we want you to be ready for in the coming week.
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Arise legislative recap: May 3, 2021
Arise’s Dev Wakeley brings us up to speed on where we stand in the final days of the Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session. He provides overviews of meaningful bills we hope will pass — and of harmful bills we hope won’t.
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Alabama Arise Action 2021 annual meeting
The Arise policy and campaign teams gave updates on criminal justice reform, voting rights, Medicaid expansion and other issue priorities during Alabama Arise Action's annual meeting last week. Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, also called in to provide insight from the legislative side of the 2021 regular session. (Note: The video captions were generated live during [...]
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Needed changes still possible as Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session winds down
The Alabama Legislature’s 2021 regular session has been a difficult one, to say the least. Public access remains limited, and lawmakers have advanced some of the most damaging bills in years. And many legislators have forced attention onto high-profile, controversial bills to foment conflict and remove focus from priorities that would benefit all Alabamians. But [...]
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Arise legislative recap: April 19, 2021
We take a break from our usual legislative coverage this week as Arise's Pres Harris (and her nephew!) bring you all the details you need for the Alabama Arise Action spring membership meeting this Thursday. You can find more information and register at alariseaction.org.
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You give me hope for a brighter future in Alabama: A farewell column from Brenda Boman, former Arise development director
[caption id="attachment_5486" align="alignleft" width="290"] Brenda Boman retired in January after 16 years as Alabama Arise's development director. We're grateful for her hard work to build our membership and strengthen our movement for change.[/caption] When I joined the Alabama Arise staff 16 years ago as its development director, I came to this work with little to [...]
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Money matters: Budgets top priority for session; lawmakers also discussing Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform, voting rights this year
As the Alabama Legislature approaches the 2021 regular session's final days, both state budgets are halfway to passage. The Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget has passed in the Senate and is in the House’s education budget committee. The General Fund (GF) budget, which funds all non-education services, has cleared the House and awaits Senate committee [...]