Issue: Health

Alabama Arise praises new maternal health, paid parental leave laws

By Chris Sanders
Gov. Kay Ivey sits behind a wooden desk with her nameplate on it and U.S. and Alabama flags in the background. Smiling people stand behind and to both sides of her. Behind her is wooden paneling and walls with a gray and white pattern. The patterned carpet is dark red and orange.
Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden (fifth from right) and worker policy advocate Dev Wakeley (sixth from right) participated in Gov. Kay Ivey’s bill signing ceremony for SB 199 on May 1, 2025, at the State Capitol in Montgomery. SB 199 will ensure paid parental leave for teachers, two-year college workers and state employees. (Photo courtesy of Office of the Governor)

Tens of thousands of Alabama families will benefit from two new laws removing barriers to health coverage and increasing the availability of paid parental leave. Gov. Kay Ivey held a ceremonial bill signing Thursday at the State Capitol in Montgomery for both bills: SB 102, sponsored by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, and SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile. The governor officially signed both bills into law last month.

Alabama Arise staff were proud to participate in the ceremonies for both bills. Improving health care access and ensuring paid parental leave are two key legislative priorities that Arise members advocated for during the Legislature’s 2025 regular session.

Official event photos from the Governor’s Office are available here.

Presumptive eligibility will reduce red-tape barriers to Medicaid coverage

SB 102, sponsored by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, will expand health care access for thousands of expectant mothers by allowing them to receive Medicaid coverage earlier in their pregnancy. The law will take effect Oct. 1.

The new law will expand presumptive eligibility, which allows doctors and other providers to determine Medicaid eligibility for expectant mothers who are likely to be eligible. This process allows women to begin receiving Medicaid coverage and prenatal medical care in the first trimester without having to wait for the agency’s official eligibility decision.

Gov. Kay Ivey sits behind a wooden desk with her nameplate on it and U.S. and Alabama flags in the background. Smiling people stand behind and to both sides of her. Behind her is wooden paneling and walls with a gray and white pattern. The patterned carpet is dark red and orange.
Alabama Arise senior health policy advocate Jennifer Harris (fifth from right) and executive director Robyn Hyden (seventh from right) participated in Gov. Kay Ivey’s bill signing ceremony for SB 102 on May 1, 2025, at the State Capitol in Montgomery. SB 102 will expand Medicaid presumptive eligibility and allow thousands of expectant mothers in Alabama to receive health care earlier in their pregnancy. (Photo by Matt Okarmus)

“This law will save lives and money for families across Alabama,” said Robyn Hyden, executive director of Alabama Arise. “For too long, Alabama mothers have faced needless barriers to early prenatal care – care that can mean the difference between hope and heartbreak. SB 102 will lift some of those red-tape barriers at last.

“The passage of this act is a life-changing victory for moms and babies in every part of Alabama. Alabama Arise thanks Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison and Rep. Marilyn Lands for their determination and visionary leadership on this legislation. We thank every Arise member who advocated for this bill and every lawmaker who voted for it. And we thank Gov. Kay Ivey for signing it into law.”

Paid parental leave law will help families, boost worker retention

SB 199, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, will ensure paid parental leave for new parents who work as teachers, two-year college employees or state employees. The law will take effect July 1.

The new law will provide eight weeks of paid leave to mothers after childbirth, adoption of a child aged 3 or younger, stillbirth or miscarriage. Fathers will receive two weeks of paid leave in those circumstances.

Gov. Kay Ivey sits behind a wooden desk with her nameplate on it and U.S. and Alabama flags in the background. Smiling people stand behind and to both sides of her. Behind her is wooden paneling and walls with a gray and white pattern. The patterned carpet is dark red and orange.
Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden (fifth from right) and worker policy advocate Dev Wakeley (sixth from right) participated in Gov. Kay Ivey’s bill signing ceremony for SB 199 on May 1, 2025, at the State Capitol in Montgomery. (Photo by Matt Okarmus)

“Paid parental leave helps workers create and grow their families while maintaining their financial well-being,” Hyden said. “Alabama’s new law guaranteeing paid parental leave for teachers and state employees makes our state a leader in the Southeast. And it is important progress toward ensuring every parent can care for their families without scrambling to pay the bills.

“This new law will enhance the quality of life for families across Alabama. Paid leave will help improve health for babies and families, and it will ease economic stress for new parents. This policy also will improve employee retention for schools and state agencies, and it will help mothers in particular to remain in the workforce.

“Paid parental leave is a common-sense, pro-family policy that will result in a better, healthier future for everyone in our state. Alabama Arise appreciates the leadership from the legislative champions on this issue, Sen. Vivian Figures and Rep. Ginny Shaver. We appreciate Gov. Kay Ivey for highlighting paid leave as a priority in her State of the State address and for signing this bill into law. And we appreciate every legislator who voted for this law and every Arise member who advocated in support of this important investment in healthier families in Alabama.”

Arise legislative update: Week of April 21, 2025

By Alabama Arise

Arise’s Whitney Washington breaks down why HB 477, a bill to allow junk health plans, is not a solution for Alabama’s health coverage gap. HB 477 would authorize non-insurance health plans that aren’t regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance and that could cap benefits and discriminate against people with preexisting conditions.

This bill is unfortunately gaining traction in the Legislature, and time is running short to stop it. Please contact your legislator today and tell them to vote against this harmful legislation: https://votervoice.net/CoverAlabama/Campaigns/124108/Respond

Full transcript below:

Hi, I’m Whitney Washington, communications associate with Alabama Arise. You’ve probably heard a lot from us about HB 477, the junk health plan bill. If enacted, this bill would allow farm bureaus to sell health plans to their members. While this might sound like a good thing, we disagree.

These plans are not insurance. They are not regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance.

They can discriminate based on preexisting additions, and there is no limit on out-of-pocket costs. These plans can end up hurting the people that need them the most. HB 477, unfortunately, already passed out of the House with a disappointing 98-1 vote.

This week, it’s up in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. If it passes out there, it goes to the full Senate, so this is one of the last opportunities we have to stop this devastating bill. Please show your support and, tell your senator to vote no on HB 477.

Please consider joining Arise. If you’re already a member, tell your friends, and be sure to follow us on YouTube, X, Facebook, Instagram and BlueSky.

Kit de herramientas de salud materna de Alabama

By Alabama Arise

“Para mejorar la salud materna, debemos concentrarnos en mejorar la salud y el acceso a la atención de todas las mujeres; no solo durante el trabajo de parto y el nacimiento, sino también antes y después del embarazo, y durante toda nuestra vida”. – Dra. Leana S. Wen

Descargue aquí una copia completa en PDF del Kit de herramientas de salud materna de Alabama. También puede acceder al PDF haciendo click en el botón “Descargar” (Download) en la parte superior de la página.

Table of contents

Introducción

¡Le damos la bienvenida al Kit de herramientas de salud materna de Alabama! Alabama Arise creó este recurso con una meta principal: darle apoyo y empoderarle para orientarse en las complejidades de la atención de salud materna en Alabama. Ya sea usted una mamá nueva, una embarazada o un/a defensor/a de intereses de salud, este kit de herramientas está diseñado para brindarle información esencial sobre salud materna, cobertura de Medicaid, acceso a la atención médica y recursos comunitarios.

Esperamos que esta guía le ayude a entender las opciones disponibles de atención médica y le dé la confianza que necesita para tomar los próximos pasos en asegurar y mantener la atención necesaria. Tenemos el compromiso de mejorar los resultados de salud materna y apoyar a las familias en todo el estado. Estamos aquí para guiarle en cada paso del proceso.

Le animamos a compartir este kit de herramientas con otros a quienes pueda beneficiar. Juntos, podemos construir un futuro más sano para las madres de Alabama y sus familias.

Trasfondo

La salud materna en Alabama enfrenta grandes desafíos. Alabama tiene una de las tasas más altas de mortalidad materna y nacimientos pretérmino en Estados Unidos. El acceso limitado a atención médica integral empeora estas disparidades, en especial para mujeres en comunidades desatendidas y rurales. Medicaid tiene un papel crucial para tratar estas brechas al cubrir más de la mitad de los nacimientos en Alabama. Sin embargo, a muchas mujeres les sigue faltando la atención continuada que necesitan.

Estadísticas clave

  • Alabama tiene la tercera tasa más alta de mortalidad materna en la nación.
  • Medicaid cubre uno de cada dos nacimientos en Alabama.
  • Las mujeres negras tienen el triple de probabilidades de morir por complicaciones de embarazo.

Acceso a la salud materna en Alabama

Alabama tiene una de las tasas más altas de desiertos de atención de maternidad en Estados Unidos. Estas son zonas donde el acceso a la atención materna es limitado o nulo. Así, muchas mujeres en zonas rurales no tienen acceso a los servicios de obstetricia necesarios. El continuo cierre de alas de maternidad, de modo específico en zonas rurales, limita aún más el acceso a atención prenatal, partos seguros y servicios de posparto.

 

Estadísticas

  • 16 de los 55 condados de Alabama considerados rurales tienen hoy hospitales que brindan servicios de obstetricia, en comparación con 45 de los 55 condados en 1980.
  • Las mujeres de Alabama viajan, en promedio, 17.4 millas y 23.5 minutos a su hospital de nacimientos más cercano.
  • Los hospitales cierran o reducen servicios debido a dificultades financieras. Esta situación es peor por la falta de expansión de Medicaid de Alabama.
  • 8.9% de los nacimientos en todo Alabama ocurren en desiertos de atención de maternidad.

Beneficios y cobertura de Medicaid

Medicaid ofrece una gama integral de servicios para apoyar la salud materna antes de la concepción, durante el embarazo y en el periodo de posparto.

Antes de la concepción

Programa Plan First

El programa Plan First de Medicaid ofrece servicios de planificación familiar a mujeres de 19 a 55 años en Alabama. Para las mujeres, el programa incluye cobertura para pruebas esenciales, métodos anticonceptivos y ayuda para planificar.

SERVICIOS CUBIERTOS POR PLAN FIRST DE MEDICAID

  • Examen anual de planificación familiar 
  • Acceso a métodos anticonceptivos (entre otros, píldoras, DIUs, diafragmas, inyecciones e implantes)
  • Ligadura de trompas (y vasectomías para hombres)
  • Análisis de laboratorio para embarazos
  • Pruebas para infecciones de transmisión sexual
  • Ayuda para planificar cuándo tener un bebé
  • Cesación de tabaquismo

Embarazo

La cobertura de salud durante el embarazo asegura el acceso a atención prenatal, que es crucial para monitorear la salud tanto de la madre como del bebé.

SERVICIOS CUBIERTOS POR MEDICAID

  • Chequeos prenatales habituales
  • Vitaminas prenatales
  • Pruebas de diagnóstico, como ultrasonidos
  • Educación de salud (como clases de preparación para el parto)
  • Servicios dentales
  • Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) (Consulte la página 13 para más información)
  • Servicios de coordinación de atención de Alabama Coordinated Health Network (ACHN) (Las pacientes deben registrarse en una ACHN antes de programar su primera cita prenatal)

Posparto

La atención posparto es esencial tanto para la madre como para el bebé. Una cobertura extendida después del nacimiento ayuda a asegurar una buena recuperación, apoyo de salud mental y acceso a la atención infantil necesaria. La cobertura posparto está disponible durante un año entero después del nacimiento o la pérdida del embarazo.

SERVICIOS CUBIERTOS POR MEDICAID

  • Chequeos posparto
  • Asesoría de salud mental para tratar la depresión posparto y otros problemas
  • Servicios de planificación familiar para ayudar a espaciar los nacimientos
  • Servicios dentales (hasta los 60 días después del nacimiento)
  • Atención infantil, que incluye vacunas, chequeos habituales y pruebas de desarrollo

Inscripción en Maternidad de Medicaid

No hay un periodo de inscripción abierta para Maternidad de Medicaid. Se puede solicitar e inscribirse en cualquier momento.

La cobertura de Medicaid se puede usar junto con la cobertura de un seguro privado. Si una mujer tiene un plan de seguro privado que no es del Marketplace, también puede inscribirse en Maternidad de Medicaid si cumple con los criterios de ingresos y elegibilidad.  Un  niño que nace de una mujer inscripta en Medicaid al momento del nacimiento es elegible para lo que se conoce como “cobertura considerada de recién nacido”. Se trata de cobertura que comienza con el nacimiento y dura un año, sin importar los cambios en el ingreso del hogar durante ese tiempo.

¿Cómo pueden recibir cobertura las mamás de Alabama?

Medicaid es un recurso vital para las mujeres embarazadas y nuevas madres en Alabama. Entender cómo cumplir los requisitos e inscribirse en Medicaid es esencial para asegurar acceso a atención médica durante el embarazo y después del nacimiento.

Criterios de elegibilidad

  1. Edad
    • Las mujeres embarazadas de Alabama de cualquier edad pueden recibir cobertura completa de Medicaid si cumplen con todos los requisitos. Las mujeres embarazadas menores de 19 años también pueden recibir cobertura completa si se tiene en cuenta el ingreso de sus padres y si cumplen con las pautas de ingreso como niña.
  2. Ingresos
    • El límite de ingresos del hogar para mujeres embarazadas es el 146 % del nivel federal de pobreza (sigla en inglés, FPL). Más información en la página 10.
  3. Ciudadanía
    • Las mujeres embarazadas deben ser ciudadanas de Estados Unidos o tener un estado inmigratorio satisfactorio para poder inscribirse.
  4. Residencia
    • Las mujeres embarazadas deben residir en Alabama para recibir beneficios de Medicaid de Alabama.

Ayuda con la elegibilidad

Pautas de ingreso de 2024

El tamaño del hogar incluye a la mujer embarazada y al niño por nacer. También puede incluir al esposo, padre y/u otros niños menores de 19 años. Esto depende de quién viva en el hogar y cómo se haga la declaración de impuestos.

Elegibilidad económica

La elegibilidad económica de Medicaid se basa en el ingreso bruto ajustado modificado (sigla en inglés MAGI), que comienza con el ingreso bruto ajustado (sigla en inglés, AGI) de una persona. El AGI es el ingreso total que se obtiene en un año después de ciertas deducciones como contribuciones de jubilación o interés de préstamos universitarios. Para determinar el MAGI, la solicitante debe agregar al AGI ingreso extranjero sin impuestos, beneficios exentos de impuestos de Seguridad Social o interés exento de impuestos (si hay). Para muchas solicitantes, el AGI y el MAGI son iguales. Para Medicaid, los ingresos del hogar se calculan sumando el MAGI de cada persona en el hogar, ya sea que presenten o no una declaración de impuestos.

Ejemplos de documentación

  • Verificación de ingresos
    • Talones recientes de pago
    • Declaraciones de impuestos
    • Estados de cuenta de seguro por desempleo o beneficios de Seguridad Social
  • Prueba de identidad y ciudadanía
    • Licencia de conducir o identificación emitida por el estado
    • Certificado de nacimiento o pasaporte de Estados Unidos
    • Tarjeta de residencia permanente (Tarjeta verde o “Green Card”)
  • Confirmación del embarazo
    • Nota del médico/a o verificación de un profesional médico/a
    • Informe de ultrasonido
  • Proof of Alabama residency
    • Cuenta de servicios (electricidad, agua, gas)
    • Contrato de alquiler o hipoteca
    • Tarjeta de registro de votante

Pasos para inscribirse

Verificar elegibilidad

Asegúrese de que sus ingresos cumplan con los requisitos para el tamaño de su hogar (que incluye a usted, sus dependientes y su niño por nacer). Repase la lista de verificación de elegibilidad y la tabla de límites de ingresos en este kit de herramientas para confirmar la elegibilidad.

Reunir la documentación necesaria

Antes de presentar la solicitud, reúna la documentación necesaria:

  • Verificación de ingresos
  • Confirmación de embarazo
  • Prueba de identidad y ciudadanía
  • Prueba de residencia en Alabama

Presentar la solicitud

En línea

Solicite cobertura en línea en insurealabama.adph.state.al.us

Por correo

Descargue, llene y envíe por correo la solicitud de Medicaid a:

Medicaid, P.O. Box 5624

Montgomery, AL 36103-5624

Confirme y espere

Después de presentar la solicitud, debe recibir una carta de confirmación a las pocas semanas. Asegúrese de que toda su información sea correcta. Si no tiene noticias, haga seguimiento con la oficina de Medicaid para controlar el estado de su solicitud.

¿Necesita ayuda?

Llame a la línea de ayuda de Medicaid si necesita ayuda con el proceso de solicitud o para renovar su cobertura.

Línea de ayuda de Medicaid: 888-362-1504

Lunes a viernes de 8 a.m. a 4:30 p.m.

Cómo Alabama está mejorando los resultados

A pesar de las dificultades, numerosos programas e iniciativas en todo Alabama trabajan para mejorar los resultados de salud materna. Estos son algunos.

ALABAMA 211 CONNECTS

Alabama 211 es una línea de ayuda de todo el estado que conecta a los residentes con atención médica esencial, salud materna y servicios sociales. Sirve como recurso central para orientarse entre las opciones de apoyo local durante el embarazo y el periodo de posparto. Se puede llamar simplemente al 2-1-1 para acceder a una amplia gama de servicios.

ALABAMA MARCH OF DIMES

March of Dimes es una organización no lucrativa que respalda investigación, defensa de intereses y programas para mejorar la salud maternoinfantil. En Alabama, se centra en la prevención de defectos congénitos, nacimientos prematuros y disparidades de salud materna. Esta organización ofrece educación prenatal y apoyo para embarazadas, especialmente en comunidades vulnerables.

ALABAMA MATERNAL HEALTH TASK FORCE

La Alabama Maternal Health Task Force (ALMHTF) trabaja para abordar las dificultades estatales de salud materna al coordinar esfuerzos de varias partes interesadas. Tiene como meta mejorar los resultados de salud mediante la reducción de la mortalidad y morbilidad maternas a través de iniciativas de desarrollo de políticas, colaboración y mejora de la calidad de atención médica.

ALABAMA MATERNAL MORTALITY REVIEW COMMITTEE

El Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) investiga las muertes maternas en todo el estado para identificar la causa y determinar factores evitables. Al revisar estos casos, el comité da recomendaciones a profesionales médicos/as y creadores/as de políticas para mejorar la atención médica materna y reducir las tasas de mortalidad materna.

ALABAMA PERINATAL QUALITY COLLABORATIVE

La Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative (ALPQC) es una iniciativa de todo el estado que reúne a profesionales médicos/as, hospitales y expertos/as en salud pública para mejorar la calidad de la atención perinatal. Se centra en la reducción de la mortalidad infantil y las complicaciones de salud materna mediante la implementación de las mejores prácticas en atención médica.

BIRMINGHAM HEALTHY START PLUS

Birmingham Healthy Start Plus brinda servicios con base en la comunidad para reducir la mortalidad infantil y mejorar la salud materna en los vecindarios más desatendidos de Birmingham. El programa ofrece apoyo prenatal y posparto, educación y recursos para asegurar embarazos sanos y partos seguros para familias vulnerables.

BIRTHWELL PARTNERS

Birthwell Partners es una organización no lucrativa que capacita y brinda doulas para ayudar a mujeres, en particular en zonas desatendidas y rurales de Alabama. Sus servicios ayudan a mejorar los resultados de los nacimientos al ofrecer apoyo emocional, físico y de información durante todo el embarazo, el parto y la recuperación posparto.

COVER ALABAMA

La coalición Cover Alabama hace activismo para la expansión de la cobertura de Medicaid para asegurar que más residentes de Alabama, sobre todo las mujeres embarazadas y las familias, tengan acceso a atención médica asequible. La coalición busca reducir las tasas de mortalidad materna y mejorar la salud materno infantil en general presionando para cerrar la brecha de cobertura en Alabama.

GIFT OF LIFE FOUNDATION

La Gift of Life Foundation respalda la salud maternoinfantil ofreciendo educación prenatal, acceso a atención médica y servicios de intervención temprana. Sus programas están diseñados para reducir la mortalidad infantil y asegurar que las madres reciban atención integral durante y después del embarazo.

NURSE-FAMILY PARTNERSHIP

La Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) es un programa nacional que se implementa en Alabama para mejorar la salud maternoinfantil mediante la conexión de madres primerizas de bajos ingresos con enfermeros/as especialmente capacitados. Estos enfermeros/as brindan visitas a domicilio durante el embarazo y los primeros dos años de la vida del niño/a. Se centran en salud, destrezas de paternidad/maternidad y autosuficiencia económica.

PREGNANCY RISK ASSESSMENT MONITORING PROGRAM

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Program (PRAMS) es una iniciativa de los CDC en colaboración con el Departamento de Salud Pública de Alabama que busca recolectar datos sobre las actitudes y experiencias maternas antes, durante y después del embarazo. Esta información ayuda a dar forma a políticas y programas diseñados para mejorar los resultados de salud maternoinfantil en todo el estado.

Expansión de Medicaid

Alabama es uno de solo 10 estados que sigue sin expandir Medicaid. Esto deja a decenas de miles de mujeres en la brecha de cobertura. La expansión de Medicaid ayudaría a asegurar que más mujeres reciban atención médica antes, durante y después del embarazo, lo cual conduciría a bajar las tasas de mortalidad maternoinfantil.

Estadísticas

  • 10 estados no han expandido Medicaid.
  • Casi 200,000 residentes de Alabama quedan dentro de la brecha de cobertura.
  • Los estados que sí han expandido Medicaid han visto menos muertes maternoinfantiles en comparación con estados sin expansión.
  • La expansión de Medicaid podría evitar más cierres de hospitales y aumentar el acceso a la atención materna en zonas rurales.

Estados

  • Alabama
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Kansas
  • Mississippi
  • Carolina del Sur
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Conclusión

Asegurar una mejor salud materna en Alabama es una tarea colectiva que requiere apoyo, acceso a atención y decisiones informadas de manera continua. El Kit de herramientas de salud materna de Alabama es un recurso diseñado para informar y guiar a mujeres, familias y profesionales médicos/as en el acceso a los recursos disponibles a través de Medicaid y otros programas de salud materna. Al asegurar que todas las madres tengan acceso a atención esencial prenatal, de parto y de posparto, podemos trabajar hacia la reducción de la mortalidad materna, abordando disparidades y mejorando la salud tanto de madres como de bebés en todo nuestro estado. Juntos, podemos dar a luz mejores resultados para las familias de todo Alabama.

 

Alabama Arise es una organización no lucrativa de todo el estado conducida por sus miembros. Se dedica a promover políticas públicas para mejorar la vida de los residentes de Alabama que están marginalizados por la pobreza. Entre los miembros de Arise se cuentan grupos religiosos, comunitarios, no lucrativos y cívicos, líderes de activismo de base y personas de todo el estado. Conozca más sobre Arise en alarise.org. Siga a @AlabamaArise en Facebook, Instagram y Twitter/X.

VIDEO: Alabama Arise Action Legislative Day 2025

By Matt Okarmus

Arise held its 2025 Legislative Day on Thursday, March 20. More than 200 supporters from across Alabama joined us in Montgomery to urge their lawmakers to continue to untax groceries and to support a plan to allow every public school in our state to provide no-cost school breakfast to all students. Our supporters also were excited to celebrate the final passage of legislation to provide paid parental leave to teachers and state employees.

Watch this video for snapshots of the event and for highlights from our news conference on untaxing groceries. Thank you to everyone who spoke out for a better Alabama for all!

Maternal health, paid leave are early highlights in Alabama’s 2025 legislative session

By Carol Gundlach

Alabama Arise is advocating successfully to advance several good bills early in the Legislature’s 2025 regular session. Our members are speaking out and getting results on maternal health care access, paid parental leave and other issues.

The session began Feb. 4 and likely will end in mid-May. Here is an overview of Arise’s advocacy at the State House this year.

Maternal and infant health care

Both the House and Senate have voted overwhelmingly for legislation to improve Medicaid access for pregnant women. HB 89 by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, and SB 102 by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, would use a process known as presumptive eligibility to streamline Medicaid enrollment for eligible women, allowing them to get health care earlier in their pregnancies.

We also have seen early momentum for bipartisan bills to ensure paid parental leave for teachers and state employees. HB 327 by Rep. Ginny Shavers, R-Leesburg, and SB 199 by Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, would provide eight weeks of paid leave for mothers and two weeks for fathers. The leave would apply to childbirth, adoption or miscarriage. Gov. Kay Ivey prioritized this policy in her State of the State address, and Arise strongly supports it.

Arise also supports bills to allow nursing mothers an exemption from jury duty and to improve Medicaid coverage for mothers facing postpartum depression. We back legislation to allow some women convicted of crimes to serve supervised probation during and immediately after pregnancy. And we support requiring employers to allow breaks for nursing mothers to express breast milk.

Adequate state budgets and public transportation

Medicaid expansion would help make health coverage affordable for all Alabamians, and it remains a top Arise budget priority. (See page 3.) We also oppose legislation to authorize junk health plans that could deny coverage for people with preexisting conditions. And we oppose federal efforts to slash Medicaid and food assistance to fund tax breaks for wealthy households. (See page 1.)

Arise is advocating for state funding to allow all public schools to provide universal free breakfast to every student if they choose. We are seeking to ensure ongoing support for Summer EBT benefits for more than 500,000 Alabama children, which our members’ advocacy secured last year. And we are working with other advocates to reform Alabama’s school funding formula, ensuring equitable public education for all students.

Arise was instrumental in creating state trust funds for public transportation and affordable housing. We are working with legislators on multiple possibilities to support these services.

Reforming Alabama’s upside-down tax system

Alabama reduced its state sales tax on groceries from 4% to 3% in 2023. Reducing the grocery tax further and ultimately eliminating it remains an important Arise goal. This may require amending the original legislation to phase in the next reduction sooner.

Arise supports good bills to end the state sales tax on infant formula, diapers and women’s hygiene needs. And we are closely monitoring the CHOOSE Act’s impact on education funding. Arise opposed the 2024 law, which will divert at least $100 million annually away from public schools and toward private schools and homeschooling.

Voting rights, criminal justice reform and death penalty reform

Voting is a fundamental way for people to make their voices heard. Arise opposes efforts to make it harder for people to exercise their right to vote. We support legislation to allow early voting, reduce barriers to absentee voting, and remove barriers to voting rights restoration for disenfranchised Alabamians.

Reforming criminal justice policies, including the death penalty, has been an Arise priority for many years. We are working to pass legislation improving the state’s broken parole system. We also back efforts to apply Alabama’s ban on judicial overrides of jury sentencing decisions in capital cases retroactively.

A man stands at a podium speaking to lawmakers who are seated.
Arise worker policy advocate Dev Wakeley testifies Feb. 6 against HB 29, a bill that would make it harder for workers to claim unemployment insurance benefits. (Photo by Robyn Hyden)

Workers’ rights and racial justice

Arise is committed to supporting safe workplaces and workers’ rights to organize. We support legislation allowing Alabama to recapture tax incentives from companies that violate child labor laws. We also support a bill to end state restrictions on local minimum wage increases. And we oppose legislation making it harder for people to receive unemployment insurance benefits after they lose their job.

The 2024 federal election has influenced state legislative priorities. Numerous state bills are targeting people without immigration documents and attacking efforts to advance racial equity and inclusion. Arise stands with our partners and friends in opposition to harmful bills in these areas.

Arise legislative update: Week of March 10, 2025

By Alabama Arise

Arise’s Jennifer Harris provides an update on bills to expand access to maternal health care, postpartum care and paid parental leave in Alabama. She celebrates the progress on HB 89 and SB 102, which would remove barriers to Medicaid enrollment for expectant mothers, as well as SB 191 and HB 322, which would improve access to care for mothers facing postpartum depression. Lawmakers also are advancing HB 327 and SB 199 to ensure paid parental leave for teachers and state employees.

Jennifer also shares the good news that both Republicans and Democrats are working to continue reducing Alabama’s state sales tax on groceries. HB 386, which would reduce the state grocery tax from 3% to 2%, could be up for a House vote when lawmakers return March 18.

Full transcript:

Hello. I am Jennifer Harris, senior health policy advocate at Alabama Arise, and I’m excited to share legislative updates from the State House this week on maternal health and family supports.

First up, HB 89 and companion bill SB 102, presumptive eligibility. Medicaid covers almost half of all births in Alabama, but unfortunately, for many of those moms, the paperwork process can take up to 60 days. This bill removes those barriers and allows moms to schedule their first prenatal appointments during the approval process. Prenatal health care for the entire pregnancy is a key factor in ensuring we have healthier moms and infants. These bills continue to move successfully through both chambers with bipartisan support.

Next up, SB 191 and HB 322. These bills seek to address postpartum depression in new mothers. They ask Medicaid to create a screening tool that helps physicians identify postpartum depression symptoms, provides for adequate treatment, and creates educational material to share with mothers, families, and providers.

In continued support for new and expanding families, SB 199 and HB 327 provide paid parental leave for new parents with eight weeks of paid leave. These bipartisan bills lead the Southeast in supporting working families.

And lastly, Alabama Arise worked to lift advocate voices and successfully champion a state grocery tax cut. This tax cut was implemented as a two-step process, with the first step beginning in 2023. HB 386 was introduced last week to continue our work to ease financial burdens for Alabama families. Look for updates to come on this exciting development.

The legislative session will be on break this week, but you can stay up to date by visiting our website, alarise.org, to sign up for our email list and action alerts. Be sure to follow us @AlabamaArise on all social media platforms and share with your friends and family.

Federal Medicaid, SNAP threats imperil Alabamians

By Chris Sanders

Lawmakers should not hurt people who are struggling to help people who are already doing well. But Congress is considering cuts to health coverage, food assistance and other human services that would do exactly that. These proposals would increase hunger and hardship for hundreds of thousands of Alabamians.

The U.S. House last month approved a budget resolution that could set the stage for more than $1 trillion of cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over the next decade. Congressional leaders are weighing these cuts to offset the cost of renewing huge tax breaks for wealthy people. Among those breaks are higher estate tax exemptions and a cut to the top marginal income tax rate.

The contrast is stark. The amount of potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the House resolution would be roughly equal to the cost of extending tax breaks for just the wealthiest 1% of households, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) found.

These funding cuts would increase suffering across Alabama. As many as 1 in 5 Alabamians enrolled in Medicaid could lose coverage due to cuts or work reporting requirements, CBPP estimated. Many other people could see SNAP assistance reduced or eliminated. Other potential targets include school meals, student loan assistance and tax credits for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

“Our lawmakers should reject harmful service cuts for working people and tax giveaways to wealthy households,” Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden said. “They should focus instead on building an economy that works for everyone in Alabama and across our country.”

Arise is speaking out against harmful cuts

The proposed cuts are not a done deal. The House and Senate still must agree on an identical budget resolution. After that, lawmakers would have to identify specific cuts to meet the resolution’s numerical targets. Then the House and Senate would have to pass budget legislation to enact those cuts.

Arise and our partners have spoken out repeatedly against these harmful proposals. We joined 55 other groups in January to urge Alabama’s congressional delegation to reject additional tax breaks for wealthy households. The joint letter asked Congress to provide tax reductions for working families instead by expanding the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. Arise also joined 111 groups in February in another letter urging Alabama’s delegation to reject cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

Read the January letter here and the February letter here.

Arise and our members will continue opposing service cuts that would hurt families who struggle to make ends meet. As we wrote to Congress in January: “Americans want you to meet the moment and put the future and well-being of all of us ahead of tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected.”

Arise legislative update: Week of March 3, 2025

By Alabama Arise

Arise’s Debbie Smith highlights the wonderful turnout at Cover Alabama’s advocacy day on Medicaid expansion in Montgomery last week. She also discusses why Arise joined with more than 100 partner groups to oppose federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and she explains how you can speak out against these harmful cuts as well. Finally, Debbie shares the good news that legislation to ensure paid parental leave for teachers and state employees is gaining momentum at the State House.

Full transcript:

Hi, everyone. This is Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director at Alabama Arise, sharing this week’s legislative update with news from both the state and federal levels.

Last week, Cover Alabama and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network partnered to bring together almost 100 people from across Alabama to push for Medicaid expansion and defend the program from harmful cuts. We heard powerful stories from people who lost their Medicaid coverage and fell into the coverage gap. Their experiences made it clear that expanding Medicaid isn’t just about covering more people—it’s about strengthening the program so no one is left without care.

At the federal level, there is a major threat. On Tuesday night, House Republicans passed a budget resolution that could lead to over a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits over the next decade, all while extending tax cuts passed during President Trump’s first term. Alabama Arise and over 100 partner organizations across the state sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to reject this budget resolution, warning that it would devastate health care and food assistance programs. Medicaid is the largest source of federal funding in Alabama’s budget, with more than 1 million Alabamians enrolled—over half of them children. Cutting Medicaid would put pregnant women, kids, and nursing home residents at risk while also threatening our rural hospitals.

And it’s not just health care at stake. SNAP, the program that helps people put food on the table, is also in danger. Nearly 400,000 households in Alabama rely on food assistance, including over 330,000 children. Alabama Arise and our partners have made it clear that slashing these programs will only increase hunger and hardship in a state where one in four children already experience food insecurity. But we’ve stopped harmful cuts to these life-saving programs before, and we can do it again. Let’s keep up the pressure—email Congress today and tell them no cuts to Medicaid by visiting coveralabama.org/savemedicaid.

There is some good news at the state level in Alabama. The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee just voted unanimously to advance SB 199, a bill that would provide paid parental leave to state employees, including K-12 public school teachers. This legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, ensures that state workers have the time they need to care for their families and children after childbirth, adoption, or miscarriage. Policies like this don’t just support workers—they strengthen families and communities.

Let’s continue advocating for policies that protect our health and our families. Together, we are making a difference.

110+ Alabama groups urge Congress to oppose cuts to Medicaid, SNAP

By Chris Sanders

Congress should oppose efforts to cut funding or create additional enrollment barriers for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), 112 organizations across Alabama wrote in a letter to Alabama’s congressional delegation this week.

“We write to request respectfully that, in your deliberations about federal budget and tax policy, you ensure that Congress protects the health and nutrition safety net that keeps so many Alabama children fed and healthy and that helps so many Alabamians make ends meet,” the groups wrote.

The organizations sent the letter before the U.S. House voted Tuesday night to pass a budget resolution that could set the stage for more than $1 trillion of cuts to health coverage and food assistance over the next decade. That vote was one step in a multi-part budget process. The House and Senate still must agree on an identical budget resolution, after which lawmakers would begin to specify funding cuts to meet its numerical targets.

Congressional leaders are considering cuts to health coverage, food assistance and other human services in a push to offset the cost of tax cuts for wealthy households. The amount of potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the House budget resolution would be roughly equal to the cost of extending tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% of households, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonprofit research and policy institute in Washington, D.C.

Alabama Arise is among 112 organizations that signed the letter to the state’s two U.S. senators and seven U.S. representatives. Read the full letter here.

Medicaid cuts and new barriers would harm Alabama families and rural communities

Medicaid is at risk of deep federal funding cuts or caps during this process. The federal-state health insurance program for people with low incomes is essential to Alabama’s economy and health care infrastructure. Medicaid covers 1 in 5 Alabamians, almost all of whom are children, older adults, or people with disabilities. At $6.8 billion, Medicaid also is the largest source of federal funds in Alabama’s budget.

Federal Medicaid cuts would undermine health care access for children, pregnant women and nursing home residents, Arise and partners wrote. Cuts also would strain the state’s General Fund budget and further imperil rural hospitals and clinics, the letter said. In addition, Congress is considering new work reporting requirements that, along with potential funding cuts, could strip health coverage from as many as 1 in 5 Alabamians enrolled in Medicaid.

“Any cuts to federal Medicaid funding, restrictive policies aimed at encouraging disenrollment just to reduce costs, or caps that limit the ability of federal funding to keep pace with inflation would directly impact more than 1 million Alabama children and families,” the organizations wrote. “Such cuts would damage our communities, devastate our state budget and weaken Alabama’s economy.”

The letter highlighted some of Medicaid’s many benefits to Alabama:

  • Pediatric care for half of all Alabama children, including the majority of children with intensive health care needs.
  • Perinatal care for half of Alabama pregnant mothers and their babies.
  • Long-term services and supports for 3 in 4 nursing home residents, and for most children and adults who receive nursing care at home.
  • The leading source of health insurance in rural communities, and an essential source of funding for hard-pressed rural hospitals and clinics.
  • Direct grants to hospitals to sustain costly services, such as neonatal intensive care units, which serve their entire communities.

SNAP cuts would increase hunger and hardship across Alabama

SNAP is also at risk of harmful cuts as Congress continues the budget process. The program provides vital, federally funded nutrition assistance to about 1 in 7 Alabamians — more than 750,000 people. More than 2 in 3 households that participate in SNAP are families with children. Many other participants are older adults or people with disabilities.

The letter from Arise and partner organizations called SNAP “the most effective anti-hunger program in the United States.” SNAP’s role in reducing hunger is especially important in Alabama and other states with high poverty rates. Nearly 1 in 4 Alabama children face food insecurity, meaning they do not always have enough to eat or know where they will get their next meal. Funding cuts or other new barriers to SNAP enrollment would increase hunger and hurt local retailers, the groups’ letter said.

“In a time of persistently higher food prices, [SNAP] is more important than ever,” the organizations wrote. “Every dollar of federal SNAP funding not only affords families the necessary nutrition, but it also helps stimulate local economies.”

Potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts would help fund tax breaks for the wealthiest households

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, enacted in 2017, increased federal deficits by nearly $2 trillion while lavishing tax cuts on the country’s wealthiest households. Many of the law’s provisions are set to expire this year, including numerous tax breaks that disproportionately benefit wealthy people. These include higher estate tax exemptions and a cut to the top marginal income tax rate. Other provisions are permanent and not up for renewal, including a 40% reduction of the corporate income tax rate. This tax break overwhelmingly benefits large, highly profitable corporations.

Proposals to renew and expand these tax breaks would be similarly skewed in favor of the wealthiest Americans. The White House’s proposed tax plan would lead on average to “a tax cut for the richest 5% of Americans and a tax increase for the other 95% of Americans,” according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a nonprofit tax policy research organization in Washington, D.C.

More resources

Read the full Feb. 25 letter from Alabama Arise and 111 partner organizations urging Alabama’s congressional delegation to oppose cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

View a full breakdown of federal funds that Alabama received in FY 2024.

Read the Feb. 10 statement from Alabama Arise urging Congress to reject harmful cuts to health coverage, school meals and other human services.

Read the Jan. 29 letter from Alabama Arise and 55 partner organizations urging Alabama’s congressional delegation to oppose further tax cuts for wealthy people.

Alabama Arise, 111 partner groups urge Congress to oppose cuts to Medicaid, SNAP

By Alabama Arise

Congressional leaders are considering cuts to health coverage, food assistance and other human services in a push to offset the cost of tax cuts for wealthy households. The amount of potential Medicaid and SNAP cuts in the House budget resolution would be roughly equal to the cost of extending tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% of households, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Alabama Arise joined 111 partner groups in a letter asking Alabama’s congressional delegation to oppose cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. The full text of the letter is below.

Letter text

Dear Senators Tuberville and Britt and Representatives Aderholt, Rogers, Sewell, Palmer, Moore, Strong and Figures,

We write to request respectfully that, in your deliberations about federal budget and tax policy, you ensure that Congress protects the health and nutrition safety net that keeps so many Alabama children fed and healthy and that helps so many Alabama families make ends meet. 

As you know, federal Medicaid funds 72% of the cost of Alabama Medicaid. At a current level of $6.8 billion, Medicaid is the largest source of federal funds in our state’s budget. Medicaid provides health coverage and protection from medical bankruptcy for 1 in 5 Alabamians. Medicaid funding also supports the ALL Kids program, making Alabama a leader among our neighbors with the highest rate of children’s health insurance in the Deep South. 

It is impossible to overstate the extent to which federal Medicaid funding is integral to the strength and effectiveness of the health care infrastructure that benefits all Alabamians. Medicaid provides: 

  • Pediatric care for half of all Alabama children, including the majority of children with intensive health care needs.
  • Perinatal care for half of Alabama pregnant mothers and their babies.
  • Long-term services and supports for 3 in 4 nursing home residents, and for most children and adults who receive nursing care at home.
  • The leading source of health insurance in rural communities, and an essential source of funding for hard-pressed rural hospitals and clinics.
  • Direct grants to hospitals to sustain costly services, such as neonatal intensive care units, which serve their entire communities.

In short, any cuts to federal Medicaid funding, restrictive policies aimed at encouraging disenrollment just to reduce costs, or caps that limit the ability of federal funding to keep pace with inflation would directly impact more than 1 million Alabama children and families. Such cuts would damage our communities, devastate our state budget and weaken Alabama’s economy.

Similarly, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the most effective anti-hunger program in the United States. And in a time of persistently higher food prices, it is more important than ever. Every dollar of federal SNAP funding not only affords families the necessary nutrition, but it also helps stimulate local economies. 

More than 2 in 3 SNAP households are families with children. SNAP provides vital help for working families, as well as for older Alabamians and people with disabilities. Cuts in federal SNAP funding would directly harm the 1 in 7 Alabamians – more than 750,000 people – who participate in the program and would have broader negative effects on communities across our state. 

For all of these reasons, we respectfully urge you to protect federal funding for Medicaid and SNAP, two vital programs that make life better across Alabama. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these matters, please do not hesitate to contact us. We thank you for your public service.

Signatories

Respectfully submitted, 

1. AIDS Alabama – Birmingham
2. AIDS Alabama South – Mobile
3. Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
4. Alabama Arise
5. Alabama Academy of Family Physicians
6. Alabama Association of Nonprofits
7. Alabama Black Women’s Roundtable
8. Alabama Chapter – American Academy of Pediatrics
9. Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice
10. Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
11. Alabama Election Protection Network
12. Alabama Forward
13. Alabama Institute for Social Justice
14. Alabama Interfaith Power & Light
15. Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers
16. Alabama Poor People’s Campaign
17. Alabama Possible
18. Alabama Rivers Alliance
19. Alabama Rural Ministry – Auburn
20. Alabama State Association of Cooperatives
21. Alabama State Conference of the NAACP
22. Alabama Sustainable Agriculture Network
23. All Nations Church – Montgomery
24. American Association of University Women the Shoals
25. American College of Nurse-Midwives Alabama Affiliate
26. American Lung Association
27. Auburn United Methodist Church
28. Baptist Church of the Covenant – Birmingham
29. Bay Area Women Coalition, Inc.
30. Beloved Community Church UCC – Birmingham
31. Birmingham Friends Meeting (Quaker)
32. BirthWell Partners
33. Black Belt Community Foundation
34. Center for Fair Housing – Mobile
35. Children First
36. Church & Society Committee, Anniston First United Methodist Church
37. Church Women United – Montgomery
38. Collaborative Solutions
39. Community Enabler Developer, Inc. – Anniston
40. Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
41. Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama
42. Destiny Driven, Inc.
43. East Lake United Methodist Church – Birmingham
44. Educational Consulting and Training Group, LLC
45. Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship
46. Faith in Action Alabama
47. Feeding Alabama
48. Fernland Community Coalition Group
49. First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) – Montgomery
50. First Congregational UCC – Birmingham
51. Five Horizons Health Services
52. Forest Lake United Methodist Church
53. Grace Presbyterian Church – Tuscaloosa
54. Gratitude Foundation
55. GASP – Birmingham
56. Greater Birmingham Ministries
57. Hispanic Catholic Social Services – La Casita
58. Hometown Organizing Project
59. Huntsville Bail Fund
60. Independent Living Center – Mobile
61. Interfaith Mission Service
62. Jackson District Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society A.M.E. Zion Church
63. Jobs to Move America
64. The Kelsey – Birmingham
65. Kennedy Strategic Communications
66. The Knights & Orchids Society
67. League of Women Voters of Alabama
68. Live2Serve
69. Low Income Housing Coalition of Alabama
70. LunarLab Benefit LLC – Birmingham
71. Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
72. Mary’s House Catholic Worker – Birmingham
73. The Mothers of Gynecology – Montgomery
74. National Association of Social Workers – Alabama Chapter
75. National Lawyers Guild – Alabama Chapter
76. North Alabama Area Labor Council
77. North Alabama Conference, United Methodist Church – Advocacy for Social Justice Team
78. North Alabama Peace Network
79. One Roof – Birmingham
80. Open Table UCC – Mobile
81. The People’s Justice Council
82. The People’s Loan Program
83. Professional Association of Social Workers in HIV & AIDS (PASWHA)
84. Progressive Women of Northeast Alabama
85. PROJECT.HELP.USA
86. Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty
87. Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church – Birmingham
88. Sapps Community Center, Inc.
89. Shoals Educational Enrichment Resources
90. St. Paul UMC – Birmingham
91. The Sisters
92. Sisters of St. Joseph – Selma
93. Sisters of Mercy in Alabama – Mobile
94. The 6:52 Project Foundation, Inc.
95. Southern Poverty Law Center
96. Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative
97. Stand Up Mobile
98. Thrive Alabama
99. Together for Hope – Black Belt
100. Trinity Gardens Community Civic Club
101. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Auburn
102. Unitarian Universalist Church of Birmingham
103. Unitarian Universalist Church of Huntsville
104. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Montgomery
105. Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Tuscaloosa
106. United for a Fair Economy
107. United Way of West Alabama
108. United Women of Color – Huntsville
109. Valley Christian Church – Mountain Brook
110. VOICES for Alabama’s Children
111. WAWC Healthcare – Tuscaloosa
112. West End Community Church – Birmingham