News Releases

Public policy barriers prevent far too many Alabamians from getting ahead. Our duty is to speak out against those barriers and identify solutions to give everyone an opportunity to reach their full potential. Check out our news releases and press statements about our research, organizing and advocacy for policies to make life better for Alabamians who are struggling to make ends meet.

News Releases

Federal cuts to SNAP, health coverage will harm people across Alabama

The U.S. House voted Thursday for final passage of a budget bill that will make basic needs like food and health care more expensive for millions of American families through severe cuts to food assistance, Medicaid and other human services. These funding cuts will finance renewals and expansions of tax cuts for wealthy people and highly profitable [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health, Safety Net, Medicaid Expansion
Date
July 3, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

Alabama Arise, partner groups urge Congress to reject devastating cuts to SNAP, health coverage

Alabama’s congressional delegation should oppose a harmful budget bill that would reduce or remove food assistance, health coverage and other vital services for hundreds of thousands of Alabamians who struggle to afford basic needs, Alabama Arise and other advocates said Thursday during a Hands Off SNAP and Medicaid news conference at the State House in [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health, Safety Net, Medicaid Expansion
Date
June 27, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

Ivey, legislators should oppose federal SNAP cost shift to states, 50 Alabama groups write

Alabama lawmakers should speak out to help protect the state from devastating federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the U.S. House’s budget reconciliation bill, according to a letter that 50 organizations across Alabama sent to Gov. Kay Ivey and state legislators Monday. The letter, initiated by Alabama Arise, asks state policymakers to [...]
Issues
Budgets, Safety Net
Date
June 10, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

Alabama Arise, CWA celebrate first collective bargaining agreement

[caption id="attachment_10684" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Representatives from both Alabama Arise and Alabama Arise Workers United were on hand to sign their first collective bargaining agreement at the Arise office in Montgomery on May 19, 2025. Arise executive director Robyn Hyden is joined by Communications Workers of Alabama 3908 president Luther Land at the table. Above are [...]
Date
May 30, 2025
Author
Alabama Arise
News Releases

U.S. House budget bill would hammer struggling Alabama families

The U.S. House voted 215-214 Thursday for a budget bill that would make basic needs like food and health care more expensive for millions of families through severe cuts to food assistance, Medicaid and other human services. These funding cuts would finance efforts to renew or expand tax cuts for wealthy people and highly profitable [...]
Issues
Budgets, Health, Safety Net, Tax Reform, Medicaid Expansion
Date
May 23, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

Grocery tax bill’s passage will improve life for every Alabamian

The Alabama Senate voted 34-0 Tuesday for HB 386 by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, a bill that will reduce the state sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2% beginning on Sept. 1 and give cities and counties more flexibility to reduce local grocery taxes if they choose. The Alabama House quickly concurred in the [...]
Issue
Tax Reform
Date
May 6, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

Alabama Arise praises new maternal health, paid parental leave laws

[caption id="attachment_10630" align="aligncenter" width="799"] 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 [...]
Issues
Health, Economic Opportunity
Date
May 1, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

New paid parental leave law improves life for Alabama workers

Gov. Kay Ivey signed SB 199 into law Wednesday. The legislation, 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, which will take effect on July 1, provides eight weeks of paid leave to mothers and two weeks [...]
Issues
Other Issues, Economic Opportunity
Date
April 2, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

200+ Alabama Arise supporters rally in favor of reducing state grocery tax

[caption id="attachment_10337" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden speaks in support of untaxing groceries during Arise's annual Legislative Day on March 20, 2025, in Montgomery. (Photo by Julie Bennett)[/caption] Alabama should reduce the state sales tax on groceries again this year and work toward a sustainable solution to end the tax permanently, Alabama [...]
Issue
Tax Reform
Date
March 21, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders
News Releases

Another grocery tax reduction would be great news for every Alabamian

Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, on Wednesday introduced HB 386, a bill to reduce the state sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2% beginning on Sept. 1. The Alabama House Democrats also endorsed forthcoming legislation to end the state grocery tax during a news conference Wednesday. Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden released the following [...]
Issue
Tax Reform
Date
March 6, 2025
Author
Chris Sanders