Alabama Arise Action: Spring membership meeting, Thursday, April 22, noon – 1 p.m.

Join Alabama Arise Action, the 501(c)(4) partner organization of Alabama Arise, for its spring membership meeting this Thursday. You’ll hear the latest updates on the 2021 legislative session and Alabama Arise priorities. The meeting will be convened online via Zoom. Register online at alariseaction.org or click the button below.

Alabama Arise: ‘It’s time for someone to stick up for us’: Walker County’s need for Medicaid expansion

Medicaid expansion has the power to save and transform lives across Alabama. Arise story collection coordinator Whit Sides talks to local leaders in Walker County about what expansion would mean there as residents recover from the devastating COVID-19 recession. As Rev. Robin Hinkle said: “When you lose your insurance and paycheck, what used to be $5 at the pharmacy is now $40. And the first thing you give up is medicine.”

Further reading:

• Cover Alabama poll results: Sixty-nine percent of Alabama voters support Medicaid expansion
• Alabama Arise: Medicaid Matters: Charting the Course to a Healthier Alabama

Bills we're watching

• SB 370 by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, would allow for curbside voting for people with disabilities. SB 370 will be considered in the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, April 20. Arise supports SB 370.

• HB 579 by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, would revise the criteria for the granting of parole. HB 579 will be considered in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 21. Arise supports HB 579.

• HB 72 and HB 73 by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, would require supervised release for part of a sentence and expand community corrections programs, respectively. HB 72 and HB 73 will be considered in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, April 21. Arise supports HB 72 and HB 73.

• SB 97 by Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, restricts the authority of the governor and state health officer during a pandemic emergency. SB 97 will be considered in the House Health Committee on Wednesday, April 21. Arise opposes SB 97.

• SB 189 by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, is the Education Trust Fund budget that funds all education services in the state. SB 189 has passed the Senate and may be considered in the House Ways and Means Education Committee this week. Arise is tracking the budget appropriations in SB 189.

• HB 308 by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, is the General Fund budget that funds Medicaid, corrections and other non-education services. HB 308 has passed the House and may be considered in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee this week. Arise is tracking the budget appropriations in HB 308.

Alabama Arise tracks legislation related to our members' interests. You can find our Bills of Interest here.