2025 Legislative Summary for January
Have you noticed a bunch of news stories related to proposed new laws in Alabama recently and wondered why? If you guessed “because the Legislature is coming back into session soon,” congratulations, you are correct.
But what exactly does that mean?
First of all, it means your representatives and senators are going to be traveling back and forth to Montgomery during the next few months.
The Alabama Constitution dictates that both houses of the Alabama State Legislature meet in annual, regular sessions. Those regular sessions are limited to 30 legislative days spread across 105 calendar days.
I promise it’s not as confusing as it sounds.
A legislative day means either the Senate or the House of Representatives is in session, with members gathered at the capital in their chambers where they discuss, debate and vote on legislation.
Normally, members will gather like this on two days each week during the legislative session.
What do we do during the other three days? We talk about bills in committee meetings.
While legislators discuss and vote on bills that cover a wide range of issues, each of the 105 members of the House and 35 members of the Senate sit on various committee that focus on particular issues, like the Ports and Waterways Committee or the Judiciary Committee. Members are generally placed on committees that are similar to their professional careers outside of the legislature – like an attorney being put on the Judiciary Committee or a farmer being put on the Agriculture Committee.
The committees cover subject matters such as education policy, agriculture and ethics. Bills are sent to a committee to be reviewed before they are ever considered for a vote in either the House or the Senate.
While the start and end day of the 105-day legislative session can vary slightly from year to year, Alabama’s Legislative Session generally begins near the first of February.
This year, your senators and representatives will report for their first day of session on Feb. 4.
And today, before a single meeting has been held, there are already 95 bills filed in the house and 36 in the Senate.
There’s a lot of work to be done as we head into the next few months but in the end, it will all help to make Alabama an amazing place to live and work.
You can keep up with the legislature and the bills passed by visiting alison.legislature.state.al.us
If you have an issue or a question, never hesitate to reach out by emailing me at [email protected].
Where We Meet
The Gift Horse Restaurant
209 W. Laurel Ave., Foley, AL 36535
Our Meetings
Meetings are usually the fourth Tuesday of each month (except November and December).
Time
11:00 AM - Meet and Greet with our members
11:30 AM - Buffet Lunch, $16 cash/check
$10 for those not eating
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Speaker and Business meeting