Ditch the Marriage Licenses? Senate Says ‘I Do’
The roads were treacherous in many parts of the state, but Alabama lawmakers still managed to get to the State House this week to hammer out a few bills.
One bill the Senate passed this week would do away with marriage licenses. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Greg Albritton, said this would take the state out of marriages. Under the proposed bill, couples wouldn’t need a probate judge to decide whether to issue a marriage license. And no ceremony would be required to make it official. Instead, a couple would submit documents to the judge stating that they aren’t currently married or related. Albritton first proposed similar bills in 2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
Another bill the Senate passed, proposed by Democratic Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham, aims to curb racial profiling. Smitherman says he has been the victim of racial profiling by police. His bill would require police to record the race and ethnicity of people pulled over, as well as their own race.
And that’s where WBHM’s Gigi Douban begins this week’s legislative wrap-up with Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
