Jacob Holmes

Montgomery

Reporter at Alabama Political Reporter

News Editor at the Alex City Outlook, Dadeville Record, Wetumpka Herald and Tallassee Tribune.

Articles

House committee weighing bill to criminalize “smugglers” of undocumented immigrants

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

The House Judiciary Committee is set to entertain passage Wednesday if a bill that would make it a felony to transport an undocumented immigrant into the state of Alabama. SB53 has already made its way through the Senate, where it underwent several changes after people drew comparisons between the language of the bill and the Fugitive Slave Act. Rev. Shane Isner of First Christian Church told the committee Wednesday that the bill criminalizes compassion.
Bill authorizing ALFA health plans heads to Senate after battle over insurance oversight

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

A bill authorizing the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer health coverage to its members passed the House of Representatives Thursday after a lengthy debate over whether the Department of Insurance should enforce the act. The version of the HB477 that passed the House on Thursday has been heavily amended since its introduction by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, who said the bill had been amended 16 times already by the time it came to a vote.
Alabama House passes bill that would limit CBD to minor-restricted stores, pharmacies

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

A bill that would heavily regulate CBD and hemp-derived products sailed through the House of Representatives on Thursday without debate despite the vote reflecting some contention on the bill. The House voted 76-15-11 to approve HB445 by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, largely along party lines. The bill would hit all hemp-derived products, psychoactive or not, and critics warn it could regulate the industry right out of business.
"Second Chance Act" moves toward final vote to become law

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

A bill that would give men sentenced to life without a parole a second chance at freedom is now just one vote away from becoming law. SB156 by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, creates a process for judicial review for imprisoned men who were sentenced under the outdated “Habitual Felony Offender Act.” The bill commonly known as the “Second Chance Act” originated from Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, several years ago and Gov.
Senate committee approves bill mandating abstinence-only sex education

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

A bill requiring sex education programs in public schools to exclusively teach “sexual risk avoidance” took a step toward becoming law Thursday after gaining approval in committee. SB277 by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, would also prohibit sex ed programs from providing information about how to seek an abortion, demonstrating how to use a condom, or displaying “Sexually explicit” images and materials.
Bills to regulate CBD, hemp-based products advance in committees

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

Multiple bills designed to ban certain CBD variants and regulate other hemp-infused products are working their way through the Alabama Legislature. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved SB273 by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, Wednesday that would make all psychoactive hemp-derived products classified as Schedule 1 drugs, while cannabidiol (CBD) and other non-psychoactive drugs would be relegated to pharmacies.
House committee adds protections to bill authorizing ALFA health plans

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

A House Committee on Tuesday approved a bill to allow the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer health coverage, but not before adding several amendments adding more robust protections to the law. Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, fought to keep the bill as written, arguing that the original version of the bill already exceeded the 10 other states who offer a similar program.
Alabama lawmaker files bill to jail women for abortions

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, has once again filed a bill to consider abortion as murder under Alabama law. “Abortion is murder, and justice demands that our laws treat it as such,” Yarbrough told APR when he first filed the bill. “If you look at Alabama law, you will see there is an exemption that says that abortion is not murder in our state. It’s time we change that. This bill is simply an attempt to align our law with our rhetoric.
“Hands Off”: Alabamians join nationwide protests against Trump administration

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

The power of the people is greater than the people in power. That was the resounding message Saturday as more than 600 citizens took to the steps of the Alabama State Capitol to air a litany of grievances against the presidency of Donald Trump. The protest in Montgomery was one of an estimated 1,400 events across the country Saturday in a mass mobilization of millions crying out against numerous Trump policies.
Ten Commandments bill headed back to the drawing board

2 weeks ago | alreporter.com | Jacob Holmes

A bill that would mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools from kindergarten through university is going back for more rewrites at the suggestion of a House committee Thursday. HB178 by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, originally called for the display of the religious laws in a prominent area of each school system, but revealed changes to the bill Wednesday that would instead require it in classrooms teaching history. Rep.