May. 15, 2025

Today we have some of the highlights of the final day of the Legislative session. Look for more reaction and news out of the session in coming issues.

Thanks for reading,

Ike

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One more piece of Gov. Kay Ivey's priority list won final approval Wednesday night in the final half-hour of the 2025 legislative session.

AL.com's Mike Cason reports that the bill to expand immunity for police officers -- dubbed "Back the Blue" -- passed after changes were made to a version that passed back in March.

The Senate ended debate shortly after 10 p.m., then passed it 25-6. The House then passed it 73-28 at approximately 11:35 p.m.

The bill sets up a legal framework for use-of-force cases and introduces an immunity hearing in such cases.

Republicans behind the measure say it gives police officers some legal support. Democrat opponents say it gives police unchecked power. State Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Birmingham Democrat, said it gives racist or scared officers “a license to kill Black people.”

The "Back the Blue" finale followed a day that included filibusters by Democrats that slowed down the passing of a backlog of local bills. Using cloture votes to keep things moving forward, Republicans managed to pass 10 of the 50 outstanding question in the day's first seven hours.

Also on Thursday, Ivey signed the measure that allows Alabama's ABC board to tax, regulate and restrict the sale of consumable products containing hemp-derived THC. There had been pressure on the governor to reject the bill by both businesses that sell the products and those who claim the bill allows legalized marijuana.

“Sine die, Latin for 'What lottery? And don't even ask about next year.' ”

Alabama Daily News Editor Mary Sell, putting a new spin on the tradition end-of-session pronouncement.

Rep. Ron Bolton won The Shroud Award in the Alabama House of Representatives for introducing the “Deadest Bill of the Session” -- in this case, a measure that would have revised weight and height standards for children’s safety seats. (Photo by Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

City of Madison utilities has made its decision to stop adding fluoride to the city's drinking water supply, reports AL.com's John R. Roby.

Officials said this week that national politics did indeed weigh into that decision.

Fluoride has been added to public water supplies in an increasing number of locales since the 1960s. Health officials have recommended such in order to prevent tooth decay.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is skeptical of the safety of fluoride, and a court has told the EPA to study health concerns over some fluoridated water.

Pediatric dentist and director of UAB's Sparks Clinic Stephen Mitchell said those studies involved overseas areas where up to four times the U.S. recommended amount of fluoride was being pumped into water supplies.

Madison Water Manager David Moore said officials had to weigh whether it made sense to invest in fluoridation considering the current politics and a possible shift away from fluoride. So far, Alabama's largest cities haven't gone in that direction.

Birmingham's mayor is moonlighting as a lawyer, reports AL.com's Joseph D. Bryant.

Randall Woodfin posted on Facebook to let people know he's available for personal-injury or criminal-law work.

He posted on his personal account, with the required legal disclaimer at the bottom.

The mayor of Birmingham is a full-time position that pays Woodfin $130,000 a year, but he's not the first in that position to work a side hustle. Larry Langford was employed by Birmingham Budweiser while serving as mayor from 2007 to 2009.

Woodfin said he hasn't worked a case since 2023 and doesn't take cases that might conflict with city business. “I have been a practicing attorney for over 15 years with no plans to stop,” he said.

In 1959, singer-songwriter Beverly Jo Scott of Bay Minette. She's had a big career while living in Belgium since the 1980s.

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