Lottery, medical marijuana, Confederate monuments: Alabama lawmakers face decisions
Updated Feb 02, 2021;
Alabama lawmakers begin their annual session Tuesday with a plan to finish what they say is urgent business the first two weeks, leaving contentious bills like a lottery, medical marijuana, and changes to the Memorial Preservation Act for later in the session.
The COVID-19 pandemic will limit access to the State House and chances for the public to participate in hearings on controversial issues.
The House of Representatives and Senate convene at noon Tuesday and will adjourn in time for Gov. Kay Ivey’s State of the State address at 6:30 p.m.
Alabama lawmakers press Jeff Dunn to reveal more about cost of new prisons
Updated Jan 27, 2021;
Posted Jan 27, 2021
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Alabama legislators sought more information today from Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn about negotiations with private developers to build three new prisons, but Dunn revealed nothing new about the talks or prison plans.
The commissioner said he expects Gov. Kay Ivey to make announcements on the negotiations “very soon,” although he was not specific about the timing.
Dunn made a presentation and answered questions during the Legislature’s budget hearings at the Alabama State House.
The Ivey administration and the ADOC are negotiating with two developer teams for three men’s prisons that the developers would finance, build, maintain, and lease to the state over 30 years. In September, Ivey announced the prisons would be in Bibb, Elmore, and Escambia counties.