Governor Ivey called a special session on Thursday, Oct. 28 to address redistricting and reapportionment of congressional, State Board of Education, state House of Representatives and state Senate districts based on the 2020 federal census, and appropriations for pandemic-related health care services.
A special session of the Legislature is limited to 12 session days within a 30 day period.
Twenty-eight bills were introduced in the second special session. Of those, five were related to redistricting, 12 were related to vaccines or vaccination status, two were related to American Rescue Plan Act funds, five were local bills, and four were general bills.
All five bills in the governor’s proclamation — redistricting and the hospital and nursing home appropriation — were passed by the Legislature and are listed below. These bills have been signed by the governor.
Also passed were two bills relating to vaccine exemptions and parental consent for minors.
Redistricting legislation:
- HB1 by Representative Chris Pringle provides for the reapportionment and redistricting of the U. S. Congressional districts for the state [Act No. 2021-555].
- HB2 by Representative Chris Pringle provides for the reapportionment and redistricting of the Alabama House of Representative districts [Act No. 2021-556].
- SB1 by Senator Jim McClendon provides for the reapportionment and redistricting of the Alabama Senate districts [Act No. 2021-558].
- SB2 by Senator Jim McClendon provides fo the reapportionment and redistricting of the State Board of Education districts [Act No. 2021-559].
American Rescue Plan Act funds:
- HB3 by Representative Steve Clouse provides for a supplemental appropriation from the American Rescue Plan to hospitals and nursing homes for help with reimbursement from additional healthcare related services connected to the coronavirus pandemic [Act No. 2021-557].
Vaccination legislation:
- SB9 by Senator Chris Elliott would require employers to allow employees to claim an exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs, provide for a standardized exemption form, prohibit an employer from requiring a COVID-19 vaccine if an exemption form is completed and submitted, provide for appeals to an administrative law judge for the Department of Labor for denials of exemptions and provide for repeal of the act on May 1, 2023 unless extended by an act of the Legislature.
- SB15 by Senator Arthur Orr would provide that a minor may not receive a COVID-19 vaccine without parental consent, to prohibit an institution of education from inquiring about a minor student’s vaccination status without parental consent, and to provide for enforcement by the Attorney General.
2022 elections:
Candidates planning to run for office in the 2022 elections must qualify with their party by Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the primary run-off election will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, and the general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022.
2022 regular legislation session:
The 2022 Regular Session begins on Jan. 11, 2022.
