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There is no denying it: Alabama’s momentum is stronger than ever before.
Businesses – from the smallest mom-and-pop shops to industry giants – are finding enormous success, providing not only jobs but true livelihoods for Alabamians.
Educational outcomes are beginning to move in a positive direction statewide.
Our roads, bridges, and the Port of Mobile are all receiving much-needed upgrades and improvements.
The state has taken its first significant steps to address the ongoing mental health crisis since the tenure of Governor Lurleen Wallace in the 1960s.
Most importantly, our people, whom I firmly believe are Alabama’s greatest asset, are thriving.
In fact, Alabama had the sixth-largest percentage of move-ins in the nation in 2024, demonstrating that our state is a place where people want to live, work, and raise families.
Numerous factors have led us in this direction, but the work of the Alabama Legislature has been a major catalyst.
Our conservative approach to budgeting, led by public servants like House General Fund Chairman Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, and Education Trust Fund Chairman Danny Garret, R-Trussville, produced the savings that allow Alabama to make historic investments into education, workforce development, infrastructure, mental health, and more.
Our members’ commitment and determination have paved the way for Alabama to become a top-five state for school choice with the passage of the CHOOSE Act while also prioritizing public education through initiatives like the Literacy and Numeracy Acts, which require students to perform at grade level in order to advance.
We have enacted over 20 tax cuts that save Alabama families and small businesses thousands of dollars annually.
Through an economic development approach that has positioned state government as a partner rather than a hindrance to business, we have established the nation’s top recruitment incentives, resulting in over 80,000 new jobs and more than $50 billion in investments since 2017.
So, when you step back and look at all we’ve accomplished as a state, you have to ask yourself, “What’s next?”
We must continue growing our successes and overcoming our challenges one by one.
We rank high on lists of the most business-friendly states, but we can become an even better place for employers and employees to work and thrive.
Alabama is often recognized as the nation’s most military-friendly state, but we can do even more to support active-duty military, veterans, and their families. And with a united congressional delegation, a friendly president, and a committed Legislature, we can bring Space Command back to its rightful home of Huntsville, Alabama.
Education, workforce development, infrastructure, and more are all on the rise – but we can take even greater advantage of this momentum and leverage it to improve the lives of Alabamians.
We will continue tackling these issues in the coming session, and I look forward to making the most of this opportunity.
Getting here has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach from top to bottom, but the results are demonstrating that the hard work has been worth it.
From the House and Senate Leadership to legislative committee chairs to the Governor – Alabama’s leaders are working together in a way that is beneficial to the people who elected us to serve.
I often quote President Ronald Reagan’s belief that it is remarkable what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit, and the Alabama of today is clear evidence of his wisdom.
I know for a fact that God places us where we can do the most good, and I am excited to continue serving as Speaker and empowering my colleagues to make an already great state even better.
