Hello ARA Friends:
We NEED your presence in Montgomery on April 9 to make a splash with our legislators about protecting our waterways!
We are just past the halfway point of the 2024 Alabama Legislative session and once again, Alabama legislators have demonstrated that they would rather prioritize hot-button national political issues than protecting our water resources, which impact each and every Alabamian. The legislature has passed and the governor has signed two of these bills – SB 1, which will discourage Alabamians from seeking assistance with their absentee ballot applications, and SB 129, the so-called “divisive concepts bill,” which will have a chilling effect on free speech within state departments and in our public schools and universities.
Despite the detrimental focus on issues stirred up by the media and national politicians, some good legislation has made headway. Sen. Clyde Chambliss’ SB 39 has expanded the state’s dam safety program to additional publicly-owned dams. This legislation is part of a longer-term, incremental process to establishing a truly comprehensive dam safety plan in Alabama, which remains the only state without such a program. Governor Ivey signed SB 39 into law on February 29.
Likewise, a bill that would make it easier for property owners to permit “living shorelines,” incorporating native plants and other nature-based solutions to protect their property from coastal erosion has been given a favorable report by a House committee, and could be headed to the floor for a vote.
These bills represent meaningful steps forward, but the legislature has failed to act on some of the biggest water issues in our state — the lack of a water plan, insufficient oversight from our state agencies, and giving Alabamians easy-to-understand information about the safety of the fish they catch and eat.
That’s why we must have many voices in Montgomery on Rivers of Alabama Day, Tuesday April 9, to let legislators know that water is a priority to you and your community and it should be a priority for them too.
We’ll provide helpful tips and a special training on how to talk to your legislators about the water issues that matter to you, as well as information about ARA’s legislative priorities in 2024 and beyond.
Click here to register now.
We’ll provide a delicious lunch and help you connect with your legislators directly to ask for meaningful change. If you need help with carpooling, just let us know when you register!
See you in Montgomery April 9!
PS. You can keep up with the latest bills we’re monitoring throughout the session (and beyond) anytime by clicking here.