The Alabama Legislature adjourned earlier than expected this year on May 9.

Lawmakers declined to pass a bill to rewrite large portions of the Alabama Ethics Act.

House Bill 227 would have relaxed gift restrictions; weakened powers of the Alabama Ethics Commission; and given oversight of the commission to the Legislature.

Passed bills included those relating to school vouchers and limiting absentee voting assistance.

State Rep. John Rogers resigned from his House District 52 seat on March 13 after pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges related to a grant program.

A special primary election for House District 52 will be held on June 18 and a runoff on July 16, if necessary.

The general election is set for October 1.

A bill to be introduced by Representative Matt Simpson would transfer oversight of public officials from the Ethics Commission to district attorneys and the attorney general.

The bill also allows for unlimited gifts from friends; allows officials to solicit gifts from subordinates; and greatly broadens the definition of family member.

The bill gives the Legislature control of the Ethics Commission, potentially impairing the commission’s ability to act impartially.

Matt Simpson, Chair of the Alabama House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee, is expected to propose changes to the state’s ethics law during the next legislative session.

Changes will include clarification to the definition of lobbyist principal for purposes of gift rules.

Additionally, clarification is expected for how to determine what is a conflict of interest for officials.

The aim of these changes is to help public employees and officials avoid unintentional violations of the law.

The committee’s next meeting is on October 26.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the dates for a special election to fill the House District 10 seat vacated by Rep. David Cole after pleading guilty to a charge of voter fraud.

The primary election for the seat will be held on December 12, and if necessary, the primary runoff will be held on January 9, 2024.

The special general election will be held on March 26, 2024.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced the special election date for House District 16.

The seat was previously held by Rep. Kyle South, whose resignation went into effect June 30.

South will become the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

The special primary election will take place on September 26.

If necessary, a special primary runoff will be held October 24.

The special general election will be held on January 9, 2024.

Gov. Kay Ivey has announced that she plans to call a special session.

The session is intended to address the congressional voting maps.

This follows a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that found the recent voting maps to be discriminatory towards black voters, and a deadline of July 21 was given to draft and approve new maps.

The special session is planned to take place from July 17 to July 21, 2023.

Alabama lawmakers officially concluded the 2023 legislative session on June 6.

Legislation that passed included a grocery tax reduction, an exemption from state income tax for overtime work, and a tax rebate for both individual and married tax filers.

The $3 billion budget surplus ultimately gave way to what lawmakers called historic tax relief.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced a special session during her State of the State address on March 7.

This session will begin March 8 and will focus on allocating the remaining $1.1 billion in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Among the issues to be covered will be how to both pay debts and invest in broadband and water infrastructure projects.

The Alabama Ethics Commission voted to increase the amount of de minimis items a lobbyist or lobbyist employer may give to public officials.

The new amounts are $32 or less per occasion with an aggregate of $64 or less per calendar year.

Previously the amount was $25 or less per occasion with an aggregate of $50 or less in a calendar year.

The change will only affect the definition of de minimis and has no effect on the exception for meals within the Alabama Code.

Alabama incumbent Governor Kay Ivey has won reelection in Alabama.

Ivey defeated her Democratic Opponent Yolanda Flowers.

Gov. Ivey will now serve her second four-year term.

Alabama voters passed all 10 ballot measures, including ballot measure four.

Ballot measure four requires any bill passed by the state legislature during an election year, which affects how a general election is held, to take effect at least six months before the general election.

Gov. Kay Ivey announced a special session to address how the state will use the remaining first-round funds from the American Rescue Plan.

Alabama still has about $443 million left to be used for pandemic-related health care services and reimbursement.

This session will begin on January 19.

Alabama State Rep. Howard Sanderford has announced he will not seek reelection in 2022 after 33 years in office.

Sanderford first secured his seat in the Alabama House of Representatives after winning a special election in 1989.