April 6, 2026

In the final week of Alabama's 2026 legislative session, Capitol Journal provides a comprehensive look at the state's budget progress, key legislative achievements, and the upcoming transition to a new statehouse. With just three days left before adjournment, lawmakers are finalizing the general fund and Education Trust Fund budgets, including the groundbreaking CHEERS Act— an outcomes-based funding model for public universities tied to student success, workforce alignment, and research impact. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter highlights major wins like a three-year freeze on energy rates, a grocery tax holiday, and over $1.5 billion in tax cuts, emphasizing their direct impact on Alabamians. The episode also covers the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s collaboration with POWs on the annual 'Don't Drop It on Alabama' campaign to combat littering, which remains a criminal offense. Behind the scenes, Senate Secretary Pat Harris and House Clerk John Treadwell detail the intense, nonpartisan coordination required during the legislative 'mad dash,' including the physical movement of bills up and down stairwells between chambers. The emotional weight of closing the historic Capitol building is underscored by nostalgic reflections from both officials, who acknowledge its legacy while welcoming the new, more accessible, and modern legislative complex across the street. The new building promises enhanced public access, larger committee rooms with theater-style seating, improved media facilities, and better inter-chamber collaboration through shared floors and open layouts. APT Studio’s new state-of-the-art TV studio space is also highlighted as a key component of the new facility, ensuring continued public access to state government proceedings.