[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339839,"mediaKeyId","2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93","parentId",2260723,"title","House adopts higher work-search requirement for unemployment; small-county exemption added","audioSeconds",5160,"startMs",1160000,"endMs",6320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93&start=1160&end=6320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93/thumbnail_1160000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339839/Alabama/House-adopts-higher-work-search-requirement-for-unemployment-small-county-exemption-added","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339839-0740c70f3b6b29ae39245b4a4bb64501/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203382&Signature=Vhqbow1vUYVgJ5vIbnN~CVUIOXFP~8YLu0F71LEP~BbiDwEAKSdKjGvpl2eGIPH0S-egQFPeEdsBBR0qbc4~md4n77RGdyeRCDaGWqIL7oKBsMtFx-j12Rrv5nhH5utfV8xU5~iybYZcMSNkx2~zby3Cjv9MtyrdHIy95vgh9mIXvgPMuKA1oVjZNl2lbOVU45PqrerAWnstWqxN6VvP8qMxpW3JSHqCzPAWVVgpmb6fCmb1VhZhpPXIKbsUa778YIt36S45d6eBXfmhUVRMylIp8nO0qDQTQriNrMjrXG47tXDi7RoQj5frnp8gj5jpH9nG54Y2ektMrujkldbyRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Alabama House of Representatives passed House Bill 29 on Feb. 11, increasing the number of weekly work-search actions required of unemployment insurance claimants from three to five and adopting a friendly amendment that keeps the requirement at three for counties with fewer than 20,000 residents.

Sponsor Representative Ed Oliver said the measure strengthens work-search rules to encourage re-employment and combat what he described as “ghosting” — applicants who apply but do not show for interviews. “Studies show that clearly defined measurable work-search actions lead to faster reemployment,” Oliver said during floor debate.

The bill leaves intact existing state law definitions about “suitable work,” including considerations such as risk to health and safety, prior experience and distance from the claimant’s residence. Oliver and other proponents pointed to a provision allowing claimants who cannot find suitable local work to enroll in Alabama Department of Labor (ADOL) training programs and continue receiving benefits while training.

Opponents, led by several legislators representing rural districts, said the measure could penalize people who lack access to employers, transportation or online resources to document searches. Representative Lawrence offered and the sponsor accepted a friendly amendment to preserve the prior three-search rule for counties with populations under 20,000. Representatives Jackson, Warren and others repeatedly urged more emphasis on job training, transportation and childcare as the primary constraints on reemployment.

House debate also touched on enforcement details: the bill clarifies that claimants would not be required to accept work that is unsuitable because it pays substantially less, is much farther away than previous employment, or requires skills the claimant does not possess. Oliver said the governor retains existing authority to suspend work-search requirements in a declared emergency.

The House adopted the changed bill and recorded final passage as amended: 76 ayes, 25 nays, 1 abstention. The sponsor moved for final passage; no individual second was recorded on the floor roll-call.

Why it matters: Supporters said the change seeks to shrink the gap between open jobs in the state and jobseekers who fail to convert applications into hires. Opponents warned the change risks penalizing people without nearby employers or reliable transportation and urged pairing any additional requirement with stronger access to ADOL training and transit funding.

Next steps: HB29, as passed by the House, will move to the Senate for consideration. The bill text and committee substitute include the ADOL training exemption and the small-county exception agreed on the House floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Alabama House of Representatives passed House Bill 29 on Feb. 11, increasing required weekly work-search actions for unemployment claimants from three to five and adding a county-size exemption.","taxTitle","House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",62182,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339825,"Votes at a glance: key House actions, Feb. 11 session",0,10018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93&start=10018&end=10018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93/thumbnail_10018000.jpg","/articles/6339825/Alabama/Votes-at-a-glance-key-House-actions-Feb-11-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339825-b1c3bec1ce77467d0032bfeb162e0fe6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203382&Signature=nxNhtx~EgyoU8Gc7kqtuOtRGNfjib7q1s4C9ERoAAJKq4z2iO5vnvCHVyF1qzrL1fCrXIYWxv47SBYsMf9Wym6kLxf24LWDp24czo7EUVBTaWg-4H9teIvR8ncz958NNloB1GxNLdRO4nt36J9RmHo8bkwCo6dptSrDu0AK9kA4v3UxxDSFQT0mOHCnM~FSyZxExtafpctYNq8ZJ4wPhsnNHQh57Gb7lIanHjQ9aMpeqlGIkYwxn5jHynkyM3chCgq~ksQM0NixI~m0fsg6-fsaNrVYNGjjVTYcQNDKjBbOizI8BOfPMVxhz9q9l~XOEk7uxUXmVXj~fLv0NAR9Xrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House considered a number of bills on Feb. 11. Below are short summaries of the items the chamber debated and recorded on the floor, with outcomes taken from the official recorded roll calls announced during the session.

HB160 (Lee) — Alabama Municipal Electric Authority: Sponsor explained the bill would allow board member pay of up to $1,750 per meeting subject to clarifying language in a substitute. The House adopted a committee substitute and passed the bill as amended. Outcome: passed as amended. (Transcript record: “HB160 has passed as amended.”)

HB93 (Brown) — Alabama State Port Authority: The bill would allow the Port Authority to adopt reporting thresholds and procedures in coordination with the Examiner of Public Accounts, aligning its asset-accounting rules with universities and hospitals to avoid burdensome $500 inventory reporting. Final passage recorded: 102 ayes, 1 nay.

HB2 (Brown) — Vaccines and parental consent: The bill clarifies parental consent for vaccinations for minors living under a parent’s roof; sponsor described the measure as parental-rights legislation (not a prohibition on vaccination). Final passage as amended recorded: 92 ayes, 5 nays.

HB54 (Simpson) — Juvenile-court ex parte determinations for child safety: The bill would allow juvenile courts to enter temporary ex parte orders to determine child safety in family-law or divorce proceedings where immediate safety questions arise. Final passage recorded: 103 ayes, 0 nays.

HB43 (Hill) — Sentencing split authority: The bill permits judicial discretion to impose a 30-year sentence split to serve 10 years in the penitentiary with the remainder on probation (committee substitute clarified the 10 years must be penitentiary time, not county jail). Final passage recorded: 55 ayes, 44 nays.

Other actions: committee reports were received and floor procedure votes (dispensing with reading of the journal, leaves of absence, and routine BRR/substitute adoptions) were taken during the session.

Each bill above will proceed to the Senate for further consideration where applicable.","The Alabama House took up several bills Feb. 11, passing measures on municipal utilities, ports, vaccines, child welfare and sentencing. This roundup lists each bill introduced or passed on the floor with outcomes and key details.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339830,"House approves immunity for prosecutors advising police during investigations; critics raise concerns about accountability",1502,8563000,10065000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93&start=8563&end=10065","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93/thumbnail_8563000.jpg","/articles/6339830/Alabama/House-approves-immunity-for-prosecutors-advising-police-during-investigations-critics-raise-concerns-about-accountability","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339830-c49d835bbb05153db65efd87ad4c8b47/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203382&Signature=luT0gUlMtY~fTLG40vKr3gIM8p-GnJhecAbtmFKXlhuiOqQzpoT-6SjdU49z5I50pS1aRjkNtszAQLCci-O6OKiGkUjQY2jMYQo89QtuUmpBwycpCTvuZqnPokXkQ9hc0z3IefTvqmdPfnuDy~3vuO2FqIdvn-LI1ob3HuX~QLb3JJpu5cL46AqrMqgKBUHEHVhC4dDAgY-RiRN01eKhErMk8NFmKxS-Y44hTbqV5EG2bs6lkvQw9lJDEqEUS6o6JdWT-fw3GFFl0mVzMtnNmE59RjQuc0XetYLPIzPX6rR1K~vkvQl4LXleholT9~BhULMKut~u~dOtW6WDzXzsyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama House passed House Bill 38 on Feb. 11 by a recorded vote of 101–0. The bill grants civil immunity to prosecuting attorneys — including district and municipal prosecutors — for legal advice and actions taken in the course of prosecutorial duties, specifically when advising law enforcement on investigatory or charging decisions.

Sponsor Judge Hill (Representative Hill) said the measure is intended to encourage candid legal advice between prosecutors and police during ongoing investigations, which he and supporters argued will improve investigative outcomes and reduce mistakes at crime scenes.

Several members voiced strong reservations. A representative from Jefferson County, who said she does not generally support immunity bills, argued that expanding immunity undermines victims’ civil recourse and could deny remedies to people injured by wrongful state action. That member and others asked for empirical examples where prosecutors were deterred from advising officers by fear of civil liability; sponsor Hill said the bill is intended to make protections explicit so prosecutors can advise without concern about civil suits.

Lawmakers who supported the bill said it follows established prosecutorial duties and would not alter the criminal appellate process; opponents said broad immunity creates an imbalance in accountability and requested clearer limits on scope.

Why it matters: The change affects civil liability rules for prosecutors and may alter the legal landscape for claims against government actors. Supporters say it will encourage more effective cooperation between prosecutors and investigators; critics said it risks reducing legal remedies for harmed citizens.

Next steps: HB38 passed the House and will go to the Senate.","House Bill 38 passed the House unanimously on Feb. 11 to shield prosecuting attorneys from civil liability for advice given to law enforcement in investigatory or charging matters. Supporters said it protects candid legal advice; critics warned it expands immunity and could deprive victims of recourse.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339834,"House passes bill to make certain child sex offenses eligible for death penalty; debate centers on constitutionality and scope",2079,6777000,8856000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93&start=6777&end=8856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260723-73ffb7f3c34897ad44b989814d98fa93/thumbnail_6777000.jpg","/articles/6339834/Alabama/House-passes-bill-to-make-certain-child-sex-offenses-eligible-for-death-penalty-debate-centers-on-constitutionality-and-scope","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339834-acbb5d0a0932c6f3c826a0fb613eca4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203382&Signature=k2b-v4AT-S-cky28LYsrcjp1S8-xL0iO79quwM-6UvqMgRAeEz~xaC4otcz0PApEH5Dq7ugV-jejApcoQsmYhcokmpP8fYrHAd7Wx2uAxB--xIhyxMWiysv7XYLTRSW-s8CWCo4QZWAaSQ33PUqVh4DwKatJI9adaRYId~dMsYplQNlBf-D5Ev16Zi4IzNNXwNxQJNSDgLoKdJyyhZ45OdXpAVYfhxcFUJJ7wxcs9wqZvHaUeDhPyAU3RdZ~~F4Jm2fenkl0yzcrS6zd8mAmPj4IkpMnS-qaYaN8iOu64jNBsdBQnD6TH1eo4okCSouk~Sgz602PTMav6e1BpRsHQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama House approved House Bill 49, as substituted, on Feb. 11. The measure would change potential punishments so that if a person commits the offenses described in the bill against a child under the age of 12, the prosecution could pursue capital punishment. The committee substitute advanced the age threshold from under 6 to under 12.

Sponsor Representative Jeremy Simpson said the change reflects the gravity of the crimes and mirrored recent actions in other states. He told the House the committee substitute moved the covered age from 6 to 12 and that the bill tracks capital-murder sentencing schemes already used for homicide.

Opponents raised constitutional and moral objections. Representative Rafferty said he opposes the death penalty on conscience grounds and would vote no for that reason. Representative Jackson questioned whether supporting capital punishment in such cases is consistent with being “pro-life.” Representative Hassell noted United States Supreme Court precedent — Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008) — which held that imposing the death penalty for certain child sexual offenses (in the absence of the victim’s death) was, at that time, an “unusual” punishment and therefore violated the Eighth Amendment; Hassell warned the House that the law as drafted could prompt litigation given that precedent.

Supporters said other states have recently acted on similar laws, and the sponsor argued that Alabama’s action could help reshape the national legal landscape if challenged. During floor action the House adopted the committee substitute and ultimately passed the bill as substituted. Recorded votes on the House floor included adoption of the substitute (98–0) and final passage as substituted (86 ayes, 5 nays, 9 abstentions).

Why it matters: The bill creates a statutory path enabling prosecutors to seek the death penalty for the covered offenses against children under 12. Legal analysts have noted the current Supreme Court precedent on this issue, and lawmakers acknowledged the likelihood of legal challenge.

Next steps: With House passage, the measure will go to the Senate. Sponsors and opponents said they expect constitutional litigation if the measure moves forward.","House Bill 49, as substituted, passed the House and would permit prosecutors to seek the death penalty for certain sexual crimes against children under 12. Supporters cited the severity of the crimes and a trend of other states; opponents cited Supreme Court precedent and moral concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House adopts higher work-search requirement for unemployment; small-county exemption added

Votes at a glance: key House actions, Feb. 11 session

House approves immunity for prosecutors advising police during investigations; critics raise concerns about accountability

House passes bill to make certain child sex offenses eligible for death penalty; debate centers on constitutionality and scope