Alabama ACLU

Millions of Americans have already been sweltering through heat waves this summer, and forecasters warn of hot months ahead. July 3 and 4, 2023, were two of the hottest days, and possibly the hottest, on satellite record globally. For people who struggle to afford air conditioning, the rising need for cooling is a growing crisis. An alarming number of Americans risk losing access to utility service altogether because they can't pay their bills. Alabama ranks high for this.

The Supreme Court has lifted its hold on a Louisiana case that could force the state to redraw congressional districts to boost Black voting power. Monday's order follows the court's rejection earlier in June of a congressional redistricting map in Alabama and unfreezes the Louisiana case, which had been on hold pending the Alabama decision.

Alabama legislators will hold their first meeting next week to determine what the state's new congressional map should look like after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the state's existing plan unlawfully diluted the power of Black voters.

The Equal Justice Initiative has opened up a new health clinic in Montgomery. The facility will offer free health screenings for former Alabama prison inmates or those in the low-income bracket.

A pair of proposals that would restrict classroom conversations around so-called “divisive concepts” failed to pass this legislative session. However, activists are concerned they may return in 2024.

This week's Supreme Court decision ordering Alabama to redraw its congressional districts was seen by many minority lawmakers and voting rights activists as a stunning victory with the potential to become a major stepping stone for undoing political maps that dilute the strength of communities of color.

The Supreme Court has issued a surprising ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case, ordering the creation of a second district with a large Black population.

Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday concluded the 2023 legislative session that was marked by tax cut measures and ended with the shelving of some controversial measures, including a bill that would make it a crime to help a non-family member fill out an absentee ballot.

Alabama lawmakers on Tuesday concluded the 2023 legislative session. Major legislation that won approval this year included removing a portion of the state sales tax on food. Lawmakers also approved a spending plan for pandemic relief funds and an extension of the a tax credit program used to lure industries to the state.

Alabama lawmakers seem unlikely to pass a bill restricting school discussions on sexual identity during the last day of 2023 legislative session. The state legislature is poised to meet on Tuesday, June 6th for the 30th and last day of this year’s session.