“Working” in, gambling out as lawmakers end session in Montgomery

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WPMI) — Alabama lawmakers are on their way home.

Their latest legislative session came to a close Thursday evening.

And with it, hopes for a gambling package that would have allowed voters to decide on a state lottery and other forms of gambling.

PREVIOUSLY: 2024 AL legislative session may end without passage of gambling bill

However, a major piece of bipartisan legislation did make it into law, a plan called “Working for Alabama,” a series of six bills meant to stir economic development and pull more Alabamians into the workforce.

• The creation of childcare tax credit, a way to encourage employers to pay for their workers’ child care, and even make it easier for those who offer those services to make them more affordable.
• A tax credit to encourage developers to build multi-family rental units for workers.
• A plan to allow students to exchange some required courses for tech classes and still receive their diploma
• The consolidation of state workforce programs
• The creation of research and development corridors
• The establishment of a public-private partnership focused on long-term economic development efforts.

It’s an ambitious project, but one that seems to play well on both sides of the political aisle.

But gambling? It never could make it out of the senate.

That became evident late this afternoon, and Governor Ivey was quick to say she wasn’t happy about it.

“I’m disappointed,” said the governor. “I wanted the people to have a chance to vote on the issue. They deserve to vote themselves.”

Ivey says she doesn’t see a point in calling a special session since lawmakers couldn’t come to an agreement during the session.

Also making headlines this session, a bill passed that is meant to protect couples trying to conceive a child through in vitro fertilization, something that became necessary after a controversial decision by the Alabama Supreme Court.