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>> DON: GOOD EVENING. FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY. THANKS FOR JOINING US. TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE ALABAMA SENATE TODAY APPROVED A

HIGH-PROFILE BILL THAT WOULD, UNDER CLOSELY REGULATED CIRCUMSTANCES, LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE. IT'S LEGISLATION THAT HAS PASSED THE UPPER CHAMBER THE LAST TWO

YEARS, BUT HAS STALLED IN THE HOUSE. IT'S SPONSORED AGAIN BY SENATOR TIM MELSON OF FLORENCE, WHO IS A PHYSICIAN, AND IS OPPOSED BY, AMONG OTHERS, FELLOW PHYSICIAN, SENATOR LARRY STUTTS

OF SHEFFIELD. >> I WAS SKEPTICAL FIVE YEARS AGO. AND I STARTED TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE, INSTEAD OF THE BIASED PEOPLE, AND I'M NOT A RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA PERSON. I DON'T WANT

THAT IN THIS STATE. I JUST WANT THE PATIENT TOTES HAVE IT IN IT STATE. >> I WOULD AGREE WITH THE SINGLE JEP THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS MEDICAL MARIJUANA. IT'S JUST MARIJUANA.

>> NELL SOP'S PILL WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DESCRIBE THIS FOR PATIENTS AND REGULATE THE GROWING OF MARIJUANA. WITH TODAY'S BILL TO TO APPROVE THE LEGISLATION AFTER 15 MINUTES OF

DEBATE IT, NOW, MOVES TO THE HOUSE. THE HOUSISHARY APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD IT'S SPONSORED IN THE LOWER CHAMBER BY REPRESENTATIVE WES ALLEN OF TROY, WHO HAS SAID THAT HE RECOGNIZES

GENDER DYSPHORIA AS AN ISSUE, BUT THAT HE FEELS MINORS ARE TOO YOUNG TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR BODIES, THAT THEY CAN DO THAT WHEN THEY ARE ADULTS. IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE, SOMETHING

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBER REPRESENTATIVE DAVID FAULKNER ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY. >> I HEARD FROM TRANCE TRANSGENDERED PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BILL. I HEARD FROM PARENTS OF TRANS

GENDERED PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDE SIDES OF THIS BILL. I JUST WANT THE PEOPLE TO REALIZE, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW IN TO THIS SITUATION WE TRY TO DO THE BEST WE CAN. AND YOU PRAY FOR GOD TO GIVE YOU THE

BIZ COME TO INVITE THE RIGHT WAY DON: FAULKNER ULTIMATELY VOTED WITH THE MAJORITY TO APPROVE THE BILL. TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES LIKE THE ACLU OF ALABAMA TODAY CALLED THE LEGISLATION

UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND PROMISED A LEGAL CHALLENGE IF IT MAKES IT TO FINAL PASSAGE. A SIMILAR TRANSGENDER YOUTH BILL HAS ALREADY PASSED A SENATE COMMITTEE AND IT AND THE HOUSE VERSION NOW BOTH

HEAD TO THE FLOOR. DON: THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE TODAY APPROVED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MANDATE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL ATHLETES CAN ONLY COMPETE IN EVENTS THAT ALIGN WITH THE GENDER

ON THEIR BIRTH CERTIFICATE. IT'S SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT STADTHAGEN OF HARTSELLE AND THE BILL COMES IN RESPONSE TO A RECENT PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER DEALING WITH GENDER OR

SEXUAL ORIENTATION DISCRIMINATION. STADTHAGEN SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL. >> IT'S BASED OF THE OF THE CERTIFICATE. IF YOU'RE A FEMALE YOU COMPETE IN FEMALE ATHLETICS Q-K123.

FEMALE RITES ARE BEING TRAMPED UPON AND I WILL PREVENT THIS FROM GOING BACK DECADES TO WHERE WE ARE NOW >> DON: THE TRANSGENDER ATHLETE ISSUE IS ALSO A DIVISIVE ONE, WITH OPPONENTS

PUSHING BACK AGAINST EFFORTS TO CURTAIL THEM. STATDHAGEN'S BILL NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. DON: THE HOUSE EDUCATION POLICY COMMITTEE TODAY ALSO APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD LIFT THE

STATE'S BAN ON TEACHING YOGA IN STATE SCHOOLS. IT'S LEGISLATION THAT'S BEING FLOATED FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR AND IS AGAIN SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE JEREMY GRAY OF

OPELIKA, WHO PREVIOUSLY SPOKE TO CAPITOL JOURNAL. >> WE KNOW YOGA HAS BENEFITS AND WE JUST WANT TO GIVE THE KIDS BENEFITS WHERE YOGA IS OFFERED THROUGHOUT STATE OF PAM IN GYMS AND

MIGHT STOOLS AND TARGET AND PUBLIC D-1 IT'S NOT ALLOWED TO THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW YOGA IN K-12 DON: THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION BANNED YOGA AND MEDITATION IN 1993, AFTER CONCERNS WERE

RAISED OVER THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH EASTERN RELIGIONS. WITH TODAY'S COMMITTEE PASSAGE, THE YOGA BILL NEXT MOVES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. DON: A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE STATE DOCTORS TO SAVE A

CHILD BORN ALIVE AFTER AN ABORTION OR ATTEMPTED ABORTION CLEARED COMMITTEE TODAY. IT'S'S LEGISLATION SPONSORED BY REPRESENTATIVE GINNY SHAVER OF LEESBURG, WHO IS BRINGING IT FOR

THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR. >> >> WE HAVE RAILROAD ADDRESSED THAT ISSUE AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE COURT TOTE DECIDE BUT ABORTION HE ARE CONTINUING IN IN THE STATE: SO THIS

POSSIBILITY CAN STILL HAPPEN: SO THERE IS STILL A NEED IN CASE THE SITUATION ARRIVES BEGIN DON: SHAVER'S BILL WOULD SET UP CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR STATE DOCTORS WHO DON'T TAKE

MEASURES TO SAVE BABIES BORN ALIVE DURING AN ABORTION. WITH TODAY'S APPROVAL BY THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, IT NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE FLOOR. DON: THE HOUSE CONSTITUTION, CAMPAIGNS

AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE TODAY HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING IN ALABAMA LIKE THAT USED DURING THE PANDEMIC LAST YEAR. IT'S SPONSORED BY

REPRESENTATIVE LAURA HALL OF HUNTSVILLE, WHO CONTENDED THAT SUCH VOTING WORKED WELL IN 2020. IS. >> IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS FELT THEY COULD DO THE VOTING WITHOUT HAVING

TO GIVE AN EXCUSE, IT SEEMED TO HAVE MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE TURN OUT. >> OUT. IF THAT IS THE DAYS, WHY HAVE A RESTRICTION FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD ORDINARY GO VOTE AND NOT GO TO

THE POLLS DON: THE STATE'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER, SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL, IS SUPPORTING HALL'S LEGISLATION. AN OFFICIAL FROM HIS OFFICE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF IT AT

TODAY'S HEARING. A COMMITTEE VOTE IS SET FOR NEXT WEEK. DON: LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TODAY TOOK TO THE STATEHOUSE STEPS TO TALK UP THE IMPORTANCE OF A PACKAGE OF BILLS AIMED AT PROTECTING

ALABAMA'S MILITARY ASSETS. OFFICIALS LIKE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH, SENATE PRESIDENT PRO TEM GREG REED AND HOUSE SPEAKER MAC MCCUTCHEON ALL SPOKE OUT IN SUPPORT OF THE

LEGISLATION. >> OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE, SO MAKE ALABAMA THE MOST VETERAN FRIENDLY STATE. >> OUR MILITARY BASE ARE SO IMPORTANT TO ALABAMA EIGHT ECONOMY WE WANT TO BE SUPPORT I HAVE

OF THE MILITARY. >> I INTEND TO MOVE THIS APPLE FORWARD. WE'RE PLANNING ON HAVING A SPECIAL MILITARY DAY ONCE WE GET THE BILLS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE PROCESS. DON: THE MILITARY BILL

PACKAGE, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE SENATE, IS THE WORK OF THE ALABAMA MILITARY STABILITY COMMISSION, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE

PACKAGE WOULD ALLOW MILITARY DEPENDENTS TO PAY IN-STATE TUITION WHILE STATIONED HERE AND WOULD GUARANTEE THE ACCEPTANCE OF OUT-OF-STATE OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES FOR MILITARY DEPENDENTS IN

VARIOUS PROFESSIONS. WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK. >> . >> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, TWO GUESTS JOIN US TO TALK ABOUT LEGISLATION IS DEALING WITH INSTITUTES AT TWO UNIVERSITIES IF

PAM. TOMMY HAYNES IS WITH US. WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM. >> WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR ASKING ME TO BE HERE TODAY. >> AND REID, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE THE COLLEGE REPUBLICAN FEDERATION.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> YOU WERE SPONSORING THE LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE, REPRESENT HAYNES. LET'S REFRESH OUR MEMORY. >> THAT IS CORRECT. THEY'RE RUNNING

UNDER THE GUISE OF TEACH CHINESE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE. >> AS COLLEGE STUDENT YOU GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. THE FEDERATION HAS TAPE THIS OPEN AS ALONE ISSUE. TELL US HOW YOU

FEEL. >> WE FEEL LIKE, AS YOUNG PEOPLE IN COLLEGE, TO HOLD THE CHINESE PARTY ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT THEY'RE DOING. THIS IS A DISTRICT INFRINGEMENT OF FREEDOM. PERSONAL OFFICIALS

HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S SHROUDED IN DISCRETION TEE. $158 MILLION HAVE GONE TO THE INSTITUTES SCHOOLS HAVE TO REPORT ANYTHING OVER $250,000 PER CALENDAR YEAR FROM

OUTSIDE. AND ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT REPORTING THE FUNDS? THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE THAT PRESIDENTS OF A.M. AND TROY HAVE DEFENDED HOSTING THE INSTITUTES SAYING THEY ARE

CULTURAL AND DON'T REFLECT THE INSTITUTE AT LARGE. THIS WAS MAKE OR BREAK; RIGHT? >> YES, WE DID. WATTS AN EDUCATIONAL ROUNDTABLE FOR PEOPLE IN LEADERSHIP AND MEN'S. WE HAD

PEOPLE FROM THE FBI. WE ARE HAD PEOPLE FROM THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF THE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PEOPLE THERE WITH FACTS. TODAY WAS A GOOD OUTCOME. BECAUSE OF THE CONTROVERY, YOU FELT LIKE YOU

NEEDED TO SIT DOWN WITH FOLKS AND TELL THEM WHAT IS WHAT. BECAUSE WHETHER OR NOT THIS MOVES FORWARD DEPENDED ON IT. >> THAT'S TRUE. IT GAVE LEADERSHIP A PERSPECTIVE. BECAUSE WHAT

THEY HAVE WITHIN GETTING UP TO TODAY WAS ONE SIDE OF IT. THEY WERE GETTING THE HUNTSVILLE A&M AND GETTING TROY UNDER THE SIDE OF IT, AND TODAY THEY GOT THE OTHER SIDE THE FACTS. >>

THEY HAVE DEFENDED HOSTING, SAYING THEY'RE A CHANGE OF INITIATIVES BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITIES AND CHINA. AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED. STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

MACK MCCUTCHAN ISSUED A MEMO. >> HE TRECKED K-12 TO CLOSE THESE PROGRAMS OF THESE PROFESSORS. IT'S PART OF THE POWER THAT WILL POWER PUSHING THROUGH THE INSTITUTES. IT'S VERY

CONCERNING. AND SUPERINTENDENT MACKEY DID A GOOD THING IN ISSUING THAT MEMO. >> GIVEN HOW OUR RELEASES ARE DETERIORATED CONCERNING THE PANDEMIC, AMONG OTHER REASONS, WAS THAT OF GREAT

CONCERN TO YOU IN DRAFTING THIS LEGISLATION? >> WELL, IT WAS. IT HAD A LOT TO DO WITH -- BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THE CHINESE WAS SHARING THIS PANDEMIC OPEN THE WORLD. MANY ALABAMANS HAVE

NEVER HEARD OF THEM EITHER. BUT WHEN I TALKED TO CLINT AND STARTED GETTING THIS AND RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM HIM, THEN I THOUGHT SOMETHING LAS TO BE DONE. WE HAVE TO DO OUR BEST TO GET

THEM OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. >> I WANT TO TALK ON THIS ISSUE OF INFLUENCE OVER CURRICULUM. IT'S BEEN CONTENDED TOGETHER INSTITUTES. >> I BELIEVE IT WILL COME OUT OF COMMITTEE,

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE HOUSE MEMBERS HAD WILL SUPPORT IT. >> WE FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD TAKE THIS ON BECAUSE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO DO LESS TO HOLD THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

REQUESTABLE. >> TWO HOUSE MEMBERSHIP, MIKE HOLMES AND WES ALLEN, ARE BOTH ALUMNI OF TROY. THEY'RE' FOR THIS BILL AND SUPPORTIVE OF IT. >> AS WE GET READY TO CLOSE.

TODAY WHERE YOU SAT DOWN WILL DETERMINE HOW THIS MOVES FORWARD PUT YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC HIT MOVE FORWARD. >> YES. I BELIEVE IT IN. >> TOMMY HAYNES OF BRYANT, THANK YOU FOR BEING

WITH US TEED. >> "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK >> NEXT UP, MATT SIMPSON IS WITH US. THANK YOU VERY MUCH HAVING ME. >> IN THE EARLIER SESSION, YOU HAVE A

SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DEGREES DEAL WITH BE THAT PTSD WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS. WHAT YOU HAVE PROPOSED IS REIMBURSING THESE FOLKS. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PHILOSOPHY. >> IT'S FOR FULL-TIME

PAID FIRE FIGHTER AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. IF THEY GO TO SEEK MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT OR COUNSELING OR THERAPY AND SEEK HELP FOSTER SUFFERING SOMETHING ON THE JOB, IT WOULD PAY THEIR

CO-PAY SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE POST OFFICE BOX OUT-OF-POCKET FOR CO-EXPENSE HE. A NUMBER OF THESE OFFICERS, THEY'RE SUFFERING AND DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL US HOW MUCH. ILL

BUILDS UP AND CREATES THESE PROBLEMS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF SUICIDE FOR SISTER FIREFIGHTERS IF OTHERS. >> THERE'S SO MUCH AT RISK BY THE NATURE OF WHAT THEY THINK. THE COST

FOR TREATMENT CAN BE SIGNIFICANT. IT CAN. SOMETIMES IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THEM TO GET ABOUT OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN FRONT OF A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. IT CAN BE EXPENSE EAVE FOR THEM. RIGHTS NOW

THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY TREATMENT. IT'S UNFORTUNATE AND WENT TO MAKER SURE THEY HAVE THE FUNDING TO SEEK HELP. >> THE BILL I INTRODUCED DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH COMMITTEE. WE

CAME DO MONTGOMERY SIX OR SEVEN TIMES AND MET WITH THE FRATERNAL OFFICER OF POLICE. THERE'S A LEVEL WHERE IF THAT PERSON CAN NOT IF PACK TO WORK THEY DID RECEIVE BACK TO THEIR SALARY.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE IF SOMEBODY IS SURGERY, THAT THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AHEAD ASK DISCUSSION THIS AND GET HELP. BUT YOU THIS IS HOW MUCH YOU SPENT. IT'S NOT BEING

DONE ANYWHERE ELSE. IT'S BEEN A WORK. PEOPLE ARE MAD BECAUSE IT'S TOO BIG OR NOT BILLING ENOUGH. WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATORS BAR FOOD IS CARRYING IT IN THE SENATE. HE

WAS INVOLVED IN THE WAY. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IN THIS BACKGROUND. SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN GET THIS PASSED. >> GIVEN THE PANDEMIC, IT'S BEEN MORE CHALLENGING. DID THAT MAKE

IT MORE MEANINGFUL? >> WE WANT THEN TO KNOW WE HAVE THEIR BACK. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE GETTING YELLED AT OR SCREAMED AT. WE WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND THAT WE

ARE AT YOUR SERVICE. WE UNDERSTAND THERE'S A COST FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU P.M. FOR US. >> BEFORE WE CLOSING, YOU HAVE SHOOT IN THIS SESSION. YOU HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH A COUPLE OF

HURRICANES. THIS CAN COME IN THAT VAIN. >> THIS WAS LAST YEAR. BY THE TIME WE FIND OUT THERE ARE PROBLEMS OR ERRORS GOING ON, THIS WAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT TEETH IN THE LAW.

>> THAT'S MADE IT MORE MEANINGFUL THIS YEAR. >> SO A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THIS? >> IT PASSED IN HOUSE. I THINK THERE WERE 80 OR 90 CIOSPONSORS IN THE HOUSE. THE SPEAKER

OF THE HOUSE CAME DOWN. >> ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU OFTEN THE PROGRAM. DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT. COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE

LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE. AND WE'RE SCHEDULED TO BE JOINED BY DON: AND THAT'S CAPITOL JOURNAL FOR TONIGHT. COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT AT 10:30, WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST FROM THE

STATEHOUSE. AND WE'RE SCHEDULED TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT STADTHAGEN OF HARTSELLE, WHO WILL TALK WITH US ABOUT HIS BILL DEALING WITH TRANSGENDER ATHLETES. IT PASSED A HOUSE

COMMITTEE TODAY AND HOW HEADS TO THE FLOOR. WE'RE ALSO SET TO BE JOINED BY REPRESENTATIVE ANDREW SORRELL OF MUSCLE SHOALS, WHO WILL DISCUSS HIS ‘CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY' GUN BILL

WHICH THIS WEEK GAINED THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN MO BROOKS OF HUNTSVILLE. FOR ALL OF US AT CAPITOL JOURNAL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. I'M DON DAILEY.