Alabama Senate Passes Police Staffing Bill

0:00Alabama Senate just passed the bill mandating minimum police staffing for Montgomery and Huntsville, 1.9 full-time officers per 1,000. Residents, smaller cities get five years to comply, with step-by-step goals to ramp up numbers. Fall short, and the state law enforcement agency steps into run things, while the attorney general claws back any costs from the city. Montgomery is in the hot sea right now, with city council estimates putting their force at 220 to 230 officers. That bill demands closer to 380, or the state takes over completely. Senators like Barfoot pushed hard, saying the cash is already in city budgets. No need for tax hikes, unlike Birmingham or mobile that are holding. Already, Democrats fired back strong, with Senator Hatcher vowing a lawsuit to block it. On the flip side, Senator Albertin called it a win for protecting property and jobs. The right way for government to step up when locals can't. Two Republican attorney general candidates are all in two.

1:03Blasting failed policies and backing state intervention for safety everywhere. The bill heads to the house next, with just five legislative days left this session. Eyes wide open on whether it crosses the finish line. This has been Birmingham News today, powered by AI.