By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Legislative business ground to a crawl on the final day of Alabama’s 2025 session as Senate Democrats launched a filibuster, protesting what they call a breach of long-standing protocol on local legislation.
Senators Rodger Smitherman and Linda Coleman-Madison, both Birmingham Democrats, used procedural rules Wednesday to delay a slew of local bills, citing how lawmakers handled legislation affecting Jefferson County during the session. Chief among their concerns: a recently passed bill that restructured the Birmingham Water Works Board, shifting control away from the city and toward surrounding counties.
“This is about basic courtesy,” said Smitherman. “I didn’t get one iota. Got none from the local delegation and didn’t get any from you all.”
The Senate had adopted a calendar packed with more than 50 local bills—most with Republican sponsors—that impact only specific counties. Typically, legislators honor “local courtesy,” refraining from interfering with bills outside their own districts. Smitherman’s move to block consideration of even routine bills signaled deep dissatisfaction with how Jefferson County was treated.
Despite Democrats’ protests, Republicans—who hold 27 of 34 seats—have the numbers to cut off debate. Within an hour, they passed a cloture motion, limiting debate and advancing the first bill, which concerned the Fayette County revenue commissioner.
The standoff continued. Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, objected to the House’s failure to take up his bill concerning Greenetrack, a betting facility in Eutaw located in his district. “We represent a constituency also,” he reminded fellow senators.
As of 8 p.m., only 10 bills had passed—just a fifth of the calendar—after nearly seven hours of grinding procedure. About 40 bills remained with the legislative clock ticking toward the midnight deadline.
Meanwhile, several high-profile statewide bills, including one to expand police immunity—a priority backed by Gov. Kay Ivey under the “Back the Blue” banner—remained in limbo as the chamber battled over procedure and respect.