Ainsworth to BCA: Serving veterans must be Alabama’s priority – ‘They want to be able to have a voice’

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February 11, 2025

Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth spoke to the importance of supporting servicemembers, veterans, and their families during his address to the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) on Tuesday morning.

Ainsworth promoted the creation of a new veterans resource center to concentrate that support — while further articulating his opposition to a separate proposal under consideration by the Alabama Senate today.

“The Veterans Resource Center is going to be a great thing for the state, modeled after what they did in Tennessee, and it’s just going to help veterans with public-private partnerships, make sure that we help them get jobs in our state,” Ainsworth said. “We want to make sure that, hey, ‘What is it we can help you do?’” The statewide Veterans Resource Center initiative, which recently passed the Alabama Senate, aims to streamline services and employment opportunities for veterans.

Ainsworth elaborated on his opposition to a proposal, which, as currently drafted, would create a cabinet-level position overseeing the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) and restructure its 12-member board.

Ainsworth argues the bill would “limit” representation for Alabama’s approximately 300,000 veterans.

“I’ve heard from veterans all over. Nothing against having a cabinet-level position — I think that’s probably a good idea — but to take away these different associations across the state’s ability to serve and then reducing the board sends the wrong message to veterans,” Ainsworth said.

The Lt. Governor said his criticism comes from a desire to ensure veterans maintain a strong advisory role. “We don’t have a state or a country without our veterans and our active military, and I think we should always encourage them to get engaged and not ever make it political.”

Ainsworth outlined current and future legislative priorities aimed at strengthening Alabama’s status as a veteran-friendly state, which he and lawmakers have made strong gains in recent years.

These include establishing a Veterans Treatment Court across all 67 counties, expanding the GI dependent scholarship program, implementing a disabled veterans property tax exemption and exempting certain military pay from state taxes.

“We want to continue to make sure we’re number one for military families,” Ainsworth stated.

Today, the House will convene at 1:00 p.m. and the Senate at 2:00 p.m. It is day four of the 2025 state legislative session.

Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at [email protected].