Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger named State Sen. Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) the new co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Sunset Committee, a panel that decides whether dozens of state boards and commissions should be continued, consolidated, or shut down.
The appointment came as the committee begins requiring people who testify to do so under oath — a change leaders say is meant to curb bad information and tighten accountability.
They did so for the first time during Thursday’s hearing.
Gudger praised Kelley as a lawmaker who will “root out waste, fraud and abuse” and “demand a strong dose of accountability” from occupational and industry licensing boards.
“After running fast and loose for far too long, the state’s occupational boards, agencies, and commissions have been placed under an intense microscope by the Joint Sunset Committee over the past few years, and serious issues have been discovered in many of them,” Gudger (R-Cullman) said.
“Sen. Keith Kelley is fully committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse where it exists, demanding a strong dose of accountability, and keeping the heat on those who think they can game the system.”
On the day Kelley assumed his position as co-chair, the committee began requiring individuals appearing before it to take a sworn oath similar to those given to witnesses in court proceedings.
The action was taken after some individuals testifying before the committee were discovered to have provided false, misleading, and incorrect information regarding the finances, procedures, and problems within their agencies.
Within state law, the Sunset Committee holds public hearings, reviews audits from the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, and then sends “sunset bills” to the full Legislature, recommending whether agencies should continue, be restructured or terminated.
Debate on those bills is time-limited to force action.
State Sen. Keith Kelley, a realtor and longtime small-business owner from Calhoun County elected in 2022, already sits on several powerful Senate panels, including Finance and Taxation General Fund, Rules, State Governmental Affairs, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, Children and Youth Health, Veterans and Military Affairs, and County and Municipal Government.
He is also pushing governance changes for boards under Sunset.
In 2025, Kelley authored SB39, a bill that would require members of Sunset-subject boards to complete a five-hour governance course designed by the Examiners of Public Accounts in consultation with the Attorney General, covering open meetings, contract review, recurring audit problems and best practices. Earlier this year, the bill passed the Senate, but not the House.
With renewed focus around the sunset process, Kelley might bring similar and additional legislation when the 2026 session begins on January 13.
Grayson Everett is the editor and chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
