Legislation designed to give Alabama’s elected officials increased oversight on how members of the Alabama Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees are appointed has officially passed the House. It will quickly return to the Senate for concurrence before it heads to Governor Ivey’s desk.
The bill, SB5, was originally filed by State Sen. Chris Elliot (R-Josephine) in response to a controversial LGBTQ event held by the department in 2023.
Elliot’s legislation passed the Senate by a margin of 26-5 in mid-April, moving to the House, where it remained until today’s vote. Once signed into law, the bill will grant the Governor of Alabama the ability to select eight members of the department’s Board of Trustees, while also becoming a voting member as well.
Additionally, the legislation invests the Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tem with the responsibility of appointing four members.
In an effort to take into account minority parties, the bill also directs the Senate Minority Leader to draft a list of potential board members, from which the Speaker and President Pro Tem must each select a new voting member.
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State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), who carried the bill in the House, said the aim is to align the board’s structure with those of other state institutions.
“This bill reconstitutes the board of directors to make it more in line with our other two flagship museums of the state, the Battleship and the Rocket Center,” Kiel said on the House floor during debate.
A House amendment offered by State Rep. Joe Lovvoron (R-Auburn) eliminated Senate confirmation requirements for appointees.
“The basis of that is… why would the Speaker have an appointment and then that appointment be confirmed by the Senate?” Lovvoron said. “It just took away that Senate confirmation portion.”
Lawmakers in the House are pleased with the legislation’s passage and soon to soon-to-be enactment and also defended the bill against accusations of political overreach, arguing it enhances accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent.
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“There’s a lot of taxpayer dollars that go to this agency, just like the Rocket Center, just like the Battleship,” said Kiel. “We want to make sure there’s oversight by people elected to office, people who answer to the public”
Once signed into law by Gov. Ivey, the new structure will take effect, replacing the department’s historically self-perpetuating board model with one guided by appointments from statewide officials.
Grace Heim is a state and political reporter for Yellowhammer News. You can follow her on X @graceeheim or email her at [email protected].
