Alabama state senator threatens filibuster: ‘Our friends in the House are really not being fair’
The Alabama Legislature’s daily session ended abruptly Tuesday as the Alabama Senate adjourned amid a filibuster threat from a senator over what he claimed was poor House treatment of Senate legislation.
Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, threatened to carry over or filibuster all House bills before the Senate until the end of the day Tuesday.
“I have a concern that our friends in the House are really not being fair with our Senate bills. I have got one in particular that I have that concern over, I know others do as well,” he said.
Jones did not say which bill drew his concern.
“We can handle the House bills one of two ways: we can just carry them over, that is fine, not to the call of the chair, carry them over for another day, another calendar,” he said. “Or we can stand up here and just talk and chit chat on those House bills till the cows come and the clock strikes midnight and we all turn into pumpkins.”
The Alabama Senate carried over every House bill on its calendar before adjourning. The House retaliated by carrying over every Senate bill on its calendar on Tuesday.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said he’d try to work the situation out with Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, but did not know what the solution would be.
“We have worked very good together. And the thing is, from my standpoint, as speaker of the house, my duty is to try to protect our members, make sure they get the due diligence that they deserve, and we’ll continue to do that,” Ledbetter told reporters after the House adjourned.
Ledbetter said of the 891 bills filed this session, the House has passed 277 and the Senate has passed 119. He also said the Senate has sent 49 bills to Gov. Kay Ivey to be signed into law, while the House has sent 37.
“Again, we’ve passed 277, to their 119, so I’ll let y’all make that decision,” he said.
Messages seeking comment from Gudger were left Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday was the 22nd day of the 2025 legislative session. The Legislature can meet for up to 30 days in a 105-day calendar period. The last day the Legislature can meet is May 20.