Friday, May 8 — The Alabama Legislature passed both redistricting bills Wednesday

REDISTRICTING BILLS CLEARED BOTH CHAMBERS

On Wednesday, May 6, the Alabama Legislature passed HB1 and SB1, the two bills set up by Governor Ivey's special session. HB1, sponsored by Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle of Mobile, passed the House 75-29 on a party-line vote. SB1, sponsored by State Sen. Chris Elliott of Josephine, passed the Senate after roughly ninety minutes of debate, with the chamber moving to a quick vote as a fire alarm sounded around 5:30 p.m. amid State House flooding from a Montgomery thunderstorm.

Neither bill, by itself, changes any district lines. Both bills set a contingency mechanism: if and when the federal courts lift the injunctions blocking the previously enacted state maps, special replacement primaries would be triggered. HB1 covers the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th congressional districts. SB1 covers state Senate Districts 25 and 26. The fiscal note on HB1 projects roughly $4.45 million if special elections are required; SB1 carries an estimated $600,000.

The legal trigger is a federal court order. Until and unless that order issues, the bills passed Wednesday have no effect on the May 19 primary or the November 3 general. The May 19 primary will be conducted under the current court-drawn map.

MARSHALL MOTION AT THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT

On Monday, May 4, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed an emergency motion at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to vacate the federal injunction that has blocked Alabama from using its 2021 State Senate map. The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP filed a response Wednesday opposing the motion.

This is the parallel federal track. The Legislature passed the contingency framework. The Attorney General is asking the federal courts for the order that would activate it.

TUSKEGEE DIALYSIS — NINE DAYS

The Fresenius Kidney Care dialysis center in Tuskegee is scheduled to close on Sunday, May 17. Approximately fifty patients use the facility per Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee. The nearest remaining centers are in Tallassee, Auburn, and Union Springs. Fresenius has stated it will ensure all current Tuskegee patients have new care plans at nearby facilities, with transportation provided for patients who already qualify for it.

The Wilcox County dialysis center, also operated by Fresenius, closed March 20. Two facility closures, two months apart, both in the district.

SENATE PRIMARY — LATEST PUBLIC POLLING

The most recent public Republican U.S. Senate primary poll — Cygnal for Alabama Daily News and Gray Television, fielded April 29-30 with 500 likely Republican primary voters, +/- 4.38 percent margin of error, released Tuesday May 6 — reported Barry Moore at 23 percent, Jared Hudson at 19 percent, Steve Marshall at 14 percent, with 40 percent undecided.

By media market: Moore led the Montgomery-Selma-Dothan corridor at 38 percent and Mobile at 29 percent. Hudson led Birmingham 23 to 14 over Moore. Marshall registered 6 percent in the Montgomery-Selma-Dothan corridor and 7 percent in Mobile. The District 2 counties fall primarily within the Montgomery-Selma-Dothan and Mobile media markets.

GAS PRICES AND IRAN

Brent crude rebounded above $101 per barrel Friday after fresh U.S.-Iran clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, reversing three sessions of losses. U.S. Central Command reported American forces intercepted Iranian attacks and conducted defensive strikes while guided missile destroyers transited the strait. The Trump administration is awaiting Iran's response to the memorandum of understanding sent through Pakistani intermediaries earlier this week, expected within the next two days.

The AAA national average gas price was $4.53 per gallon as of yesterday, up five cents on the day even as wholesale prices dropped earlier in the week. Retail prices typically lag wholesale by a week to ten days. The household-budget question through this weekend is whether the framework holds.

KEY DATES

- Today, Friday, May 8 — Special session expected to conclude. Iran response window through Pakistani mediators open through the weekend. - Sunday, May 17 — Fresenius Kidney Care Tuskegee dialysis center scheduled closure. T-9 from today. - Tuesday, May 19 — Alabama statewide primary election. - Tuesday, November 3 — General Election.