Alabama Arise

Know Your Rights: Alabama’s New Paid Parental Leave Benefits for Educators and State Employees - A Better Balance It’s a new day for Alabama families. As of July 1, 2025, if you are an employee of the state of Alabama, a local education agency, the Alabama Community

Alabama state employees and educators have new paid parental leave rights as of July 1st!

Check out our new fact sheet with @alabamaarise.bsky.social to learn more: www.abetterbalance.org/resources/kn...

As kids head back to school, families across [our state] are juggling schedules, supplies, and stress.
What would make a real difference?
✅ Paid time off
✅ Livable wages
✅ Fair rules at work
When everyday people thrive, our whole economy thrives.
#WeDriveTheEconomy app.sosha.ai/s/DPuScxvT

Federal SNAP, Medicaid cuts could harm Alabamians and the state budget, advocates say | Alabama Reflector Proposed SNAP and Medicaid cuts could strain the state's budget, though Alabama budget chair advised caution amid criticisms, citing the bill's uncertainty.

"[This bill is] making parents choose between adequate care for their children and being able to put food on the table. If there is any definition of cruel, I don’t know what else it could possibly be," Arise's Carol Gundlach tells the @alabamareflector.com

The language Alabama leaders don't speak | Alabama Reflector Cuts to Medicaid would be a disaster for Alabama health care. But explain that in plain English to state leaders and you get blank looks.

"Medicaid covers over 1 million people in Alabama. It pays for about half the births in the state. It’s critical to the functioning of Alabama’s hospitals and nursing homes," @brianlyman.bsky.social writes in the @alabamareflector.com.

Breaking: Alabama enacts paid parental leave for state government employees and educators! 🎉 This is a huge step forward for AL's families. @alabamaarise.bsky.social

“Even people who are eligible would get cut because of an inability to comply with a lot of red tape and bureaucracy,” Arise's @robynhyden.bsky.social tells @alander.bsky.social at the @alabamareflector.com.

“One example I would use is a friend I know who works at Advance Auto Parts. Her take-home pay is $600 a week, or $32,000 a year, so she could opt in to pay for health insurance through her employer, [but] it would take more than one-third of her paycheck,” Arise's @robynhyden.bsky.social said.

“We’re talking about massive ongoing tax cuts for billionaires and for corporations. In order to finance these tax cuts, our Government is discussing $2.5 trillion in cuts, and these are going to hit red states who put this government in power the hardest.”

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Social justice groups set their agenda for 2025 Alabama legislative session • Alabama Reflector Advocates will prioritize criminal justice reform and voting rights even as Republican legislators have balked at them in the past.

"Civil rights groups also want to see changes to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. Alabama Arise, for the first time, included reforming the parole system to its legislative priorities," @rchapoco.bsky.social reports in @alabamareflector.com. #alpolitics alabamareflector.com/2025/02/05/s...

Remove tax incentives for companies that break child labor laws in Alabama - Alabama Arise SB 22’s removal of tax incentives from child labor law violators would help protect Alabama children from dangerous economic exploitation.

"Companies that break child labor laws shouldn’t receive public money while they’re doing so. The people of Alabama deserve good jobs and responsible employers," Arise's Dev Wakeley explains in a new fact sheet. #alpolitics

Alabama Arise The Alabama Maternal Health Toolkit Birthing Better Outcomes in Alabama January 2025

Navigating the health care system can be tough for new and expectant mothers. Our new Alabama Maternal Health Toolkit aims to empower Alabamians to secure needed care by providing info on Medicaid coverage, community resources and more. Read it here: www.alarise.org/resources/th...

“That's who the marketplace has enrolled. It’s people who are making a living but don't necessarily have insurance provided by an employer. It's going to be those people who are out there on their own making a living,” Arise's Debbie Smith says.

Alabama nonprofit remains steadfast in its support for social justice and criminal justice reform • Alabama Reflector Alabama Arise will support efforts to reform parole in the state, and continue to advocate to make judicial override retroactive.

“I think there are real opportunities to make life better for people," Arise's @robynhyden.bsky.social tells the @alabamareflector.com. alabamareflector.com/2025/01/09/a...

Alabama Democrats rally behind effort to expand voter accessibility Alabama Democrats rally behind effort to expand voter accessibility

"The bill would also allow Alabamians to vote remotely via an absentee ballot, and without a reason for doing so," Alabama Daily News reports on H.B. 60, a bill that Arise supports through our work with the Alabama Voting Rights Coalition. #alpolitics

Folks: I’m collecting stories from Alabamians on Medicaid or without health coverage who live with lung issues (asthma, COPD, cancer etc).

I’d love to hear from you, so hmu here or at whit (at) alarise (dot) org.

“Medicaid expansion is a part of the solution of addressing these costs,” Arise's Debbie Smith tells @alander.bsky.social at @alreflector.bsky.social.