Assault Weapon Permit Bill Among 29 Prefiled in Alabama; Huntsville Council Fundraising Tight in District 1

Alabama lawmakers have already prefiled 29 bills, even though the Legislature's next regular session does not convene until Feb. 3.

One of them, HB 23, is likely to draw attention. Introduced by Rep. Kenyatte Hassell of Montgomery, it would require a permit to obtain or carry what the bill defines as an assault weapon. Under current state law, anyone 19 or older may legally buy and carry firearms without a permit.

Other prefiled measures include one requiring written consent from a parent or legal guardian before a minor can receive a vaccination. Another would bar political parties from disqualifying candidates solely because of campaign contributions from a particular person or political action committee.

In Huntsville, voters will decide the District 1 and District 5 City Council seats in municipal elections on Aug. 27, less than a month after this report. Campaign finance figures on the Secretary of State website show a very close fundraising race in District 1.

Incumbent Devyn Keith has reported raising $23,640.00. Challenger Michelle Watkins, a two-term member of the Huntsville City School board, has reported $23,575.03, a gap of less than $100. No finance reports were located for the third candidate, Reggie McKenzie.

The District 5 race shows a wider gap. Incumbent John Meredith has raised $57,825, compared with $20,132 for Kim Caudle Lewis.

Madison County is also seeing a growing number of grocery options. Food City announced last year that it plans six stores in the Huntsville area and has broken ground on several of them. Local developers say that has not discouraged other grocers. They name Publix and Walmart Neighborhood Market as two chains looking for additional sites. Those would come on top of the ALDI stores already approved for Madison.

Residents may also have noticed unusual stencils around downtown Huntsville. The markings are part of a marketing campaign by Bold Agency, a Huntsville-based advertising agency with clients nationwide. The agency will unveil a new website on Aug. 14.