Alabama Senate Passes Bill to Restructure Veterans Affairs Board; Baldwin Senators Split
The Alabama Senate voted 21-9 to restructure the State Board of Veterans Affairs, with Baldwin County's senators split on the bill.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Legislation to restructure the State Board of Veterans Affairs has passed the Alabama Senate 21-9, and the veterans affairs board bill now heads to the House. Opponents say the measure is retaliation for an ethics complaint filed last year against Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kimberly Boswell, a member of Gov. Kay Ivey’s cabinet.
The ethics complaint
Kent Davis, a retired admiral who was then commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, filed the complaint at the direction of the State Board of Veterans Affairs. The complaint claimed Boswell “colluded” with other state officials to keep the department from obtaining $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The Alabama Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint.
How Baldwin County lawmakers voted
State Sen. Andrew Jones and state Rep. Ed Oliver have backed the effort to restructure the board. State Sen. Greg Albritton, whose district includes part of Baldwin County, also supported the bill. State Sens. Chris Elliott and Vivian Figures voted against it.
The House members of Baldwin County’s legislative delegation, Reps. Donna Givens, Alan Baker, Jennifer Fidler, Frances Holk-Jones, Matt Simpson and Shane Stringer, have not yet voted on the measure.
According to a 2024 ranking by Mental Health America, Alabama ranked 50th out of 51 states for access to mental health care.
Judge orders review of Mabel Amos fund
In a separate matter, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Greg Griffin ordered Special Fiduciary Jim White to begin gathering information about the operations of the Mabel Amos Memorial Fund, a charitable scholarship trust.
“During the pendency of the Special Fiduciary Appointment, Regions bank is removed as Trustee of the Mabel Amos Memorial Fund,” Griffin ordered.
