What's Cookin' in Montgomery? Rep. Kiel Serves Up Two New Bills!

Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) is kickin' off the 2026 legislative session with a bang, unveiling two bills aimed at shoring up voter privacy and beefing up state oversight. Let's dive into the details!

HB67: Protecting Your Voter Info

Tired of campaign spam? Kiel's got your back! HB67 is all about protecting your personal information on voter rolls. This bill proposes capping the cost of getting an electronic voter list at just $1,000 and shielding sensitive data like email addresses, phone numbers, and birthdays from prying eyes. Right now, a full statewide voter file could set you back around $38,000! This bill aims to make voter data more accessible but also more secure. Secretary of State Wes Allen is already on board, so this bill might have some serious legs!

HB94: Giving the State Auditor Some Muscle

Kiel's also setting his sights on making sure state-owned property is properly managed. HB94 would give the Alabama State Auditor's office some serious new investigative powers. State agencies would have to report lost or stolen property, and the auditor's office would get a brand-new Division of Property Investigations to sniff out any wrongdoing. Found some missing state-issued staplers? Time to fess up! If negligence is discovered, the auditor could demand repayment and even bring in the Attorney General. The bill also tightens up inventory procedures for secure facilities, making sure everything behind those security barriers is accounted for.

The Stage is Set!

Both bills are headed to the Alabama Legislature as the 2026 session gets underway. Will they pass? Only time will tell, but these proposals are definitely worth watching!