Greene County Democrat

Category: General News

  • Newswire : Federal cuts strip $350 Million from HBCUs and Minority-Serving Institutions

    Tuskegee University campus

    By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

     

    The U.S. Department of Education has announced the cancellation of $350 million in federal grants that had been designated for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
    Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the department will “no longer award Minority-Serving Institution grants that discriminate by restricting eligibility to institutions that meet government-mandated racial quotas.” She added that the administration intends to redirect the money toward programs “that advance Administration priorities.” The funding has supported initiatives including laboratory equipment purchases, classroom improvements, student tutoring services, and endowment growth. The cuts immediately drew criticism from leaders of colleges and universities who said the loss would harm students and damage institutions that depend on the resources.
    “Without this funding, students will lose the critical support they need to succeed in the classroom, complete their degrees on time, and achieve social mobility for themselves and their families,” said Mildred García, chancellor of the California State University system. “These funds strengthen entire campuses, creating opportunities and resources that benefit all students, especially those pursuing STEM fields, as well as enhancing the communities where these colleges and universities are located,” said David Mendez, interim CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
    University of Hawaiʻi president Wendy Hensel added that the cuts will affect “all of our students, the programs that support them, and the dedicated staff who carry out this work.” The department’s announcement follows a lawsuit filed in June by the state of Tennessee and Students for Fair Admissions, which argued the programs were discriminatory because of enrollment eligibility requirements. In July, the Department of Justice said it would not defend the grants, with Solicitor General D. John Sauer writing that they violated the constitutional right to equal protection.
    According to HBCU Buzz, the decision has sent shockwaves across campuses, with advocates warning that programs supporting mentorship, STEM pipelines, and scholarships are at risk. Lawmakers, including Senator Patty Murray, have said the Education Department acted unilaterally without consulting Congress.

    The debate over funding arrives as HBCUs continue to face historic underfunding. CNN fact-checkers reported that while the Biden-Harris administration had directed $16 billion to HBCUs from 2021 to 2024, Trump previously proposed more than $100 million in cuts to HBCU programs during his first term, despite later claiming he had been uniquely responsible for funding the schools. The Education Department confirmed that roughly $132 million in mandatory congressional allocations for fiscal 2025 will still be distributed, though officials said they are continuing to review the legal questions surrounding those funds.

  • Congresswoman Terri Sewell holds Rural Roundtable at Federation’s Training Center in Epes

    Terri Sewell holds Rural Roundtable at Federation’s RTRC in Epes.

    Special to the Democrat by John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    Congresswoman Terri Sewell held a Rural Roundtable, as part of her ‘Congress in your Community’ outreach program on Friday, September 5, 2025, at the Federation Rural Training Center in Epes, Alabama. Over 200 people attended from Sumter, Greene and other counties in her Alabama Seventh Congressional District.
    Her Rural Roundtable included other speakers including Darren Beachem, ASAC State Coordinator; Loretta Webb Wilson, Administrator of Hill Hospital in York, and representatives of the West Alabama Regional Commission Council on Aging and a Representative of Sumter County DHR to speak on changes in the SNAP (Food Stamps) benefits program.
    Congresswoman Sewell opened the program with comments on the conditions in Washington, D.C. following passage of the budget reconciliation bill, which President Trump calls his ‘Big Beautiful Bil’ and the Congresswoman called “the Big Ugly Bill.” Sewell said “if there is one word to describe conditions in our nation’s Capital, it would be chaotic! Trump changes his tariffs on a daily basis, he is firing people for no reason, he is cutting Federal programs and contracts and then reinstating them when courts order him to do so.”
    Sewell said, “I want him to succeed, he is the President, but his policies are erratic, and he has cut Federal programs for the most vulnerable people while giving tax breaks to the very richest in our country. The tax cuts for the wealthy in the Big Ugly Bill increase the national debt by $4 Trillion dollars. In the bill, the average family gets a $200 tax cut but in exchange he is taking away healthcare, which will cost the same family, $2,000 a year in increased insurance payments, if they can afford these premiums, or be left with no health insurance at all.”
    Loretta Webb Wilson spoke on the impacts of the healthcare cuts, which she says will hurt rural hospitals, like hers in York, and may force many to close or reduce already strained services. Sewell pointed out that the $50 billion fund for rural hospitals, is a five-year program with $10 billion a year, to make up for $200 billion in annual health care cuts, some which start soon, and others are to go into effect after the 2026 mid-term elections.
    Darren Beachum, Federation staff member and State Coordinator of the Alabama State Association of Cooperatives spoke about technical assistance and support for Black farmers and other family scale farmers from the Federation and ASAC. Farmers can still get assistance in dealing with USDA agencies for credit, conservation, marketing and cooperative development from the Federation’s staff. He pointed out that the Federation had lost support for “climate smart agriculture” initiatives and a marketing program to foodbanks, where local farmers had been contracted to provide fresh and nutritious vegetables for food banks, serving low-income families, who are suffering from hunger and food deficiencies.
    The speaker from the Tuscaloosa Office on Aging talked about information and resources for elders, available from her office. The speakers from the Sumter DHR Office spoke on coming changes in the SNAP (food stamp) program. Work requirements will be imposed on those from 18 to 64, in place of the current 55-year age limit. Work and alternative community service requirements of 20 hours per week, will be more strictly enforced and regularly reported, despite reductions in DHR staffing to handle the additional paperwork. The State of Alabama will have to pay more of the administrative costs for SNAP from its already strained budget.
    Congresswoman Sewell then took about a half an hour of questions from the audience about the presentations. In answer to a question from Sumter County Commissioner, Drucilla Jackson, District 1 about cutbacks in funding for storm shelters and expansion of broadband to rural communities, Sewell said some of the direction and resources for these programs was still undecided but there would be cuts. “There is no way to dress-up these cutbacks in funding in Trump’s budget bill. We are going to have to fight back and try to restore these funding cuts now or after the 2026 midterms.
    In answer to questions about Black farmers, she said she would refer them to the Federation for assistance. She pointed out that she had voted for the Discrimination Farmers Assistance Program (DFAP) in the Inflation Reduction Act, which provided a claims process for farmers to receive $2.2 Billion for past discrimination in farm loans by USDA. $384 million was distributed to over 10,000 BIPOC farmers in Alabama, many in her district.
    Farmers in the audience pointed out that the Federation helped them file the 40-page application for DFAP assistance. Another farmer pointed out that the DFAP assistance was taxable, as opposed to the Pigford funding which was not considered taxable income by IRS. Recently one farmer, the Federation helped to receive the maximum $500,000 payment, had to pay IRS $127,000 of his award for Federal income taxes.
    Sewell went on to warn that voting rights were under attack by Trump and his Republican supporters. She pushed for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that she is the major sponsor. She said there is a case from Louisiana to come before the U. S. Supreme Court this term, which could strike down “majority-minority Congressional districts” by invalidating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and move the voting rights progress in our nation back by decades. She urged that Alabama voters need to watch this case closely because it could end in redistricting our state and end any Congressional representation for Black people in the state.
    Sewell ended the Rural Roundtable by saying, “ Rural people are resilient and what goes around, comes around on Federal funding, so keep working, keep fighting and keep praying for better times.”

  • Newswire : Commission appoints 3 of 5 members of Greenethumb Improvement Board

    The Greene County Commission met for its regular second Monday of the month meeting. All members of the Commission were present. The meeting was opened by Garria Spencer, Chairperson, a prayer was given, the previous minutes and agenda were approved as submitted.
    The Commission voted to approve documents concerning the Purdue Pharmacy and Sacker Family Bankruptcy for a payment in litigation over opioid abuse by the company. The Commission voted to authorize the Chairperson to sign the documents.
    The Commission approved a recommendation from the County Engineer to zip up County Road 136, a short road south of Boligee, which is no longer in use. The paved road will be made into a gravel road to save on maintenance costs.
    The Commission agreed that its current lease agreement with Mr. Gomez of Iron Wolf Media LLC, for repairs and use of the former Greenetrack facility will stand as submitted to the company. The Commission owns the facility. They have held several meetings with Gomez, mostly in Executive Session, concerning amendments and changes to the 15-year lease, with 5-year renewals. Commission Chair Spencer said, ”We have negotiated a solid agreement with Iron Wolf. We and our attorney reached agreement with the company on certain changes, which they now want to revise again. Our position now is they accept the lease as negotiated or move on to another location.”
    The Commission appointed three of the five members of the “Greenethumb Farmers’ Initiative Improvement District Board, to help secure additional financing for a medical marijuana raising project, licensed to George Poindexter, a Black entrepreneur, who has begun operations in the northern part of the county. Sandra Walker was appointed for District 1, McDaniel Garner for District 4 and Kashaya Cockrell for District 5. The Commissioners for Districts 2 and 3 were not ready yet to make appointments. The new board will be installed and instructed by County Attorney, Mike Parnell, as to their duties and responsibilities in the near future.
    A financial report was submitted by Brenda Burke, which shows a total of $ 10,208,675 in funds in banks. In Citizens Trust Bank has $4,608,845 in restricted funds and $1,204,745 in unrestricted funds in the county’s General Fund. Merchants and Farmers Bank, has $2,726,113 in restricted funds and $1,768,971 in unrestricted funds, which are Bingo funds in a General Fund account. The County also has $1,901,066 in Certificates of Deposit in several banks as an investment reserve.
    During the month of August 2025, the County paid out $1,346,098 in claims plus $191,254 in electronic claims for a total of $1,537,352 for payroll, materials, ongoing road projects and a contract with Rebasco Decorators to repairs the flooring in the William M. Branch County Courthouse.

  • Newswire : Joseph McNeil, one of four college students who sparked sit-in protest movement, has died

     The participants after leaving the Woolworth’s by a side exit. (L-R): David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Ezell Blair Jr., and Joseph McNeil. (No photographers were allowed into the Woolworth’s during this first protest.) © Corbis

    Joseph McNeil, one of four college students who sparked sit-in protest movement, has died

    By Blackmansstreet Today

    Joseph McNeil, one of four North Carolina college students who sat in at the Whites-only Woolworth’s lunch counter 65 years ago, sparking a nonviolent civil rights movement across the South, died Thursday. He was 83.

    McNeil was just 17 years old at the time, but he participated in a simple act of defiance that helped ignite the sit-in movement across the country at Woolworth’s lunch counter back in 1960. 

    On the sit-in’s first day, the four young men stayed until the store closed. 
    The photo above captures them leaving the store.

    More protesters joined the next day and days following, leading to at least 1,000 by the fifth day. Within weeks, sit-ins were launched in more than 50 cities in nine states. The Woolworth’s counter in Greensboro — about 75 miles west of Raleigh — was desegregated within six months.

    McNeil was one of the final two living members of the A&T Four; Jibreel Khazan (formerly Ezell Blair Jr.) is now the only survivor. David Richmond passed away in 1990, and Franklin McCain died in 2014. 

    McNeil was born in Wilmington, N.C. In 1963, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering physics from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. He served on active duty as a KC-135 navigator at Ellsworth AFB, S.D., until 1969. 

    He retired as a major general from the U.S. Air Force in 2000.

  • Newswire : NFL owners reap windfall from Trump-GOP Tax Plan while fans pay more for tickets

    By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

     

    As the 2025 NFL season kicks off, a new report from Americans for Tax Fairness (ATF) shows the massive divide between billionaire team owners and the fans who pack stadiums and stream games from home. The study estimates that the average NFL franchise owner pulls in about $600 million annually, or 7,000 times the average fan’s income of $85,000.
    That divide will only grow under the Republican tax-and-spending plan enacted this summer. According to the Tax Policy Center, the wealthiest 0.1% of households, where every NFL owner resides, will enjoy average tax cuts exceeding $286,000 in 2026. Meanwhile, typical fans will see modest cuts erased by higher consumer costs driven by Donald Trump’s tariffs, leaving them about $700 poorer each year.
    “Economic inequality and price gouging are as much on display in the new NFL season as peak athleticism, acrobatic catches, and explosive runs,” said David Kass, ATF’s executive director. “The fans who loyally support their favorite teams through good years and bad, putting up with steadily rising ticket prices, streaming costs, and concession-stand gouging, have little in common with the billionaires who own their franchises. It’s the owners who will benefit from Trump-GOP economic policies in the form of huge tax cuts for billionaires and economic elites like themselves, while fans will lose money from a combination of cuts to vital public services like Medicaid and SNAP and Trump’s chaotic tariff regime”.
    Rising Costs for Fans

    The ATF study shows the growing financial burden for fans. Average ticket prices across the league now sit at $125, with some teams charging more than double that. In Detroit, the average ticket runs $254, while in Las Vegas it’s $243. Even basic stadium staples cost more: beers top $12 in San Francisco, hot dogs go for $8.49 in Los Angeles, and tariffs on Canadian pork and Mexican beer add another $2.23 and $2.29, respectively, to game-day concessions. Beyond stadium walls, costs to follow the sport from home have soared. Fans must now subscribe to multiple streaming services to watch every game, a bill that can exceed $1,000 annually.
    Billionaire Owners and Tax Breaks

    Billionaires dominate NFL ownership. The mean average wealth of team owners is $10.6 billion. Rob Walton of the Denver Broncos, heir to the Walmart fortune, holds an estimated $77.4 billion in net worth. ATF noted that 29 owners collectively stand to gain tax breaks large enough to buy more than 66,000 game-day tickets. The financial gulf also extends to players, who earn an average of $860,000 annually with careers lasting only about three years. Income players make is taxed at up to 37%, while owners’ investment income faces only a 20% top rate. IRS records reviewed by ProPublica previously showed that some billionaire NFL owners paid effective tax rates in the low teens, or even single digits, despite billions in income.
    A Different Model in Green Bay

    Billionaire owners are not essential to a team’s success. The Green Bay Packers, the NFL’s only publicly owned franchise, are operated by more than 500,000 fan-shareholders. No individual can own more than 4% of shares, and ownership yields no dividends. Yet the Packers are among the most profitable and competitive teams in the league, valued at $6.3 billion and ranking 12th in revenue in 2024.
    Policy Debate

    Democratic leaders have offered proposals aimed at narrowing the divide. Former President Joe Biden called for taxing investment income at the same rates as wages, while Vermont Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed lowering the estate-tax exemption to ensure massive family fortunes contribute more. Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden also has pushed for an annual tax on billionaires’ unrealized gains. “The contrast between billionaire owners and working-class fans couldn’t be clearer,” Kass stated. “The tax code should work for everyone, not just the wealthiest

     

  • Newswire : The violence Trump claims to fear occurs mostly in red states

    By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

    Donald Trump continues to attack cities and jurisdictions heavily populated by minorities, often painting them as crime-ridden and unsafe despite evidence showing overall declines in many categories of crime. Nowhere is this tension clearer than in Washington, D.C., where residents face relentless scrutiny from Trump while Red States — many with far less diversity — quietly struggle with some of the highest murder rates in the nation.
    The District of Columbia recorded the nation’s highest murder rate in 2023 at 39 per 100,000 residents, with 265 murders. Despite local efforts to address violence, Trump routinely depicts the city as unlivable. To many residents, the greater tragedy is not just the crime itself but the reality that the capital of the United States now looks like an occupied third-world country, with National Guard and federal troops visibly stationed throughout the city.

    Washingtonians, who have already been denied full congressional representation, have become political pawns in Trump’s rhetoric. What Trump avoids mentioning is that several Republican-led states top the list of the deadliest places. Louisiana had a murder rate of 14.5 per 100,000, recording 663 killings in 2023. New Mexico, Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas — all governed by Republicans in recent years — also posted murder rates higher than 9 per 100,000 residents.

    In Missouri, another GOP stronghold, the murder rate stood at 9.1 per 100,000 with 564 murders, disproportionately concentrated in cities like St. Louis and Kansas City. South Carolina, Alaska, and Georgia each ranked high, while Mississippi, often touted by conservatives as a bastion of “traditional values,” has at times led the nation in murder rates. Meanwhile, states with larger minority populations that Trump targets — including Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Maryland — often have lower murder rates than many of these Red States. Illinois, home to Chicago, recorded a rate of 6.56 per 100,000, below Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas.
    Critics argue this is no accident. Trump’s fixation on minority-heavy jurisdictions is part of a long-standing strategy of scapegoating urban areas with large Black and Latino populations, while sidestepping the systemic problems facing states where his support is strongest. “Murders were far more common in [Mississippi] than they were nationwide,” the World Population Review reported, with Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri, and Arkansas following close behind. The report’s numbers show that while Trump fixates on minority-heavy cities, the deadliest conditions are playing out in Red States that rarely draw his attention. “Murders are disproportionately concentrated in urban areas, especially in New Orleans and Baton Rouge,” the researchers concluded.

  • Newswire : NAACP sues Missouri and Texas over Congressional maps

     

    By: Blackmansstreet Today

     

    The NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, alongside the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, filed a lawsuit against the State of Missouri to stop an unlawful attempt to convene a special legislative session aimed at redrawing political maps in ways that would diminish the voting power of Black state residents. 

    The NAACP has already sued Texas over its new unconstitutional map. NAACP charged that Texas would eliminate five Democratic congressional seats. The NAACP filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, arguing the new congressional map “was enacted with an impermissible and controlling discriminatory purpose based on race.” It names Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson as plaintiffs.

    The NAACP’s lawsuit is one of the first lawsuits against the new congressional map. Plaintiffs in other ongoing lawsuits against Texas congressional maps have also filed supplemental filings that argue the new maps are discriminatory as well, according to the Texas Tribune.

    In the case of Missouri, “This case is about defending democracy and protecting the voice of every voter,” said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson. “The Missouri legislature’s attempt to force a rushed, unconstitutional redistricting process in a special session is a blatant effort to silence Black voters and strip them of their fundamental rights. We will not stand by while elected officials manipulate the system to weaken our power and representation.”

    The NAACP’s filing requests immediate judicial intervention to block the governor and legislative leaders from moving forward with the proposed special session. The lawsuit underscores that such actions violate both the Missouri Constitution and the principles of fair representation guaranteed to all citizens.

    “Our communities already face systemic barriers to full participation in our democracy,” said Nimrod T. Chapel Jr., President of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP. “This attempt to redraw maps behind closed doors and outside of regular order is nothing more than an attack on Black Missourians’ ability to choose leaders who reflect and respect their needs. We will use every tool at our disposal to stop it.”

    “The NAACP remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring equal representation and safeguarding the rights of Black voters nationwide. We fight to ensure that democracy works for all.”

  • Newswire : Nation’s report card shows drop in Reading, Math, and Science scores

    Black students in high school class

    By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

     

    The latest results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveal troubling declines in academic performance among U.S. students, with twelfth-graders posting lower scores in reading and mathematics and eighth-graders showing setbacks in science.

    In reading, the 2024 national average for twelfth graders was three points lower than in 2019, and ten points lower than when the assessment was first administered in 1992. Scores fell across nearly all percentiles, with only the highest-performing students at the 90th percentile holding steady. The percentage of students performing at or above the NAEP Proficient level declined to 35 percent in 2024, compared to 37 percent in 2019, while 32 percent of students scored below the NAEP Basic level.

    Mathematics results tell a similar story. The average score for twelfth graders in 2024 dropped three points from 2019 and stood three points lower than in 2005, the year the current trend line began. Scores declined across nearly all percentiles except the 90th. Just 24 percent of twelfth graders scored at or above Proficient in 2024, while 40 percent scored below Basic, up from 37 percent in 2019.
    Eighth-grade science results also fell sharply. The 2024 average score was four points lower than in 2019, with declines across all five reported percentiles. Thirty-eight percent of eighth graders scored below the Basic level, compared to 33 percent in 2019. Students from nearly every demographic and parental education group saw declines, particularly at the lower percentiles. Confidence in science ability also fell, with fewer students reporting that they “definitely” could perform key science tasks.
    Further, African American students remain disproportionately represented among lower performers nationally. Across reading, mathematics, and science, they continue to score below the overall national average, with larger percentages falling below the NAEP Basic level and fewer reaching Proficient or Advanced. Although overall national scores declined in 2024, the long-standing gap between African American students and their White and Asian peers has not narrowed.
    The assessments, administered between January and March 2024, covered tens of thousands of students nationwide. Reading and math were given to twelfth graders, while science was assessed at the eighth-grade level. In addition to academic content, students completed questionnaires about learning opportunities, absenteeism, and engagement, data that NAEP officials say may help explain trends. NAEP, often referred to as the Nation’s Report Card, is the largest continuing and nationally representative measure of U.S. student achievement. The results are closely watched by educators, policymakers, and researchers as indicators of how students are faring and where learning gaps are widening

  • Dallas County School System in State Department Intervention

    Superintendent Jones resigns from Greene County Schools; accepts superintendency of Dallas County Schools

    In a called emergency meeting of the Greene County Board of Education, Wednesday, August 27, 2025, Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones submitted his resignation to the board, effective September 30, 2025. Since that meeting, the State Department of Education (SDE) has released information that Dr. Jones has been asked to assume the superintendent’s leadership role of the Dallas County School System, which has been taken over by the SDE Intervention due to financial difficulties within that School System.
    Following an executive session, Board President, Mr. Leo Branch, asked Superintendent Jones if he had a statement for the board. Dr. Jones read a prepared statement reflecting on the privilege of having served as superintendent of the Greene County School System for the past six years. He cited several accomplishments during his tenure including renovations to the central office; new roof and flooring at Eutaw Primary School; new HVAC system, new windows, new press box at Robert Brown Middle School; the launch of Phase I Sports Complex at Greene County High School. Jones stated that during his tenure “Greene County has achieved its highest report card score from the Alabama State Department of Education since the introduction of the Accountability Report Card. Preliminary data indicates an even higher score in the upcoming releases this fall.”
    Dr. Jones concluded his remarks stating, “It is with a heavy heart that I submit my resignation…I am fully committed to supporting the transition process in any way I can.”
    Present Branch called for action on the superintendent’s resignation. Board member Veronica Richardson moved to accept Jones’ resignation; Board Member Brandon Merriweather seconded the motion. Richardson, Merriweather and Dancy voted in the affirmative. Mr. Leo Branch registered a resounding No. Board members Robert Davis did not vote on the motion.
    Dr. Jones’ current contract with the Greene County Board was for two years, which had been approved on a split 3-2vote, with reportedly some controversy. He was in the first year of the new contract.
    Dr. Jones has been commended by the State Board of Education for maintaining Greene County School System’s strong financial accountability and reserves. The school system has had ‘clean’ audits’ for multiple years. Jones leadership was noted for his handling of the 
ESSER Grants during the COVID-19 crisis. To support schools and districts in addressing the impact of COVID-19, Congress provided financial support through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund. Funds were allocated to each state in the same proportion as their Title I, Part A grants. Greene County received over $3 million in grants, which Jones used for safety and academic enhancements for student learning on and off school sites, including additional reading and Math coaches; home delivery of student meals; capital improvements and other school services.
    Throughout Jones’ tenure as superintendent, the school system has shown improvements in student learning, including an expanded Career Center Curriculum, a highly successful student debate team; increased exposure for students through academic field trips and college and university visits; modernized cafeteria equipment and services. In compliance with the Alabama Literacy Act, 3rd grade scholars must score at a designated proficiency level before advancing to the 4th grade level. In Greene County, nearly all 3rd graders have been successful in meeting this criteria. The few who fell short, were enrolled in summer classes to prepare to retake the test and advance to the next grade.
    As of this writing, no interim superintendent has been named.

  • Alabama’s new tax exemption for menstrual products started Monday

     

    The state’s new sales tax exemption on menstrual and maternity products, as well as baby essentials, will take effect on September 1.2025

    By Mary Claire Wooten, Alabama Political Reporters

     

    Alabama’s new tax exemption on menstrual products and other family essentials will take effect Monday, marking a significant change in how the state treats these necessary items. 

    Beginning September 1, 2025, the state’s 4 percent sales tax exemption applies to tampons, pads, menstrual cups and maternity products, as well as baby formula, bottles, wipes, breast pumps, diapers and maternity clothing. 
    The exemption applies only to state-level sales taxes, which means counties and municipalities may still collect their own local sales taxes unless they pass ordinances to extend the exemption.

    The measure was approved earlier this year. HB152, sponsored by Representative Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham. Rafferty celebrated it as “a big win for Alabama’s working families.” The House of Representatives approved the bill unanimously in March, and Rafferty’s effort drew bipartisan backing throughout the process. 

    During debate, Representative Ginny Shaver, R-Leesburg, amended the bill to include adult diapers. 

    “You know I’m all about women, children and seniors,” said Shaver.
    The Alabama Senate followed with unanimous approval in May, sending the bill to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk. Ivey signed it into law later that month. 

    Legislative analysts estimate the change will cost the state around $13 million in lost revenue each year, but the impact on the budget was a modest tradeoff for the financial relief it will provide to families.

    Courtney Roark, Alabama Policy and Movement Building director for URGE: Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equality, said that these tax cuts are an essential component of family-first agendas.

    “No one should have to choose between affording food or rent and essential healthcare products like tampons or diapers,” said Roarke. “We should all be able to take care of our health, safety, and family needs without it threatening our economic security. This is a huge win that will provide material economic relief for young people struggling to make ends meet and support their families in Alabama.”

    Alongside the removal of the period tax, lawmakers also approved a phased reduction of the state grocery tax and expanded paid parental leave for teachers and state employees. Together, the initiatives represent an effort to ease economic pressures on Alabama households.

    Starting Monday, families across the state will begin to see the effects of those changes.