Governor Kay Ivey delivered her Alabama Update speech at VBC for the Huntsville-Madison Chamber of Commerce.
Governor Kay Ivey spoke about Space Command Headquarters and education funding bills during a speech at the VBC in Huntsville on Monday.
Gov. Kay Ivey spent Monday in the Rocket City for the Huntsville-Madison Chamber of Commerce’s Alabama Update and a bill signing at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.
The governor started the Alabama Update at the VBC with an update on the future of U. S. Space Command’s headquarters.
During President Donald Trump's visit to Tuscaloosa last week, the governor said she spoke with him before his speech at the University of Alabama’s graduation.
“I had a little time with the president and I assured him Huntsville, Alabama is the rightful home for the U.S. Space Command headquarters,” Ivey said.
With only three days left in the 2025 legislative session, Ivey also touched on a few other topics including the state's current workforce development.
Ivey says the new Department of Workforce will hopefully help increase the state's low labor force participation rate by bringing jobs to Huntsville and filling them.
"Alabama is experiencing great momentum from here in Huntsville, all the way down to the Gulf of America, and all if you play a big part in our success,” Ivey said. “I'm proud to report that since I took office, Alabama has seen investments totaling 55 billion dollars which has created 93,000 jobs and counting."
Before heading to Huntsville on Monday, Ivey says she put her signature on some general fund and education trust fund bills including the Raise Act - which adds more than $160 million in targeted funding for high needs students.
"We all know work force development really starts in our k-12 classrooms,” Ivey said. “Our students education remains my top priority."
Since Ivey took office in 2018, she noted Alabama's reading level has bumped up 15 states. In math, she says Alabama was ranked last, but it’s now at 32.
She believes the Focus Act, which would require students to put their phones away during the school day, would help students get the education they deserve.
"Our phones and social media are fantastic tools, but we have to know the time, the place, and how to use them,” Ivey said. “Schools in our state are already taking action and we are supporting that statewide through the Focus Act."
Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle expressed his own opinion on the Senate bill to WAAY 31 after the governor's speech.
“If there’s something in the schools that are keeping us from learning, we need to find a solution to that whether it’s cell phones or just talking to students,” Battle said. “It’s a new age and we’ve got to make sure that we find a way that we learn how to focus on what we’re supposed to focus on.”
Ivey says the Focus Act wouldn't only keep phones away from the classroom, but give students social media training.
With other states already passing similar legislation, she hopes Alabama will follow suit.
