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March 1, 2024 – The Alabama Section of ASCE State Advocacy Team joined over 250 ASCE members from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in Washington during the 2024 Legislative Fly-In on February 28 and 29. Fly-In attendees used their Civil Engineering expertise, personal stories, and issues to advocate for infrastructure and Civil Engineering issues during meetings with Alabama’s House and Senate offices. ASCE’s advocates urged their Senators and Representative to prioritize the upcoming Water Resources and Development Act, resilient infrastructure, workforce development and FAA reauthorization. #ASCE2DC
On July 17, 2023, Governor Kay Ivey hosted a ceremonial bill signing for Senate Bill 284 establishing a Dam Safety Program for the State of Alabama. The legislation allows dam owners to opt-in to a statewide program, including inspections, the preparation and implementation of emergency action plans for certain dams, and the notification to a local emergency management agency of any new dam construction.
The ASCE Alabama Section has been working with state policymakers for years on the need for the state to implement a dam safety program. Alabama Section Advocacy Captain Joe Meads, P.E. stated, “The Alabama Section of ASCE began working in 2012 with a coalition of other industry partners to pursue legislation for a Safe Dam Law in Alabama. Developing a strong coalition and having the leadership of State Senator Clyde Chambliss, P.E. was instrumental in helping to pass legislation for the 1st step in Dam Safety Legislation. We have more work to do; but we have momentum, and we will build off of our initial success.”
The program allows the state to begin to explore how an inspection program would work on a smaller scale. S.B. 284, along with a previously approved dam safety pilot study, which is currently underway, sets a foundation for Alabama to join the rest of the nation’s state dam safety programs.
The 6th Annual Alabama Civil Engineering Legislative Day Drive-In was held on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Alabama Department of Archives & History and Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama. The Alabama Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Council of Engineer Companies (ACEC) of Alabama, the Alabama Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ALSITE) is teamed up to host the event! Senator Clyde Chambliss, P.E. spoke to the group about the legislative issues facing the State of Alabama and bills affecting Civil Engineers. At the conclusion of the event, attendees visited with their legislators in order to engage them about infrastructure!
