Alabama Senate approves measure to enhance Governor Ivey’s authority over Veterans Affairs

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed a legislation allowing the governor to appoint the head of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, reflecting a notable shift in authority that follows a contentious exchange between Governor Kay Ivey and the previous commissioner of the department.

The Senate approved the bill with a vote of 21-9, designating the commissioner as a position appointed by the governor. Currently, the commissioner is hired by the State Board of Veterans Affairs. The proposed legislation is set to progress to the Alabama House of Representatives for consideration.

Republican Senator Andrew Jones, who sponsored the bill, emphasized that the aim is to elevate the role of the commissioner to that of a cabinet-level position, allowing for greater integration within state government. He described the importance of the department functioning as a fully state-operated entity while advocating for the new governance structure.

Initial drafts of the legislation included modifications to the State Board of Veterans Affairs, although those changes were not included in the final version passed.

This vote follows a series of public disagreements between the governor’s office and former Commissioner Kent Davis, where Ivey accused Davis of lack of cooperation with her administration and of mismanagement related to a program tied to the American Rescue Plan. Supporters of Davis contended that there was no mishandling of funds as claimed.

Ultimately, after the board declined to dismiss Davis at the Governor’s request, Ivey utilized her executive authority to remove him from his position. During the debate, some senators opposing the bill expressed a desire for more time to analyze the newly revised legislation.