SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, speaks on the House floor in support of legislation to rename the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs as the Alabama Office of Civic Engagement. . (Composite image created by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS)
MONTGOMERY — A bill to rename the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs is now headed to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk after clearing both chambers of the Alabama Legislature, with Rep. Laura Hall of Huntsville playing a key role in guiding the measure through the House.
Senate Bill 200, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, would rename the agency the Alabama Office of Civic Engagement. The legislation does not alter the office’s statutory mission or responsibilities.
The Alabama House passed the bill 98-1 on Thursday, following unanimous approval in the Senate earlier this month.
The Office of Minority Affairs was established in 2016 by executive order under former Gov. Robert Bentley and later codified by the Legislature as a cabinet-level agency. Its mission is to advise the governor on issues affecting minorities — including women — and to focus on improving quality of life in areas such as education, health, economics, housing, employment, civil rights, criminal justice and political participation.
Hall, who carried the House version of the bill, said the name change better reflects the scope of the office’s work.
“The purpose is to be more inclusive of the activities that take place as it relates to involvement and engagement,” Hall said during floor debate. “We’re talking about the name change, not changing any of the activities.”
However, the proposal sparked debate among some lawmakers.
Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, expressed concern that removing “Minority Affairs” from the name could dilute the office’s focus on historically underserved communities.
“The Office of Minority Affairs has a different connotation,” Moore said. “As ‘civic or community engagement,’ I think that it loses some of that connotation.”
Moore argued that while the bill does not formally change the agency’s duties, the name itself could influence how services are delivered in the future.
Rep. Jaundalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, also questioned whether the word “inclusion” would remain central, especially amid broader national debates over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives.
Hall reiterated that the office’s founding language and responsibilities remain intact.
Supporters of the bill say the new name better captures the office’s broader partnerships and outreach efforts. Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, said the agency’s expanding civic engagement efforts justify the change.
“They do so much more around civic engagement,” Drummond said. “The name does need to change.”
The agency drew attention last year after reports that federal officials had raised concerns about diversity-focused programs in state government. While Gov. Ivey’s office has not indicated plans to eliminate the agency, officials have acknowledged discussions about federal guidance related to DEI initiatives.
If signed into law, SB200 would take effect Oct. 1, 2026.
For now, the debate underscores differing perspectives on whether a name carries symbolic weight — or simply reflects evolving civic priorities.