Alabama Senate Committee advances Governor's plan to weaken influence of veterans groups

February 6, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) would not comment on controversial legislation that would make the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs a gubernatorial appointee and which would give the governor unprecedented powers over who served on the agency's governing board.

The Alabama Gazette asked Speaker Ledbetter:

'The Governor had a real rift with the veterans' groups last fall. Admiral Davis is now gone; but the Governor has persisted with legislation to make the commissioner a governor's appointee and gain greater control over the Board. Is this an overreaction to a turf war or some reforms that really need to be done.'

"I think you need to ask the governor that question," Ledbetter answered declining to say whether or not he supported the legislation – which is opposed by many of the state's veterans' groups.

The Senate Veterans and Military Affairs committee gave a favorable report to the bill on Wednesday in a 5 to 2 vote.

The Gazette asked the same question of the Senate President Pro Tempore Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman).

"Everyone on this floor has the utmost respect for veterans," Gudger told the Gazette.

Gudger added that there were, "different opinions" on this legislation and that those differences would be debated and resolved on the floor of the Senate.

Gudger told reporters that the Senate will prioritize veterans' issues when it meets next week (Feb 11-13).

Senate Bill 67 is sponsored by state Senator Andrew Jones (R-Centre) who chairs the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

This legislation is the direct result of a dispute between the board and Governor Kay Ivey (R) and the Board of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs over former Commissioner Kent Davis. Ivey, who as Governor is a member of the Board, asked the Board to fire Davis. They refused to fire Davis, a retired U.S. Navy Admiral, leading Ivey to invoke the legally dubious claim that she has the "supreme" powers to remove Davis.

With Davis gone, Ivey is retaliating against the state's veterans' groups for taking his part in the spat with the Governor. Her legislation would make the Commissioner an appointee of the Governor. Presently, the Board appoints the commissioner.

SB67 would also change the makeup of the board so that the Governor would get free rein to pick seven of the nine board members. The other two would be picked by the Speaker of the House and the Senate Pro Tem. The board would be stripped of most of its power and would serve only in advisory capacity under Ivey's plan.

"Ultimately, that has got to happen," said Sen. Jones. I think this bill helps ensure that happens. It is also going to increase involvement from other veterans' groups," said Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre.

The handpicked members of the board would serve a term of four years. Ivey is term limited from running for a third term. If SB67 passes, whomever is elected Governor in 2026, would have to deal with a board that was hand-picked by Governor Ivey – plus the two picked by Ledbetter and Gudger for at least the first two years of his term. The new Governor would still be able to fire Ivey's handpicked Commissioner and appoint his or her own choice like at most of the other cabinet agencies.

Davis has alleged that Ivey's Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell acted unethically in how that agency provided mental health services to veterans. His filing of an ethics complaint against Boswell is what precipitated Ivey's fury with Davis and the veterans.

SB67 would also taking the power over state veterans cemeteries from the board and give it to the "department" run by the governor's handpicked appointee. The governor's appointed Commissioner would have virtually unfettered powers to reorganize the Department and set rules for how the Department functions.

Veterans' groups have organized a rally to oppose this proposal that is tentatively set for February 25th at 11:30 a.m. CST.

Admiral Kent Davis is exploring running for Governor in 2026.

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