On May 30, more than 100 leaders came together at Innovation Depot in Birmingham for Session Rewind 2025, hosted by Peritus PR. The event looked beyond the headlines to examine what shaped this year’s legislative session. Panelists discussed how decisions were made, how public opinion factored in and what the outcomes mean for communities and organizations across the state. The goal wasn’t to recap every bill, but to understand what issues moved and why.

Two Panels, One Purpose

Session Rewind was built to move past the surface and uncover what matters. The format was simple by design:

The Big Picture Discussion

Alabama Daily News publisher Todd Stacy joined Sen. April Weaver (R-Alabaster) and Rep. Neil Rafferty (D-Birmingham) to discuss what shaped key decisions under the dome. Topics included health care access, budget priorities and the role of public input.

The Issue Speed Round

Terri Chapman (Birmingham Business Alliance), Carlos Javier Torres (¡HICA!), Carla Crowder (Alabama Appleseed) and Robin Stone (Alliance of Alabama Healthcare Consumers) reflected on wins, setbacks and the session’s impact on the sectors they represent.

Bella Tylicki and Elizabeth Simpson, members of the Peritus advocacy team, moderated each of the two panels.

Five Fast Takeaways

Across both panels, five common threads stood out. Some issues advanced, others lost steam and a few left more questions than answers. The five takeaways below reflect the key conversations and where they may lead next.

1) Early Bird Gets the Worm

This session showed that early, organized advocacy still moves the needle. Pharmacists across the state mobilized behind SB252, which passed unanimously and placed new limits on pharmacy benefit managers. Their success reflected months of coalition building, stakeholder outreach and sustained engagement with lawmakers, despite defeat in a previous legislative session.

In contrast, opposition to HB445, which imposes new restrictions on hemp-derived THC products, surfaced too late to shape the debate. As Todd Stacy put it, “Pharmacists showed up early and forced a real conversation.”

It was a clear reminder that showing up early, with a clear message and aligned voices, is what gives advocacy efforts their edge.

2) Students Hold the Keys to Alabama’s Future

Alabama is implementing its most significant public school funding overhaul in decades. The RAISE Act (SB305) adds $166 million for high-needs students for the 2025-2026 school year, including $108 million in new funding and $58 million repurposed from existing Education Trust Fund allocations. Over three years, the plan directs $375 million to support students in poverty, English language learners and those receiving special education, with accountability measures built in.

“This has been in the works for nearly eight years,” said Rep. Neil Rafferty. “We’re finally making progress toward a more equitable system so that every student, regardless of where they live, has the ability to succeed.”

3) Appreciate the Small Wins Along the Way

Robin Stone said it best: sometimes you get a big win in the legislature, and other times you take the small ones where you can. This session showed that progress often happens in steps. Case in point: more than a dozen immigration-related bills were filed, but only two became law. Carlos Javier Torres pointed to strategic engagement and relationship-building as key to limiting what advanced.

In criminal justice, the Second Chance Bill (SB156) advanced further than ever. It would allow individuals serving life without parole for nonviolent offenses to petition for resentencing. “To get bipartisan support and backing from Governor Ivey was huge,” said Carla Crowder. “We’re going to keep working.”

4) Build the Relationship Before Making an Ask

Panelists emphasized that trust is not a given. It is built through consistency and transparency. Carlos Javier Torres said it well, “You have to build the bridge before you can cross the river.”

Terri Chapman stressed the importance of showing up early and often, while ensuring you present both sides of an issue to stay honest about tradeoffs.

“When you bring an issue forward, your job is to paint the full picture,” she said. “That’s how you build credibility. If lawmakers hear the downside from someone else first, you’ve already lost them.”

In a crowded policy environment, relationships matter as much as data. Trust is the currency that keeps doors open.

5) Storytelling Grounds Policy in Real Life

Panelists agreed that an advocate’s personal experience is often what gives a policy proposal its weight. When people directly affected by legislation speak for themselves, lawmakers are more likely to listen and respond. Sharing the full context of an issue, especially through a local lens, helps humanize policy decisions and sharpen their urgency.

This approach does not replace data or strategy, but it reinforces them.

Across conversations, the takeaway was clear: advocacy grounded in real stories carries more influence than talking points alone.

Session Rewind brought together elected officials, policy advisors, nonprofit leaders, business advocates and community organizers — people who don’t always share the same space, but who came ready to listen, learn and challenge assumptions.

These conversations don’t happen by accident. They happen when there’s a shared commitment to making Alabama stronger and more responsive to the people who live here. They take shape when people step outside their silos and ask harder, better questions about how real change moves forward.

What Happens Next?

The 2025 session may be over, but the work of translating ideas into action has only just begun. Whether you’re navigating budget changes, program impacts or fielding stakeholder questions, let our team be your trusted guide when the stakes are too high and you can’t afford a misstep.

At Peritus, we specialize in helping mission-driven leaders communicate through high stakes situations. Session Rewind was just one example of that work in motion.

If you’re thinking about what this session means for your organization, let’s connect. We’re here to help you move forward with focus and confidence.

On behalf of the Peritus team, thank you for following along this session. Now, instead of rewinding, let’s fast forward to next year.

2025 Session Rewind Recap