Alabama GOP governor signs bills to use Covid-19 relief funds to build prisons into law

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law Friday a number of prison infrastructure bills, which will use Covid-19 relief funds to build new prisons in the state, calling it a "pivotal moment for the trajectory of our state's criminal justice system."

Ivey, a Republican, had convened a special session of the Alabama Legislature to discuss how to fix what she has called a decades-long problem of prison infrastructure challenges. The governor said Friday's bill signing was the culmination of hard work and conversations between lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

"I'd like to personally offer my thanks to the legislative leadership who are standing behind me right here, for a successful special session, and what we believe will yield untold benefits to all Alabamians in the days ahead," Ivey said.