Alabama legislators moved closer to constructing a new Statehouse on Tuesday, establishing a committee to hammer out a lease agreement. A 20-member panel composed of legislative leaders and appointees voted to empower a dedicated committee to negotiate the lease for a new building. The Retirement Systems of Alabama would construct the building, and the panel will have the final say on the lease terms.

During the previous legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill authorizing a contract with the Retirement Systems of Alabama, or another entity, to build a new Statehouse that would then be leased back to the Legislature. The proposed site for the new building is a parking lot behind the existing Statehouse. The Retirement Systems of Alabama already owns several office buildings in downtown Montgomery that are leased to other state agencies.

Spectators watch from the gallery as the Alabama Senate convenes for the 2023 legislative session on March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Julie Bennett, File)

Panel members indicated that the lease negotiations are anticipated to conclude within the next few weeks. Lawmakers have cited issues with the current building, including mold, insufficient public space for attending meetings, and other problems as justification for a new Statehouse.

The current legislative building has served as the Legislature's home since 1985. Prior to that, from the mid-19th century, legislative sessions were held in the Alabama Capitol building, which also houses the governor's office. The 1985 move was intended to be temporary while the Capitol underwent renovations. However, legislators, having established offices in the new location, never returned to the Capitol building.

In 2020, Alabama lawmakers briefly explored the possibility of allocating $200 million in federal pandemic relief funds towards a new statehouse. However, the proposal was met with immediate public resistance and ultimately abandoned.