Senator Rodger M. Smitherman (D)
Profile
Bio
Senator Smitherman, born in Montgomery, Alabama on March 2, 1953, is serving his sixth term in the Senate. He graduated from the University of Montevallo with a B.B.A. degree and with honors from Miles Law School with a Juris Doctorate Degree.
Senator Smitherman and his wife, the former Carole Catlin of Birmingham, are the parents of four children: Rodger, II, Tonya Renee, Mary Elaine, and Crystal Nicole. He is a practicing attorney, a Democrat, an Elder at More Than Conquerors Faith Church, and a tireless advocate for education, youth programs and senior citizens.
Senator Smitherman was elected President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate on Thursday, February 5, 2009, and served until November 2, 2010.
| Committee | Position |
|---|---|
Banking and Insurance | Ranking Minority Member |
Confirmations | Ranking Minority Member |
Education Policy | Ranking Minority Member |
Finance and Taxation Education | Ranking Minority Member |
Jefferson County Legislation | Ranking Minority Member |
Joint Transportation Committee | Ranking Minority Member |
Judiciary | Ranking Minority Member |
Rules | Ranking Minority Member |
Tourism | Ranking Minority Member |
Alabama Judicial System Study Commission | Member |
Housing Finance Authority Legislative Oversight Committee | Member |
Legislative Committee On Public Accounts | Member |
Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Energy Policy | Member |
Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Finances and Budget | Member |
| Legislation | Title | Status | Last Action | Last Action Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SB22026 First Special Session | Redistricting; U.S. Congressional districts redrawn | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 5/4/2026 |
SJR452026 Regular Session | Alicia Cannon, commended | Enacted | Enacted | 3/3/2026 |
SJR532026 Regular Session | Alicia Cannon, commended | Enacted | Enacted | 3/5/2026 |
SB195 (c. HB264)2026 Regular Session | Decedents' estates, will contests, removal to circuit court authorized | Enacted | Enacted | 3/12/2026 |
SB2002026 Regular Session | Alabama Office of Minority Affairs; renamed to the Alabama Office of Civic Engagement | Enacted | Enacted | 3/5/2026 |
SB2392026 Regular Session | Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act; certain temporary emergency child custody determinations authorized to become final | Enacted | Enacted | 3/13/2026 |
SB2432026 Regular Session | Jefferson County, pistol permits further provided for | Pending Committee Action in Second House | Pending Committee Action in Second House | 3/12/2026 |
SB2442026 Regular Session | Relating to Alabama Housing Trust Fund; mortgage recording fee increase | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 2/3/2026 |
SB262 (c. HB373)2026 Regular Session | Jefferson County; sheriff compensation revised | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 2/5/2026 |
SB3052026 Regular Session | Campus chaplains; public K-12 schools authorized to accept as volunteers, local boards of education and governing bodies authorized to vote on whether to allow, limitations provided | Pending Committee Action in Second House | Pending Committee Action in Second House | 2/26/2026 |
SB3112026 Regular Session | Education Trust Fund; supplemental appropriation year ending 2026 | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 2/17/2026 |
SB3642026 Regular Session | Public K-12 education; violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation instruction required before graduation from high school beginning in sixth grade, State Board of Education required to adopt standards | Enacted | Enacted | 4/17/2026 |
SB302025 Regular Session | Firearms; storage where unauthorized individuals not likely to access required; criminal penalties established | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 2/4/2025 |
SB312025 Regular Session | Firearms; possession of machine guns prohibited; criminal penalty for violating established | Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin | Currently Indefinitely Postponed | 5/6/2025 |
SB322025 Regular Session | Crimes and offenses; further provide for the crime of murder, manslaughter, and assault in the first and second degree; provide enhanced sentencing; define machinegun | Read Second Time in Second House | Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar | 2/27/2025 |
SB22026 First Special Session
Reapportionment
Redistricting; U.S. Congressional districts redrawn
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 5/4/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SJR452026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Alicia Cannon, commended
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 3/3/2026 Enacted
SJR532026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Alicia Cannon, commended
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 3/5/2026 Enacted
SB1952026 Regular Session
Property & Estates
Decedents' estates, will contests, removal to circuit court authorized
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 3/12/2026 Enacted
Companion: HB264 - Robbins
SB2002026 Regular Session
State Government
Alabama Office of Minority Affairs; renamed to the Alabama Office of Civic Engagement
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 3/5/2026 Enacted
SB2392026 Regular Session
Family Law
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act; certain temporary emergency child custody determinations authorized to become final
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 3/13/2026 Enacted
SB2432026 Regular Session
Jefferson County
Jefferson County, pistol permits further provided for
Status: Pending Committee Action in Second House
Last Action: 3/12/2026 Pending Committee Action in Second House
SB2442026 Regular Session
Taxation & Revenue
Relating to Alabama Housing Trust Fund; mortgage recording fee increase
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 2/3/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB2622026 Regular Session
Jefferson County
Jefferson County; sheriff compensation revised
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 2/5/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Companion: HB373 - Tillman
SB3052026 Regular Session
Education
Campus chaplains; public K-12 schools authorized to accept as volunteers, local boards of education and governing bodies authorized to vote on whether to allow, limitations provided
Status: Pending Committee Action in Second House
Last Action: 2/26/2026 Pending Committee Action in Second House
SB3112026 Regular Session
Appropriations
Education Trust Fund; supplemental appropriation year ending 2026
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 2/17/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB3642026 Regular Session
Education
Public K-12 education; violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation instruction required before graduation from high school beginning in sixth grade, State Board of Education required to adopt standards
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/17/2026 Enacted
SB302025 Regular Session
Firearms
Firearms; storage where unauthorized individuals not likely to access required; criminal penalties established
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 2/4/2025 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB312025 Regular Session
Firearms
Firearms; possession of machine guns prohibited; criminal penalty for violating established
Status: Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
Last Action: 5/6/2025 Currently Indefinitely Postponed
SB322025 Regular Session
Crimes & Offenses
Crimes and offenses; further provide for the crime of murder, manslaughter, and assault in the first and second degree; provide enhanced sentencing; define machinegun
Status: Read Second Time in Second House
Last Action: 2/27/2025 Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar