The Alabama State House is a building located in Montgomery, Alabama. It houses several state agencies, most notably the Alabama Legislature.
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The State House was opened in 1963 as the Alabama Highway Department Building. It housed the agency for which it was named until 1985, when the Alabama Legislature moved into the upper floors while the state Capitol was being renovated. It was then that the building acquired its current name. Originally, the Legislature occupied the 5th through 7th floors. When the Legislature outgrew this space, an eighth floor was added.
The State House has eight floors, one of which is partially underground. The first floor is used for miscellaneous offices and legislative committee rooms. The main entrance is on the second floor, as is the Secretary of State's office. The third floor houses the state Attorney-General's office. The fifth and sixth floors are dedicated exclusively to the use of the House of Representatives. The seventh and eighth floors are likewise used by the Senate.
Currently, the Alabama Legislature is making preparations to plan and a new State House. Many legislators cite a need for a new facility due to the lack of space in the current State House as well as issues with mold and other structural issues. Proposals have included building a new facility on the opposite end of Dexter Avenue from the Capitol, to create a government mall. This plan has lost favorability for building a wing behind the State Capitol that contains space for the Legislature. In the 2009 session, legislators debated and passed a bill to begin investigating proposals, but have not taken any action on constructing a new facility. [1]