About Merika Coleman
Senator Merika Coleman
was elected to the Alabama Senate in November of 2022. Serving her first term, Senator Coleman was elected by her colleagues as the Chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus. Prior to serving in the Senate, Senator Coleman served 20 years in the Alabama House of Representatives. She was a member of leadership of the 105-member body and served as the Assistant Minority Leader, the first person ever to serve in this position.
Senator Coleman currently serves on seven Senate Standing Committees. Coleman is the only female member of the Banking and Insurance Committee. Senator Coleman also serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, the committee that develops the budget for all Alabama State Departments. In addition, she serves on Transportation and Energy, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, and two Government Affairs Committees. Previously, Representative Coleman served as Chair of the Boards and Commission Committee, one of only three women of House of Representatives that served in leadership at the time, and as Ranking Minority Member on Judiciary, the committee that creates and develops all criminal and civil laws in the state of Alabama.
In addition to Senator Coleman’s two degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a Bachelors of Arts in Communications and a Masters of Public Administration, she completed her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Birmingham School of Law and was a member of the 2017-2018 graduating class, graduating with honors.
Professionally, Senator Coleman started her career as a community organizer and economic justice strategist working for both Greater Birmingham Ministries and Alabama Arise in Montgomery, AL. She presently serves as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Social Justice Initiative Special Assistant at Miles College located in historic Fairfield, AL. In addition, she is the owner of the Law Offices of Merika Coleman, LLC, a law firm which focuses on domestic relations and family law as well as estate planning and personal injury.
Nationally, Senator Coleman is a sought after legislator by many women and political groups for her ideas on a range of issues such as eradicating human trafficking, the role of black women in politics, healthcare reform, reproductive rights for women, pay equity, economic development, defense spending and common sense gun regulations. She has made appearances on the Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC and Reverend Jesse Jackson’s nationally recognized show, Keep Hope Alive.
Senator Coleman has been recognized by numerous organizations for her commitment to the poor and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. Most recently, she was inducted into the U.A.B. M.P.A. Program Hall of Fame for her contributions to public service. She was honored by the Boy Scouts of Alabama for her commitment to youth and acknowledged her place in Alabama political history as the youngest woman ever elected to the Alabama Legislature. She was first elected at the age of 28.
Although politically and professionally, she has accomplished many things, her greatest accomplishment is the role of mother. She is the mother of Elexia, who was a member of the 2019 graduating class of Vanderbilt University. Most recently, Elexia was a Field Director for the Alabama Democratic Party responsible for voter education and engagement. Elexia graduated on August 11th with a dual Masters of Public Health and Masters of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her son Xaviar, a former member of the UAB Blazer football team is now a junior business management major at Miles College and plans to pursue a career in finance. Senator Coleman is the daughter of disabled veteran, retired USAF MSGT Arthur Williams and Paulette Williams.
Notable Legislation:
- Passed Constitutional Amendment to remove racist language from the 1901 Constitution.
- Passed Human Trafficking Legislation and resolution to require Human Trafficking Training for hospital personnel, law enforcement and truckers.
- Passed Legislation to allow Cooper Green Hospital, the hospital for low income residents, keep the funds it earns.
- Passed Legislation to require the Mayor of Birmingham and the City Council to run at the same.
2023 Legislative Session Agenda:
Sponsored Bills and Resolutions:
- Remove the $.04 (state portion) of sales tax from food.
- Extending the statute of limitations in civil cases for Child Sex Abuse Survivors.
- Declaring racism, a public health crisis that sets up a commission to identify healthcare disparities (Rep. Coleman passed an interim resolution on this matter and now has a bill drafted).
- 4 human trafficking bills-disclosure of johns; requirements to put signs with the hotline number on it in public places; eliminate coercion or deception for victims that are physically or mentally ill. Allow victims and witnesses to testify by video. (2 bold bills passed in the 2022 session)
- Red Flag or Extreme Risk Protection Order(ERPO) also called Gun Violence Protective Order Act-allows courts to issue ex parte protective orders for folks who pose a harm to themselves or others.
- Identify and eliminate racial profiling on traffic stops.
- Remove the “Heart of Dixie” slogan from Alabama car tags.
- Pass a resolution urging the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution.
