| Laura Vandiver Hall was born on January 25, 1943, in Sandy Springs, South Carolina. She grew up in Pendleton, South Carolina, where she received her elementary and secondary education in the Pendleton Public Schools System. After graduating from Anderson County Training High School in 1960, she enrolled in Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with Chemistry as a minor. She furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Science degree in Science Education from Ohio State University and later received K-12 Administration Certification from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University.
Hall's professional career began in education, where she served for over 40 years. She spent 33 years in education, with 25 of those years at J.O. Johnson High School in Huntsville, Alabama. She later retired as Assistant to the President for At-Risk Students and Special Projects at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Alabama.
In August 1993, Hall was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in a special election, becoming the first African American woman to represent House District 19. She captured 86% of the vote in this initial election. She was subsequently re-elected in 1994 with 88% of the vote, ran unopposed in the 1998 election, and won again in 2002. Her political career has continued with successful re-elections, including in 2018 when she defeated Samuel Greene in the Democratic primary with 86% of the vote, and in 2022 when she won the general election with 96.4% of the vote. Her current term is set to end on November 4, 2026.
Throughout her legislative career, Hall has served on numerous committees. Currently, she serves on the Health Committee, Madison County Legislation Committee, Technology and Research Committee, Ways and Means General Fund Committee, and the Reapportionment Committee. She previously served as the Ranking Minority Member of the Health Committee, Technology and Research Committee, and Ways and Means General Fund Committee. She is also the Vice-Chair of the Madison County Legislative Delegation.
Hall has sponsored significant legislation during her tenure, including House Bill 427, which created a system of "Silver Alerts" for missing persons with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, regardless of age, and required specialized training for law enforcement personnel handling such cases. She also sponsored House Bill 474, which designated December 1 as Rosa Parks Day in Alabama. In 2019, she sponsored House Bill 287, which established the Alabama Women's Tribute Statue Commission to place statues of Helen Keller and Rosa Parks on the Alabama State Capitol grounds. As chair of this commission, she has overseen the development of these monuments, which will be the first to represent Alabama women at the state capitol.
Beyond her legislative duties, Hall has held several leadership positions in community and state organizations. She serves as chairperson of the Governor's Commission on AIDS and has been chairperson of the Alabama House of Representatives Black Caucus. In December 2022, she was elected as the 15th National President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), a position she officially assumed in January 2023. The NBCSL represents over 700 members collectively serving more than 60 million Americans.
Hall was married to Dr. John Wesley Hall, who passed away in August 2016. They have one daughter named Janeka and three grandchildren- Darren, Breana, and Mia. She continues to reside in Huntsville, Alabama, where she maintains strong ties to the community through her legislative work and involvement in various organizations. |