The Alabama legislative session came to a conclusion last week with some positive results, but not all it from the bills and appropriations that were approved.

The session had tense moments over a failed bill that would have law enforcement officers gather information to determine if racial profiling is a factor in arrests and citations. That issue is likely to be debated again in next year’s session.

Nevertheless, lawmakers made a positive stride when they passed legislation to require unregistered faith-based day cares to register with the state. The bill is aimed at making sure health and safety standards are in place for any operation caring for children. There were objections by some legislators who said the measure could be an inroad for government to control churches.

That was far from the truth. The push to add regulations was a sincere effort to protect children from people who may not provide a secure, healthy setting.

Bills that failed were also important to Alabamians.

A move to arm designated teachers, after undergoing training, didn’t make it through the session. The bill arose because of the shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school that left 17 dead and 17 wounded.

The debate over how to make schools safer continues to be important. Today people are thinking and studying of what steps can be taken to make schools, churches and other places where large numbers of people gather more secure. Maybe by the next legislative session a legitimate and effective solution will be found.

Another bill that would have lifted the requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun was also ditched – that decision makes sense.

Sheriffs have long had control over the permits and it has worked well. The knowledge of law enforcement officials about the people in their communities has been a good safeguard against unstable people walking around with concealed weapons.

Americans already have the right to own guns, lots of guns, but some measure of reason and control is always needed. This is especially true where concealed weapons are concerned. Law enforcement’s role in issuing permits is a reasonable system that has been beneficial for society.

A bill that drew a lot of interest statewide but eventually died was an effort to reduce marijuana possession — on an ounce or less — to a misdemeanor requiring a fine but no jail time. In today’s changing world where marijuana is now legalized in several states, proponents of the bill were thinking forward, attempting to save a lot of people from carrying a damaging criminal record. The bill will likely find new life in the next session.

Lawmakers also reached an agreement to spend an additional $85 million over two years to improve mental health care in prisons. Alabama is in danger of federal government intervention in its correctional system, which would be costly for the state. Taking steps to make the prison system safer and more effective is a good investment.

A local bill changing the way Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry handles money left over from feeding inmates was positive. Gentry publicly supported the bill, and now voters will decide its final fate at the ballot box in November. Approval by voters will establish transparency and fiscal responsibility over these funds that have been miss directed under a 1930s bill.

The session overall produced a mostly spirit of cooperation among legislators. When the election year is behind us and officeholders return to Montgomery next year, hopefully, more issues will be addressed and resolved through compromise and a desire to see Alabama progress.