About
As a teenager, I developed a deep passion for civil rights history that instilled in me a lifetime commitment to serving others.
As a college student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., I had the privilege of serving in the Obama Administration where I learned that government at its best is about leading with compassion and respect for all people.
I was drawn back to Alabama though to be part of a community.
I taught social studies at Lee High School in Montgomery through Teach for America, where I had the opportunity to teach and mentor many of our youth.
In 2012, I started a program called Marching On in which some of my students and I would fly to Washington, D.C. – often the students' first time on an airplane – to meet with leaders, tour colleges and learn about career opportunities. I have continued leading the program each year since and expanded it to include students from all five of Montgomery’s traditional public high schools.
I felt that I could be an even more effective advocate for social change by going to law school to fight to make the law and policies fairer so everyone in Alabama can achieve their full potential.
After graduating from Cardozo School of Law and passing the Alabama Bar, I served as Policy Counsel for Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, where I provided direction and leadership to advance the organization’s civil rights policy goals through legislative advocacy, litigation strategy, public education and research.
Recently, it was the honor of a lifetime to serve as Claudette Colvin’s attorney in her successful attempt to expunge her court record from being the first person arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955.
Additionally, I served in the Office of Mayor Steven L. Reed as his Senior Policy Advisor, researching, writing and helping implement evidence-based practices in education, criminal justice, small business support, economic and community development, and public health. During that time, it was with great pride that I was instrumental in Montgomery’s swift and practical response to COVID-19.
Currently, I serve as Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama, where I develop, implement and oversee finances, programming, and fundraising. I also lead efforts to combat antisemitism and build multi-faith coalitions to combat racism and foster acceptance of all people.
Contact Information
Known contact information for Phillip Ensler from Montgomery, AL.
- Official Email: Email Unknown
Education Information
Known educational history for Phillip Ensler from Montgomery, AL.
- Attended, George Washington University
- Graduated, Cardozo School of Law
Political Information
Known political history for Phillip Ensler from Montgomery, AL.
- Candidate, Alabama State House of Representatives, District 74, 2022
Professions Information
Known professional history for Phillip Ensler from Montgomery, AL.
- Policy Counsel, Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
- Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Mayor Steven L. Reed
- Teacher, Teach for America
Organizations Information
Known organizational history for Phillip Ensler from Montgomery, AL.
- Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Central Alabama
- Founder, Marching On
Election History
Phillip Ensler from Montgomery, AL has participated in elections listed below in the state of Alabama.
Sponsored Bills
View legislative bills that Phillip Ensler has sponsored.
- HB446
Dogs; required methods of confinement provided; persons and activities exempted; criminal penalty for, animal control officer enforcement of violations established
- HB447
Montgomery County; judge of probate, authorized to register wills
- HB448
Alabama Lottery established; Alabama Lottery Corporation established to administer lottery; Tribal-State compact authorized; constitutional amendment
- HB449
Alabama Lottery, established; Alabama Lottery Corporation, established to operate and regulate lottery games; revenue distribution, provided; criminal penalties for gambling offenses, increased
- HR16
Claudette Colvin, death mourned
- HR264
Jewish American Heritage Month, May 2026, designated
- HR338
Montgomery Alumnae Chapter, Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, celebrated
- HB149
Dogs; required methods of confinement provided; persons and activities exempted; criminal penalty for violation established
- HB150
Firearms; transfer of deadly weapon and ammunition to intoxicated persons prohibited; criminal penalty provided
- HB26
Firearms, to prohibit possession of pistols with parts installed to convert into machine gun
- HB524
Pardons and Paroles; juvenile offenders serving life without parole; parole authorized following satisfaction of certain conditions
- HB83
Taxation; Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention, exempt from the payment of state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes
- HJR278
Rheem Manufacturing, recognized
- HR183
Montgomery County Street Cleanup Event, celebrated
- HR279
Montgomery County Street Cleanup Event, celebrated
- HR280
Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon, commended
- HR293
Judge Williams, honored
- HR317
Alabama State University GEAR UP Students, commended
- HR318
77th Independence Day of the State of Israel, commemorated
- HR85
Tamela Selmar-Burks, death mourned
- HR96
Recognizing March 2, 2025, as the 70th anniversary of Claudette Colvin's refusal to give up her bus seat
- HB36
Firearms, to prohibit parts converting a firearm into a machine gun
- HB37
Firearms, to provide for do-not-sell list
- HB38
State government, created the Community-Based Violence Prevention Program within the Department of Economic and Community Affairs and provided for a pilot program to provide grants
- HB47
Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention, Inc., exempt from state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes.
- HB48
Firearms, to prohibit parts converting a firearm into a machine gun, with exceptions
- HB49
Red Flag Protective Order Act, established; to provide for the issuance of ex parte red flag protective orders and one-year red flag protective orders
- HB75
Crimes and offenses; assault 2nd; letter carrier added
- HB78
Crimes and offenses; crime of swatting created; penalties established; jurisdiction provided for; restitution required
- HJR276
Alabama-Israel Legislative Caucus, recognizing
- HB383
Relating to public safety; to establish the Red Flag Protective Order Act; to provide for the issuance of ex parte red flag protective orders and one-year red flag protective orders; to require the surrender of all firearms and ammunition of a person subject to a red flag protective order; to provide for the renewal or early termination of an order; to provide criminal penalties for a violation; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
- HB384
Relating to community outreach; to provide for the development of a Community-Based Violence Prevention Program within the Department of Economic and Community Affairs; and to provide for a pilot program to fund the establishment or expansion of community-based violence prevention programs created by municipalities, subject to appropriation.
- HB385
Relating to firearms; to prohibit persons from possessing any part or combination of parts designed or intended to convert a firearm into a machine gun; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
- HB386
Relating to firearms; to prohibit persons from possessing or selling a firearm that does not have a serial number as required by federal law; to provide a penalty for violation; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
- HB447
Relating to sales and use taxes; to amend Section 40-23-5, Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt the Alabama State Missionary Baptist Convention, Incorporated, and each local Baptist association that is a member in good standing of the convention, from payment of state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes.
- HB451
Relating to firearms; to create the Voluntary Alabama Firearms Do-Not-Sell List; to allow an individual to voluntarily add himself or herself to the list; to establish procedures for an individual to be removed from the list; to prohibit certain actions regarding individuals on the list; to provide penalties for certain violations; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
- HB452
Relating to deferred presentment transactions; to amend Section 5-18A-13, Code of Alabama 1975, to require the term of a deferred presentment transaction to be a minimum of 30 calendar days.
- HB522
Relating to Montgomery County; to repeal Section 10 of Act 789, 1975 Regular Session (Acts 1975, p. 1576), relating to restrictions on where deputy district attorneys in the 15th Judicial Circuit, composed of Montgomery County, may reside.
- HR140
MOURNING THE DEATH AND CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HARRY BELAFONTE.
Voting Record
Recent legislative votes cast by Phillip Ensler. Use the full archive to find a specific bill.
- 1,830Yea
- 85Nay
- 646Abstained
- 92Absent
- YeaSB364Public 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
- YeaSB341Alabama Work Zone Safety Act; pilot program to establish photographic speed enforcement system in a work zone on interstate highway, provided; civil penalties for violations, provided
- YeaSB273Crimes and offenses; stalking in the second degree, penalties revised
- AbsentSB199Sex offenders; restrictions for certain sex offenders further provided, Board of Pardons and Paroles authorized to adopt rules
- YeaSB174Natural resources; conversion of oil and gas wells into alternative energy facilities authorized; lease of state lands for energy sources by Commissioner of Conservation expanded
- NaySB57Public assistance; Department of Human Resources required to request waiver to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, implementation of prohibition provided for
- YeaSB32Solid waste collection fees; veterans' benefits sole income households exempted
- YeaSB5Public K-12 schools, broadcast of the Star-Spangled Banner required weekly, proposed statewide constitutional amendment
- YeaHJR198Alabama Mental Health Task Force, established
- YeaHB605State Health Planning and Development Agency; Rural Health Antitrust Immunity Act created, collaboration among rural health care providers authorized; certification and supervision framework established, limited immunity from state and federal antitrust laws provided