Republican April Weaver announced Wednesday that she will seek re-election for Alabama House of Representatives District 49.

District 49 encompasses the northeastern corner of Chilton County (including the city of Jemison), southwestern Shelby County (including portions of the cities of Alabaster and Montevallo) and most of Bibb County.

Weaver was first elected to represent House District 49 in 2010. She would run again in 2014.

“I am excited to announce my plans to run for re-election to the Alabama House of Representatives,” Weaver said in a press release. “I am also excited to represent a district that will soon include a portion of Chilton County. As a lifelong resident of this area, I intend to continue to be a proactive representative of the people of District 49.

“I was born and raised a Republican, and I will continue to be a strong, conservative voice for the voters of this district,” Weaver said. “Every day I am in Montgomery, I will fight to ensure that the conservative values and principles we share are reflected in every piece of legislation I support.”

She attended yesterday’s chamber luncheon with Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard as well as other House and Senate members whose districts will represent the Chilton County delegation under the 2014 redistricting plan.

In 2010, as a freshman legislator, she sponsored and passed the small business health insurance tax credit law.

In subsequent years, she has sponsored and co-sponsored many bills that support Alabama businesses, gun rights, economic development, pro-life values and our military, according to the release.

During the past session, Weaver was the sponsor of the Red Tape Reduction Act that was recently signed in to law.

Over the past year, she has also been a member of the task force to address prescription drug abuse at both the state and national levels. During the 2013 legislative session, she sponsored bills to address prescription drug abuse that were recently signed in to law by Gov. Robert Bentley.

She is a member of the Alabama State Republican Executive Committee, the Bibb County Republican Party and the Shelby County Republican Party.

Weaver is a graduate of Leadership Shelby County, a past board member for the University of Montevallo Student Affairs Department, an advisory board member for the Baptist Health System Congregational Health Program and a member of the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Her past activities also include education chairperson for the Bibb County Chamber of Commerce, team member of the Bibb County Child Caring Foundation, director of the Bibb County Safe Kids Coalition, advisory board member for Bibb Medical Center Home Health, board of directors for the Bibb County Kiwanis Club and liaison to the University of Alabama’s Rural Health Scholars Program.

Weaver has been recognized for her professional and community leadership.

She has been selected as a member of Birmingham Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40” list of young professionals, as well as “Alabama Young Career Woman of the Year.”

In 2011, she received the BCA Advocate for Progress Award and in 2011 and 2012 she was chosen as Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the ASNA.

During her tenure in the Legislature, she has served as vice chair of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation, chair of the Environmental Issues Subcommittee, Health Committee, Small Business and Commerce Committee, Sunset Committee, and Energy Council.

In addition, Bentley recently appointed her to her fourth term on the State Health Coordinating Council (SHCC), where she serves as chair of the Home Health Committee and vice chair of the FED Subcommittee.

She is a member of the Alabama Department of Mental Health Board of Trustees and a former member of the Alabama Child Death Review Board.

Weaver began her healthcare administration career almost 20 years ago at Bibb Medical Center (BMC) after she received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1993.

While maintaining her job at BMC, she returned to college and became a registered nurse in 1997.

She joined Brookwood Medical Center in 1999, rising to the rank of Director of Public, Community and Government Relations.

She joined Shelby Baptist Medical Center in 2002 and presently serves as the director of business development and as a member of the administrative team. She completed her MBA in 2006 and subsequently completed coursework as a legal nurse consultant.

Weaver is married to Dr. Darrel Weaver and they reside in the Six Mile community. They are members of Westwood Baptist Church in Alabaster.