Alabama Weekly Legislative Recap
The Alabama Legislature had another prolific week in passing legislation. It also dealt with several controversial bills. Bills listed below either have statewide application or apply to West Alabama counties.
The House:
House Bill 11 - Prohibits a judge from granting youthful offender status to individuals 16 and older who are charged with murder or capital murder. The bill passed the House on a94-0 and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 27 - Expands allowable expenses for tax-deductible Catastrophe Savings Accounts. It allows funds to cover proactive, wind-mitigation measures for residential properties to include hurricanes and windstorms. The legislation caps contributions to these accounts to cover the new expenses. The bill passed the House in a 102-0 vote and moves to the Senate.
House Bill 41 - Expands the death penalty to include rape, sodomy and sexual torture of a minor under 12 years old. The bill passed the House 73-6 and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 151 - Repeals the law allowing the Physicians Advisory Board of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. The bill passed the House on a 98-0 vote and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 56 - Requires auto cyclists to wear protective headgear and shoes in compliance with motorcycle protective gear requirements when operating or riding. The bill passed the House 62-24 and no moves to the Senate.
House Bill 57 - Sponsored by Northport Rep. Ron Bolton, (R-61), alters, rearranges, and extends the boundary lines and corporate limits of the City of Carrollton in Pickens County. The bill passed the House on a 33-0 vote. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey for signature or veto.
House Bill 66 - Requires the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to establish a method for individuals to voluntarily disclose on their identification that they have an invisible disability, including cognitive disorders, mental illnesses and communication impediments. The bill passed the House 103-0 and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 72 - Prohibits smoking or vaping marijuana in a vehicle with a child under 19, classifying it as a Class A misdemeanour. The bill passed the House in a 77-2 vote and moves to the Senate. to the Senate.
House Bill 78, Limits screen time usage for children ages birth to five years old. The bill passed the House 101-1 and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 80 - Provides civil immunity for landlords regarding property left behind after evictions. The bill passed the House on a 104-0 vote and moves to the Senate.
House Bill 110 - Requires the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency ALEA) to offer residents the option to have a digital driver license or nondriver identification card alongside a physical copy of those cards. The bill passed the House on a 93-3 vote and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 122 - Changes the TEAMS Act to offer a teacher with 20 years of experience a contract of up to five years instead of a five-year contract. The bill passed the House on a 96-0 vote and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 114 - Extends the current payment period for assessments made on illegally imported or transported motor fuel from 30 days to 60 days. The bill passed the House on a 102-0 vote and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 149 - Designates the Board of Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar as an agency of the judicial branch. The bill passed the House 103-0 and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 151 - Repeals the law allowing the Physicians Advisory Board of the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. The bill passed the House on a 98-0 vote and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 152 - Removes a 1965 mandate requiring the University of Alabama to maintain a standalone School of Social Work. The bill passed the House on a 76-14 vote and moves to the Senate.
House Bill 208 - Sponsored by Rep. Greg Barnes, R-Curry, amends the Alabama Constitution to change the qualifying age from 70 to 75 for probate judge in Walker County. The measure is a constitutional amendment and passed the House of a 33-0 vote. It goes to the ballot to be considered by voters in a future election.
House Bill 210 - Sponsored by Windham Springs Rep. Bryan Brinyark, R-18), amends the Alabama Constitution to cap the property tax at the current rate for Fayette County residents who are 65 years old and older. The Bill passed the House on a 33-0 vote and now goes to the ballot to be considered by voters in a future election.
House Bill 277 - Authorizes oyster aquaculture license holders to shuck, harvest and serve oysters from the aquaculture facility for product tasting. The bill passed the House on a 102-1 vote and now moves to the Senate.
House Bill 313 - Amends the Alabama Constitution to authorize a qualified taxpayer who is 65 years old or older to claim a senior property tax exemption in Blount County. The bill passed the House on a 63-0 vote and now moves to the Senate.
The Senate:
Confirmation - The Alabama State Senate on Thursday voted unanimously to confirm Hal Nash to the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Senate Bill 9 - This bill, sponsored by Cottondale Sen. Gerald Allen (R-21), bans vaping in all indoor public spaces. The legislation redefines smoking under existing law to include electronic nicotine delivery systems, targeting environments like restaurants and workplaces to protect public health. The bill passed the Senate on a 31-1 vote and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 22 - Gives the President Pro Tempore an explicit appointment to the Alabama Commission on Uniform State Laws. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 41 - Forbids any person convicted of elder abuse from retaining property interests in or receiving benefits or bequests from a will from a victim’s estate. The bill passed the Senate on a 32-0 and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 42 - Allows for a runoff election if a municipal election has only two candidates and neither receives more than 50% of votes. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 66 - Requires the Alabama Department of Corrections to check for outstanding warrants when an inmate is up for parole while they are still in custody and serve the warrant before the inmate is released. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 77 - Extends the 911 Board until Oct. 1, 2028, and changes the members’ appointment manner to where they can serve until the Alabama Senate can reject their appointment. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 95 - Sponsored by Cottondale Sen. Gerald Allen, (R-21), extends the Underground Damage Prevention Program to Jan. 1, 2036. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 109 - Would allow people that use their cars for ride share services to enter an agreement with another ride share driver, known as peer-to-peer car sharing. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 136 - Extends the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board until Oct. 1, 2027, and places it under the oversight of the Alabama Department of Public Health. The bill passed the Senate 33-0 and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 137 - Codifies the Alabama Resilience Council, created by an executive order in 2023, that facilitates interactions between state and local government and the private sector to proactively address damages to Alabama infrastructure. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now goes to the House.
Senate Bill 158 - Requires public high schools to designate a school day for military recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test for students that want to take it. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now moves to the House.
Senate Bill 163 - Adopts the Aesthetics Licensure Compact, allowing aestheticians to get a license through a multistate licensing program. The bill passed the Senate on a 33-0 vote and now moves to the House.
The House will reconvene at 1:00pm Tuesday while the Senate will be gavelled back into session at 2:00pm Tuesday. It will be day 10 of the 2026 session.
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