Legislature Returns Tuesday, Ivey to Deliver Final State of the State
The Alabama Legislature returns to work in Montgomery tomorrow for the 2026 Regular Session. After the House and Senate are gavelled into session, first day business typically involves organizational matters, the formal introduction (first reading) of more than 160 prefiled bills, and committee referrals.
The big event will come in the historic State Capital House Chamber at 6:00pm Tuesday when Gov. Ivey delivers her 10th and final State of the State Address of her administration. Ivey issued a statement saying her address will continue to emphasize building on her administration’s successes.
“We are coming into this legislative session with some serious momentum. Just last month, we announced Lilly Medicine would be investing some $6 billion dollars to build a new manufacturing facility in our state, and this is only one of our most recent wins that will further strengthen Alabama’s future. I am proud to work with our legislators this session to get good work done for the people of Alabama. We will continue building on our success in education, bolstering public safety, conservatively budgeting and preparing for Alabama’s strong future. I look forward to delivering my state of the state address...It is going to be a productive and exciting 12 months ahead!”
It may be exciting for the governor but for the lawmakers, their goal will be to get the session over with so they can campaign for the party primaries, it is an election year. Legally their only required business is the passage of the state's general fund and Special Education Trust Fund (SETF) budgets.
State Rep. Ron Bolton (R-61) believes the budgets will be the major issue, "We're going to be looking at maintaining a very conservative budgeting cycle because going forward in the General Fund we are looking for a tighter budget coming in 2028." Bolton also says legislators will have to look at making some adjustments to the state teacher healthcare insurance program known as PEEHIP.
Pressure will be placed on legislators, not only in Alabama, but nationwide by Trump Administration federal cutbacks that will remove some federal funds and place more financial burdens on states in some programs.
State lawmakers are allowed 30 meeting days during the 105-day session and are expected to adjourn March 27th. There are usually two meeting or "legislative" days per week (Tuesday & Thursday), with other days devoted to committee meetings.
Tomorrow: An overview of some of the notable prefiled bills for this year's legislative session.
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