UPDATE: This Week in the Alabama Legislature

A few controversial bills were debated in the Alabama Legislature this week, but some received wide bi-partisan support passed both chambers and are now ready for Gov. Kay Ivey's signature.

House Bill 300 requires, "...health benefit plans offered in this state which pay or reimburse for breast examinations, including mammography, provide the coverage without imposing a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance charge on the beneficiary."

According to the American Cancer Society, between 2019 and 2023 Alabama’s breast cancer death rate was 20.4 per 100,000 women.

Senate Bill 200 is another bill awaiting Ivey's signature is one that changes the name of the Office of Minority Affairs to the Alabama Office of Civic Engagement. The name change does not impact the mission of the office, but the bill's sponsor Birmingham Sen. Roger Smitherman (D-18) says it reflects the work done there.

The name change may also help protect the office after President Trump mentioned it by name when he issued multiple executive orders calling for the elimination of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming in the U.S. government.

House Bill 78 is another law that sailed through the legislature with the governor's backing. It was cosponsored by Tuscaloosa Rep. Bill Lamb (R-62) and requires, "...development of standards and relevant annual training requirements for appropriate screen time use in early childhood education settings." The bill applies to publicly funded early-learning centers across the state.

Here is the other activity in the Alabama Legislature this week (Note: Only legislation of statewide application or primarily sponsorship by West Alabama lawmakers is listed):

The House

House Bill 2, Requires all state and local entities to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” The bill passed 74-30. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 8, Allows local school boards to hire volunteer chaplains to provide services at a teacher’s request. The bill passed 91-7. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 86, Sponsored by Tuscaloosa Rep. Chris England (D-70), amends the Alabama Code to update parole consideration to include an inmate’s employment status and education gained while incarcerated and allows the Board of Pardons and Paroles to consider the inmate’s low-risk to reoffend. The bill passed 78–22. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 96, Increases the homestead exemption to $56,400 for residents over 62 years of age and individuals with disabilities. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

House Bill 98, Establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Program for children and spouses of officers who have been killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. The bill passed 99-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 132, Updates the crime of second-degree assault to include intent to harm a child in an educational environment if the person committing the crime is over 19 years old, not employed or enrolled in the educational space and causes physical injury to any person. The bill passed 102-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 135, Creates the Alabama Port Infrastructure Grant Program and Alabama Port Infrastructure Fund. The bill passed 103-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 141 Increases fees paid to public utility board members to $1,200 for the director and $600 for regular members; allows some municipalities to have five members on its utility board if the municipality has authorized the creation of a corporation and extends term limits from four years to six years for newly elected members. The bill passed 94-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 159, Sponsored by Pickens, Tuscaloosa Rep. Ron Bolton (R-61), Allows qualifying circuit clerks to participate in the Employees’ Retirement System. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

House Bill 163, Allows local governments to create private financing for property owners to install qualifying energy, resiliency and insurance-reducing improvements with repayment secured by voluntary special assessments. The bill passed 99-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 182, Requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to credit education or training acquired in the military toward an emergency medical services personnel license. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

House Bill 213, Changes the name of the Alabama State Port Authority to the Alabama Port Authority and authorizes the Code Commissioner to change all references to the State Port Authority, the Alabama State Docks Department, and the Alabama State Port Authority to the Alabama Port Authority. The bill passed 33-0 with a committee amendment. It goes to the House for concurrence or conference committee.

House Bill 244, Amends the Alabama Code to exclude the usage of natural gas or electricity in commercial greenhouses, poultry houses and pivot irrigation systems from gross utility receipts and utility service taxes. The bill passed 102-0. It moves to the Senate.

House B 247, Provides compensation to dependents or beneficiaries of volunteer firefighters who have died of cancer in the line of duty if they were undiagnosed before being certified as a volunteer firefighter, had no less than six years of service before being diagnosed and was an active member of a volunteer fire department. The bill passed 102-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 249, Adds procedures and requirements for removals of guardianships, conservatorships and protective proceedings. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

House Bill 254, Prohibits law enforcement officers from stopping or boarding vessels for safety or marine sanitation equipment inspections. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

House Bill 263, Prevents certain health and fitness apps from transferring, disclosing or using a consumer’s biological or neural data for purposes that aren’t tracking health, wellness, sleep, mindfulness, fitness, mental or cognitive performance and stress. The bill passed 104-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 266, Raises the penalty for reckless endangerment to a Class C felony punishable up to one year in prison if an individual recklessly engages in conduct that could seriously injure multiple people and a Class B felony punishable up to 20 years in prison if a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument is used while performing the reckless action. The bill passed 84-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 274, Adds a section to the Alabama Code that allows the Department of Corrections to take action against drones flying over correctional facilities. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

House Bill 302, Applies the same licensing requirements to a surety bondsman as the law does to bail bondsmen and requires circuit clerks to report listing of all professional bail bond companies to the judge. The bill passed 74-3. It goes to the Senate.

House Bill 303, Requires operators of cryptocurrency kiosks to clearly disclose all terms and conditions for the use of its products and provide the customer with a specific warning, outlined in the legislation. The bill passed 102-1. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 317, Sponsored by Bibb, Greene, Hale, Tuscaloosa Rep. Curtis Travis (D-72) Expands the eligibility of distinctive firefighter license plates to include fire chaplains and anyone who falsely obtains a license plate will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor punishable up to three months in jail. The bill passed 103-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 328, Changes the definition of first-degree arson in the Alabama Code to include while another person is in the building, establishes a fine of at least $25,000 if the crime is done in connection with a theft and establishes a prison sentence for at least 20 years for committing first degree arson. The bill passed 104-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 342, Allows the state to participate in the federal tax credit for individuals who make a qualified contribution to a scholarship granting organization. The bill passed 103-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 351, Allows consumers to take action regarding their personal data being used, regulates how an individual or legal entity can process a consumer’s personal data, provide obligations of a data processor and regulate the processing of deidentified data. The bill passed 104-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 359, Clarifies awards under the Sweet Home Alabama Tourism Investment act and requires cost documentation for projects. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to Ivey.

House Bill 360, Establishes the Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday to exempt certain firearms and hunting gear and accessories including gunpowder, bullets and hearing accessories, among others from sales tax. The bill passed 73-29. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 361, Prohibits insurers from discriminating against organ donors who are trying to obtain life, disability and long-term care insurance; requires state and local governments to give organ or bone marrow donors paid leave and gives a tax credit to private employers who give paid leave to organ donors. The bill passed 104-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 362, Further provides for the responsibilities of certain Legal Services Office positions within the Alabama National Guard. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.

House Bill 363, Bans interrupting a worship service by engaging in unlawful protests, riots or disorderly conduct. The bill passed 75-27. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 372, Allows for two exempt personnel positions not subject to the state merit system to operate the Pharmacy Benefits Manager Division within the Department of Insurance. The bill passed 100-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 377, Adds medical graduate programs to the Alabama G.I. and Dependents’ Educational Benefit Act and caps the tuition that can be charged at no more than the in-state tuition rate for a qualifying school. The bill passed 99-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 393, Removes references to the Accelerate Alabama Strategic Economic Development Plan in the state’s research and development grants for economic development. The bill passed 93-0. It goes to the Senate.

House Bill 408, Sponsored by Bibb, Chilton, Shelby Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-49), Allows the Alabaster City Council to establish and regulate entertainment districts. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

House Bill 429,Prohibits the flying of drones near a ticketed entertainment event with exemptions for middle and high school sports events and operators who have obtained consent, is authorized by federal regulations, is an employee of the property, is an employee of a utility service, is an owner of private property and is flying the drone over the private property or is employed by a state agency, law enforcement agency, fire department or emergency management agency and is conducting official business. The bill passed 93-3. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 454, Extends the search warrant for DNA sampling from 10 days to 60 days. The bill passed 100-0. It moves to the Senate.

House Bill 487, Makes supplemental appropriations in the amount of $43.1 million from the Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund. The bill passed 102-0. It moves to the Senate.

The Senate

Senate Bill 85, Further defines the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The bill passed 33-1. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 90, Requires any Alabama resident that sells or trades fresh or frozen seafood to purchase a $465 license and $730 for nonresidents. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

Senate Bill 133, Sponsored by Greensboro Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-24), changes the appointing power of the Green County Racing Commission from the governor to the county’s legislative delegation and allows for the three commissioners’ salaries to be set by their local delegation. The bill passed 18-2-1. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 164, Removes a restriction that does not allow a Class IV municipality to hire the same accountant to conduct the municipality’s audit for more than three consecutive years. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 165, Sets qualification fees for Class IV municipalities’ elected offices at $500 for mayoral candidates and $250 for council members. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 168, Bans the three-cueing reading teaching method. The bill passed 98-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

Senate Bill 219, Requires all service contract provider registration fees to be paid to the State Treasury to fund the Special Examination Revolving Fund. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 229, Further provides for the responsibilities of certain Legal Services Office positions within the Alabama National Guard. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 230, Allows political candidates to spend campaign funds to protect themselves, immediate family or staff. The bill passed the House 102-0. The Senate later concurred 33-0 with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

Senate Bill 279, Exempts certain services from getting a general contracting license, like pressure washing, floor waxing and security system maintenance. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 289, Sponsored by Greensboro Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-24), expands eligibility for the Growing Alabama tax credits for local economic development organizations that own more than one site. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 300, Creates a new design for the “Helping Schools” license plate. The bill passed 33-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 301, Sponsored by Selma Sen. Robert Stewart (D-23), Creates a new voting center in Perry County for districts one through four in Marion, Alabama. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

Senate Bill 305, Allows local school boards to hire volunteer chaplains to provide services at a teacher’s request. The bill passed 34-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 317, Creates the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services to evaluate programs and their costs proposed by the Legislature within 30 days of each regular and special session. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House.

Senate Bill 319, Sponsored by Bibb, Chilton, Shelby Sen. April Weaver (R-14), creates the City of Helena Civil Service System to hear appeals of disciplinary matters for the city’s employees. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House.

The Alabama Legislature has completed 17 days of the allowed 30 meeting days for the 2026 session. The Alabama House reconvenes Tuesday at 1:00pm while the Senate returns at 4:30pm Tuesday.