Legislature’s Final Days This Session To Be Hectic

The Alabama Legislature returns to Montgomery this afternoon to begin the last three meeting days of the 2026 legislative session. Of prime importance is to coordinate the differences in the state's two budgets as past by each chamber and to act on several pieces of significant legislation.

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Here are some of the more controversial bills still pending:

Beau's Law

One bill that is getting strong bipartisan support is Senate Bill 361, known as Beau’s Law. The bill would prohibit tethering dogs to a stationary object under certain conditions and would ban the use of logging chains and certain collars to tether dogs. Authorities have discovered dogs tethered in inhumane conditions.

Animal rights advocates are conducting a rally in Montgomery today, as the legislation moves to the House for a vote. However, there is opposition from the powerful Alabama Farmer's Federation which issued a statement, "Animal cruelty is already a crime. SB 361 grants broad enforcement authority over vague animal care standards to appointed individuals with no specialized training or certification.”

The federation goes on to state the bill, “infringes on private property rights and sets a dangerous precedent for government regulation of animal agriculture.”

Party Primaries

A Senate committee public hearing is set today on a proposal to switch party primary elections from open to closed. This would mean voters would have to register what party they are affiliated with. However, voters would be able to change their chosen political party as many times as they would like between elections, up until 60 days before a contest. Opponents call House Bill 541 a violation of voting rights. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, claims the bill will keep party integrity intact.

School prayer and Pledge of Allegiance Requirement 

House Bill 511 would require a vote on a Constitutional Amendment to make the requirement lawful.

Ten Commandments Display

House Bill 216/Senate Bill 99 would require public schools to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in schools with fifth- through 12th-grade students. Similar requirements have already been struck down by federal courts in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Sex Education in K-12 schools

Senate Bill 209 would require schools to emphasize abstinence as the only sure way to avoid unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Charter School Bonding Authority

Senate Bill 62 would create a finance authority to allow a new entity named the Alabama Charter School Finance Authority, to issue bonds for capital improvements and then issue loans for charter schools to finance capital projects. Public school proponents oppose the bill.

State Archives Board

House Bill 169 amends the composition of the Board of Trustees for the Department of Archives and History and refining the process for filling board vacancies, with retroactive effects. The bill would give greater political control over archives. Foes fear this could result in distortions of Alabama history.

Standards For Police Pursuit

Senate Bill 120 (SB120), also known as the Tristan Hollis Memorial Act. Would require law enforcement agencies to adopt strict written policies, limiting high-speed chases to cases involving probable cause of specific violent crimes or immediate safety threats.

Gulf of "America" Naming

House Bill 2 would require state and local entities to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America," which has faced significant debate and filibusters from Democrats regarding its necessity.

There are numerous other bills pending during these final days of the session. Some no doubt will run out of time.