HB 224 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Children's Health Insurance Fund, distributions further provided

HB 224 adjusts funding for Alabama's food stamp program and children's health insurance (CHIP). It raises the administrative fee for food stamps from 5% to 7.5% of benefits to comply with the "One Big Beautiful Act," directly affecting the Department of Human Resources. The bill also changes CHIP funding by allowing non-use-tax revenue sources (beyond the current primary use tax allocation) to support the program. These are technical appropriations changes focused on funding mechanisms, not program eligibility or benefits.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 6 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and enrolled for signature, removing draft markings and adding the official 'Enrolled' status. The text of the law itself was significantly expanded to include new funding allocations for state parks and updated debt service requirements, while removing older, expired funding provisions for the foster children program.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include new funding mechanisms for state parks and updated debt service rules, while removing references to expired programs.

FISCAL

Updated the funding distribution for state parks to include a new minimum annual amount of $5 million starting in 2002, which was later increased to $7 million starting in 2021, and added a formula to adjust these amounts annually based on inflation.

Added a requirement that debt service payments for state park bonds must be paid from the General Fund before other distributions can occur.

Added a specific provision allocating $1 million annually to the Department of Human Resources for the foster children program between 1996 and 2002.

Removed the specific provision that allocated $1 million annually to the foster children program, as the end date of 2002 had passed.

TIMELINE

Extended the timeline for state park funding adjustments and clarified the start dates for various funding tiers.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill status from 'Introduced' to 'Enrolled' and updated the internal document tracking numbers to reflect the final version.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1289

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation General Fund)

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1139

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors