HB 354 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Department of Workforce; workforce talent recruitment grant program established, eligibility provided for, and fund established

HB 354 establishes a workforce talent recruitment grant program administered by Alabama's Department of Economic and Community Affairs. It provides grants to eligible municipalities, counties, and economic development nonprofits to incentivize households earning at least $55,000 annually to relocate to Alabama from outside the state. Grant recipients must submit detailed plans with household relocation targets and demonstrate 20% cost-sharing, with funds disbursed in two phases tied to meeting half the target. The bill creates a dedicated "Talent Recruitment Program Grant Fund" to manage funding, requiring semiannual reports on relocation outcomes and economic impact. The program aims to attract new residents and boost local economies through structured relocation incentives.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 29, 2026 Last action Apr 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 5 edits · Mar 19, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to transfer administration of the talent recruitment grant program from the Department of Economic and Community Affairs to the Department of Workforce. The changes also clarify that grants are split into two payments based on progress, expand the list of required application details, and update household eligibility criteria to use the state's median income rather than a fixed dollar amount.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed by altering the responsible state agency from the Department of Economic and Community Affairs to the Department of Workforce.

SCOPE

The administering agency was changed from the Department of Economic and Community Affairs to the Department of Workforce.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added to the grant application plan, including the estimated grant amount per household, tax impact, and total economic impact.

FISCAL

The bill now specifies that 50% of the grant is paid upon signing and the remaining 50% upon meeting half the household goal.

ELIGIBILITY

Household eligibility income requirements changed from a fixed $55,000 threshold to an amount equal to or greater than the state's median household income.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Household Goal' was updated to include municipalities as a target location for relocation.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 994

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 993

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

Ways and Means General Fund Engrossed Substitute Offered (Ways and Means General Fund)

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Ways and Means Education)

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors