SB 154 Alabama Senate · 2026 Regular Session

State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026

SB 154 would provide a 2% cost-of-living salary increase for most Alabama state employees, effective October 1, 2026. This applies to classified/unclassified state employees, judicial personnel, legislative staff, and county health department employees paid through state funds under the State Merit System. The bill excludes employees covered by existing labor contracts or local supplements tied to state salaries. Funding for the increase would be included in the annual state budget, not through this bill itself. The measure does not affect pay for employees already covered by negotiated agreements.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Apr 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Apr 22, 2026

MODERATE

The bill evolved from a simple cost-of-living adjustment for state employees to a comprehensive package that includes the original salary increase plus a new funded one-time longevity bonus for eligible retirees and beneficiaries. The final version also clarifies that the salary increase does not apply to local supplements or employees covered by labor contracts, and it explicitly states that the required funding must come from the annual budget act.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new longevity bonus program for retirees and beneficiaries of the Employees' Retirement System, in addition to the original salary increase for active state employees.

SCOPE

Added a new provision establishing a funded one-time longevity bonus for eligible retirees and beneficiaries of the Employees' Retirement System.

ELIGIBILITY

Refined eligibility criteria for the longevity bonus to include specific retirement dates (prior to October 1, 2025) and payment status as of September 30, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific exclusions stating that the cost-of-living increase does not apply to local supplements for judges or employees whose pay is tied to state rates, nor to employees covered by labor agreements.

FISCAL

Clarified that appropriations for the salary increase must be made in the annual budget act, rather than being implied as automatic.

TECHNICAL

Removed introductory text and page headers typical of introduced bills, replacing them with standard enrolled bill formatting and a formal synopsis.

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

Amendments

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Albritton Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1227

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1144

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1143

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Introduced

Givens 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 830

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors