SB 160 Alabama Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Athletic Trainers; interstate licensure compact, established

SB 160 adopts the Athletic Trainer Compact, allowing licensed athletic trainers in Alabama to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects athletic trainers seeking to work across state lines and patients who gain easier access to care. The bill establishes a Compact Commission to manage mutual recognition of licenses, streamline disciplinary procedures, and share licensing information among member states. Key provisions include requiring uniform licensing standards, enabling telehealth services, and supporting military families relocating across states. This reduces administrative burdens for trainers and enhances public access to athletic training services.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill evolved from an introduced draft to an enrolled final version, incorporating significant policy updates to the Athletic Trainer Compact. The primary changes include expanding the list of legislative objectives to explicitly support military families and telehealth, adding detailed definitions for terms like 'Compact Privilege' and 'Alternative Program,' and refining the scope of adverse actions to include monitoring and probation.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to explicitly include support for relocating active military members and their spouses, and to formally allow the use of telehealth for athletic training services.

OBJECTIVES

Added specific objectives to support relocating active military members and their spouses, and to allow telehealth to facilitate access to services.

Added an objective to affirm that member states retain authority to hold trainers accountable for the scope of practice in the state where the patient is located.

Added an objective to require adherence to the model compact language to ensure uniformity across all member states.

DEFINITION

Introduced new definitions for 'Alternative Program' (remediation for substance use or mental health) and 'Compact Privilege' (temporary authorization to practice in another state).

Expanded the definition of 'Active Military Member' to explicitly include members of the National Guard and Reserve.

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

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 781

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Boards, Agencies and Commissions)

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 402

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors