This bill would allow cash transactions in Alabama to be rounded to the nearest five cents, affecting businesses and consumers who use cash for purchases. The rounding follows specific rules based on the final digit of the transaction amount, with no changes to sales prices, taxes, or fees. The law applies only to in-person cash payments and excludes transactions involving cards, checks, or payments to government agencies. If a transaction uses both cash and another payment method, rounding would apply only to the cash portion.
SB 246 protects Alabama homeowners from unsolicited real estate offers by requiring sellers to include specific disclosures in written purchase proposals and allowing owners to opt out of further solicitations. The bill treats these unsolicited investment-oriented real estate offers as deceptive trade practices, giving homeowners the right to cancel certain contracts and mandating clear written notices about the nature of the offer. It authorizes the Alabama Securities Commission to investigate violations, enforce rules, and impose civil fines for both unsolicited real estate solicitations and unfair service agreements. This directly affects homeowners receiving such offers, particularly those who may face misleading or predatory practices from real estate investors.
SB 260 updates Alabama's Self-Service Storage Facilities Act to modernize rental processes and notice requirements. It allows storage operators to deliver and execute rental agreements electronically, and automatically binds renters who use the space for 30 days after receiving a written agreement without signing. The bill removes the requirement for newspaper publications of sale notices, permitting operators to use any "commercially reasonable" method instead. It also sets clear timeframes for renters to remove belongings after lease termination and allows operators to dispose of unclaimed property after a specified period. These changes directly affect both storage facility operators and renters using self-storage services.
SB 245, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act, allows members of health care sharing ministries to deduct their contributions toward qualified health care expenses from their Alabama state income tax, starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects individuals who are members of these ministries, treating their contributions similarly to health insurance premiums and health savings account expenses for tax deduction purposes. The bill requires taxpayers to claim the deduction on their state tax return and provides that contributions received for medical expenses (without a prior deduction) are not taxable income. This legislation aims to create tax parity between health care sharing ministries and traditional health insurance for Alabama taxpayers.
SB 293 would create a new criminal offense for interfering with first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, while they are performing their duties. The law prohibits approaching or remaining within 25 feet of a first responder after being explicitly told to move away, if the person then impedes the responder’s work, threatens them with physical harm, or makes physical contact. Violating this law would result in a Class A misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine. The bill excludes actions related to obstructing an arrest and is currently pending in the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee.
SB 263 establishes a new crime for abandoning animals in Alabama, defined as intentionally leaving an animal without care (risking injury, starvation, or death). It creates misdemeanor penalties for first offenses (Class A), escalating to felony charges (Class D) for repeat violations, animal injury/death, or abandoning five or more animals. Law enforcement can seize abandoned animals or order owners to provide care, with courts required to hold a hearing within 20 days to determine if the owner can safely regain custody. If the owner is unfit, the court may order euthanasia, transfer to a shelter, require payment for care costs, or impose a five-year ban on owning animals. The bill excludes lawful hunting, farming practices, veterinary care, and pest control from its provisions.
SB 296 clarifies the role of unpaid volunteer advocates in Alabama juvenile court cases involving child dependency (abuse/neglect) or termination of parental rights. The bill defines specific duties for advocates, such as maintaining confidentiality, reporting abuse, and gathering information to support the child's best interests, while prohibiting them from conducting investigations, making placement decisions, or providing legal/therapeutic services. It requires the Alabama CASA Network (the state nonprofit supporting local programs) to develop training standards and minimum program requirements. Additionally, juvenile courts may grant advocates access to case records and hearing notices to help them effectively advocate for children, without overriding existing legal or child welfare roles.
SB 308 creates the Office of Risk and Resilience within Alabama's Department of Insurance and transfers the Strengthen Alabama Homes Program to this new office. The program helps homeowners retrofit homes to resist hurricane, tornado, or catastrophic windstorm damage by providing grants or funding for eligible projects, subject to local building codes and inspections. It relies on annual state appropriations, federal grants, or other funding sources - **not guaranteed state funding** - and requires all projects to secure necessary permits and undergo random reinspection. The bill does not create a state obligation to fund the program or guarantee assistance to property owners.
SB 309 lowers the quantity thresholds for felony charges related to fentanyl possession and trafficking in Alabama. It reduces the amount triggering "unlawful possession with intent to distribute" from 2-4 grams to 0.5-1 gram or 2-4 grams of fentanyl mixtures. The bill also expands "trafficking in illegal drugs" to include possession of certain fentanyl mixtures (previously limited to 1 gram of pure fentanyl). This change directly affects individuals possessing these lower amounts of fentanyl-containing substances, increasing the likelihood of felony charges for smaller quantities.
SB 329 authorizes Alabama to issue "Invisible Disability" license plate decals to residents diagnosed with specific invisible disabilities (such as autism, PTSD, diabetes, or cognitive disabilities) or their primary caregivers. To qualify, applicants must provide a physician's diagnosis, pay standard registration fees, and submit a formal application. The decal is separate from existing disability parking permits and does not grant special parking access, as clarified in the bill. This policy, effective January 1, 2027, aims to provide a visible identifier for individuals with conditions that may affect communication with first responders.
SB 69 expands Alabama's existing income tax exemption for active-duty military personnel to include civilian employees of the U.S. Department of Defense and Armed Forces. It exempts their compensation from state income tax when earned while serving in a combat zone, deployed outside the U.S., or activated for emergencies by Alabama's governor or the President. This change directly affects civilian defense workers who meet these specific service conditions. The exemption applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2027.
SB 140 requires Alabama juvenile courts to send written notice to school superintendents or private school principals within seven days when a student enrolled in K-12 is charged with or found delinquent for certain criminal offenses. It mandates notification for serious crimes (like murder, rape, or Class A/B felonies) and allows courts to notify for any other criminal act that would be a crime if committed by an adult. The notice must include offense details and case disposition, and schools may only share this information with staff directly involved in supporting the student or ensuring safety. This applies to all Alabama public and private K-12 schools and takes effect October 1, 2026.
