SB 270 requires Alabama's Public Service Commission to evaluate contracts between utilities and large data centers (defined as facilities using at least 150 megawatts) to ensure they recover the utility's additional "incremental costs" tied to serving these centers. The bill mandates that contracts must also promote "positive benefits" for other utility customers, such as potentially lowering costs, improving grid efficiency, or boosting local economic growth. This applies specifically to contracts with data centers meeting the 150-megawatt threshold and affects utilities, large data center operators, and all other electricity customers in Alabama. The law, effective October 1, 2026, adds new review criteria to the Commission's existing authority under Section 37-4-22.
HB 420 increases penalties for discharging a firearm into an occupied school bus or school building to a Class A felony, the highest level of felony in Alabama. It also establishes a Class B felony for firing a gun on school property during school hours or activities, and a Class C felony for other discharges on school property. The bill includes exceptions for self-defense, organized firearm competitions, and school-sanctioned events involving firearms. The law will take effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 407 designates the current Miss Alabama titleholder as an "Official State Ambassador" during their one-year term. The bill defines this role as an honorary position focused on promoting Alabama at ceremonial, tourism, and community events - such as representing the state at festivals, cultural showcases, or military family initiatives - without granting any policymaking authority or compensation. It explicitly states that state agencies may voluntarily coordinate with the ambassador for public engagement but are not required to do so, and the role automatically transfers to the next Miss Alabama upon her selection. The bill takes effect on June 1, 2026.
SB 272 requires public schools and government offices to redact financial details like account numbers and tax IDs from public records before releasing them. It also prohibits using school directory lists (names and addresses of individuals or entities) for selling products or services to those listed. Requesters of such records must certify they won’t misuse the data, and violators face civil penalties up to $500 per violation. The law directly affects school districts, businesses seeking public records, and anyone handling school-related personal information.
HB 404 authorizes Class 1 municipalities in Alabama to create nonprofit community land trusts that provide affordable housing to low-income and moderate-income families through long-term 99-year ground leases. The trusts must lease land (not sell it) to qualifying families earning 80% or less of the area median income (low-income) or up to 120% (moderate-income), as defined by HUD. Key provisions require trusts to be membership-based with public meetings, have a diverse board appointed by the mayor and city council, and include resale rules to maintain affordability. This bill directly affects eligible families seeking stable housing and municipalities seeking new affordable housing tools, with no tax implications for the trusts’ properties.
SB 317 recreates Alabama's Commission on the Evaluation of Services as a formal legislative department and establishes a new Legislative Committee to oversee it. The bill requires state agencies receiving direct state funding to provide data and develop evaluation plans for new programs or major program expansions (defined as a 25%+ budget increase or significant changes to service delivery). It mandates agencies to create logic models and track specific outcome metrics, with the commission publishing evaluation standards and reviewing agency reports. This directly affects all state departments, agencies, and institutions that receive state appropriations, requiring them to submit program evaluations annually.
HB 520 creates a streamlined process for career and technical education (CTE) teachers moving to Alabama from another state to obtain Alabama teaching certification without additional testing or coursework. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid out-of-state CTE teaching certificate, submit an application with fees, secure a local superintendent's recommendation, and pass a background check. Once approved, Alabama's State Superintendent of Education must issue the certification promptly for CTE courses only, with no extra requirements. The bill also requires annual reporting on certificate issuance, school placements, and program effectiveness to the Governor and legislature.
HB 517 (the TRAIN Act) creates a new "workforce teaching certificate" allowing qualified industry workers to teach career and technical education courses in public schools. Employers who loan these certified employees to schools can claim tax credits. The bill also shields certificate holders from personal liability for routine teaching duties (excluding willful misconduct), aligning with existing state law. This directly affects current industry workers seeking teaching roles, their employers, and public schools offering technical training programs.
SB 325 (Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute Act) formally confirms and expands exemptions for the Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute (AIDT) within the Department of Commerce. It updates AIDT’s requirement to align building projects with the "comprehensive statewide economic development strategic plan" (replacing the prior "Strategic Workforce Plan"). The bill codifies AIDT’s existing exemptions from two state oversight processes: (1) review of contracts by the Legislative Contract Review Oversight Committee (including legal services), and (2) compliance with state procurement laws for supplies/services (excluding public works). These changes apply directly to AIDT, streamlining its operations for workforce development programs. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 527 creates a new Alabama individual income tax deduction for overtime pay. It allows taxpayers to deduct up to $1,000 annually from their taxable income for qualified overtime compensation earned during the year, effective for tax returns filed in 2025 through 2027. This directly affects Alabama residents who earn overtime wages, reducing their taxable income by up to $1,000 per year. The bill amends existing tax code language to add this specific deduction while making minor technical updates to the statute.
HB 393 updates Alabama's tax abatement and incentive laws by replacing outdated references to the "Accelerate Alabama Strategic Economic Development Plan" with the current "CatALyst" economic plan. It also modernizes industry classification codes (NAICS) to the 2022 version, ensuring businesses qualify under the most recent economic sector definitions. The bill directly affects companies seeking tax abatements for projects in qualifying sectors like manufacturing, research, or data processing centers. This is a technical revision to existing law, not a policy change, to align tax incentive programs with current industry standards and economic planning.
HB 487 allocates $43,138,650 in supplemental funding from Alabama’s Opioid Treatment and Abatement Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. The bill directs funds to specific state entities, including $26.36 million to the Department of Mental Health for opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery programs (such as Naloxone purchases, the 988 Crisis Line, and residential detox), $1 million to the Department of Corrections for medication-assisted treatment and harm-reduction services in prisons, and smaller allocations to universities, courts, child advocacy centers, and law enforcement. Key provisions include funding for opioid prevention programs in schools, expansion of treatment beds, and support for community-based recovery services. Unused funds will carry forward to the next fiscal year, as specified in Section 2.
