This bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that commends Senior Trooper Hunter Woodruff of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency for receiving the 2026 Alabama Legislative Meritorious Service Award for Law Enforcement. The resolution recognizes Woodruff's extraordinary courage and decisive action on November 12, 2025, when he assisted a fellow officer and provided life-saving first aid to a gunshot victim in Prattville, Alabama. The bill highlights Woodruff's extensive training and his specific actions during the incident, including applying medical treatment to stop blood loss and keeping the victim calm until emergency medical services arrived. This resolution serves to formally honor Woodruff's service and does not create new laws or change existing policies.
This bill is a joint resolution that formally commends Houston County Sheriff's Lieutenant Robert Hopkins for receiving the Legislative Medal of Honor for Law Enforcement Officers. The resolution recognizes Hopkins' extraordinary bravery and selflessness during a critical incident on October 12, 2025, when he risked his safety to assist injured individuals and help secure a mall in Dothan, Alabama. The legislation serves as an official tribute to Hopkins' actions and his outstanding record of service with the Houston County Sheriff's Office.
This bill allows active judges, clerks, and district attorneys in Alabama to buy back previously withdrawn retirement service from their respective pension plans. The key provision permits these officials to restore credit for past service if they had withdrawn funds or had their accounts terminated due to a five-year absence, provided they repay the withdrawn amount plus 8% annual compounded interest and complete two years of new service. The legislation also clarifies how service from multiple employment classifications will be credited and ensures members cannot receive duplicate credit for the same time period across different public retirement systems. This change applies to members of the District Attorneys' Plan and the Judges' and Clerks' Plan and takes effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill requires owners of large solar energy projects in Alabama to register with the state Department of Environmental Management every three years and pay a $5,000 filing fee. It mandates that project operators submit detailed plans for shutting down and restoring the land, along with financial guarantees like bonds to cover these costs. The law also gives the department authority to take over decommissioning and restoration if a project is abandoned, using money from a newly created state fund. These rules apply specifically to ground-mounted solar projects covering at least two acres that connect to the electrical grid, excluding smaller systems used for personal energy needs.
This bill expands the definition of vehicle protection products in Alabama to include individual component parts of a vehicle, such as engines, transmissions, and body panels. The change ensures that existing consumer protection rules for vehicle protection products now apply to warranties covering these specific parts. Companies selling warranties for vehicle components must comply with the same regulations that currently govern warranties for devices like alarm systems and tracking equipment. The law clarifies that these warranties are not insurance and must provide reimbursement for incidental costs if the protected component fails to perform as promised.
This bill strengthens the CHOOSE Act in Alabama by creating legal enforcement mechanisms to protect students who use educational savings accounts from discrimination in interscholastic athletics. It allows parents, students, or participating schools to sue athletic associations if they deny athletic eligibility based solely on a student's CHOOSE Act status. The law permits courts to issue injunctions to ensure participation, award damages for economic harm, and grant reasonable attorney fees to successful plaintiffs. These provisions apply to all athletic associations regulating K-12 sports in Alabama, including the state high school athletic association.
This bill allows licensed swimming pool contractors in Alabama to request that local government officials perform required inspections for pool construction, repair, or maintenance projects. The provision applies only when the work is done by the contractor, their employees, or subcontractors under the contractor's supervision. If approved, this change would take effect on October 1, 2026, and would streamline the inspection process for qualifying contractors by giving them the option to schedule inspections directly through local authorities rather than through separate channels.
This bill creates the Student Athlete Eligibility and Career Transition Act, requiring Alabama public high schools to track the academic and athletic progress of all students starting in ninth grade to monitor NCAA eligibility. Schools must designate staff to oversee this tracking, provide annual updates to students and families, and develop individualized transition plans by eleventh grade that outline paths to college, military service, or workforce entry. The State Department of Education will create implementation guidelines, offer training resources to schools, and report annually on compliance and outcomes beginning in 2027.
This bill proposes to increase the meal allowance for state employees traveling within Alabama for six to 12 hours from 15 percent to 17.5 percent of the regular per diem rate. The change directly affects state workers on official business who do not require an overnight stay and are traveling for a duration between six and 12 hours. The bill amends existing state law to update this specific reimbursement calculation while maintaining other travel expense rules. The new provisions would take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply uniformly to all state employees traveling on official business within the state.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow seniors in Wilcox County, Alabama, to receive a property tax exemption on their primary residences. The measure would freeze the assessed value of qualifying homes for tax purposes, protecting owners from future increases in property values. To qualify, homeowners must be at least 65 years old and have lived in the property as their main home for at least five years before claiming the exemption. The exemption can be claimed starting in 2027 and applies only to the original property value, meaning any additions or improvements made after claiming the exemption would still be taxed. This change would require voter approval in a special election before it becomes law.
This bill allows public universities in Alabama to accept Classic Learning Test (CLT) scores for college admissions, treating them the same as SAT and ACT scores. It gives the Alabama Commission on Higher Education and individual university boards the authority to decide how CLT scores can be used to demonstrate college readiness and meet admissions requirements. The law would take effect on June 1, 2026, expanding the testing options available to prospective students without changing existing admissions standards.
This bill, known as the Alabama Family Planning Act, establishes legal rights for Alabamians to use contraception and access assisted reproductive treatments like in vitro fertilization. It explicitly protects health care providers from restrictions on dispensing contraceptives or providing fertility services, and prevents state or local governments from enforcing laws that interfere with these practices. The legislation allows the Attorney General, health care providers, and individuals to file civil lawsuits to stop any laws or policies that limit access to these reproductive health options, with enforcement beginning on October 1, 2026.
