Alabama Bills

HB 311 allows sheriffs who independently qualify for both a supplemental retirement program (supernumerary program) and Alabama's Employees' Retirement System based on separate periods of service to participate in both. Currently, sheriffs cannot enroll in both programs if the service years overlap. The bill specifically authorizes dual participation only when service for each program is distinct and non-overlapping. This change directly affects qualifying sheriffs seeking to maximize retirement benefits through separate service periods. The bill becomes effective October 1, 2026, pending committee review.

HB 178 modifies the process for consolidating city school systems and their governing boards. It requires a majority of qualified voters residing in the combined territory of all affected city schools to approve such consolidations, replacing the prior voting threshold. This change directly affects cities considering merging their school districts and boards. The State Board of Education must also adopt implementing rules for this new process.

HB 141 increases maximum annual fees for directors of public utility corporations (like water, gas, and electric systems) in Alabama municipalities, with tiered limits based on city population size. For example, in cities under 5,000 residents, chair fees rise from $7,200 to $14,400 annually, while other directors see caps increase from $4,800 to $7,200 per year. The bill also extends the terms of certain board members and updates outdated code language. It directly affects utility corporation boards in Alabama cities, particularly those governed by local laws or specific municipal classifications.

SB 92 prohibits Alabama campaign committees, political action committees (PACs), and political parties from accepting internet credit card contributions unless the card's billing address is in the U.S. (with exceptions for U.S. citizens living abroad who provide their U.S. voter registration address). It requires contributors to provide the credit card verification code and a U.S. billing address, or an alternative U.S. address for overseas citizens. Financial institutions processing such payments without these requirements face fines equal to the contribution amount. The bill applies to all campaign contributions made via internet credit card transactions and takes effect October 1, 2026.

SB 209 requires all public K-12 schools in Alabama to teach only "sexual risk avoidance" curriculum, emphasizing abstinence as the sole effective method to prevent pregnancy and STIs. It prohibits any instruction about contraception, abortion referrals, or sexually explicit materials, and bans sex education for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. The bill mandates that parents receive notice before such curriculum is taught and can opt their child out. It also requires schools to provide specific information about pregnancy costs, Alabama's abortion laws, adoption, and healthy relationship practices. The Attorney General is authorized to enforce these requirements.

SB 107 increases fees and adds reporting requirements for Alabama funeral service businesses. It authorizes a $30 administrative fee per funeral arranged (effective 2026), raises application/renewal fees for funeral establishment licenses from $198/$99 to $500 each, and requires annual reporting of preneed contract activities. Certificate holders must file annual statements on preneed sales and trust activities, with the board allowed to request additional reports. These changes directly affect funeral homes, funeral directors, and preneed sales agents by increasing costs and mandating more frequent compliance reporting. The bill focuses on regulatory oversight and funding for the Alabama Board of Funeral Services.

HB 236 allocates $275.1 million from the Education Trust Fund to Alabama's public universities (including the University of Alabama System and Alabama A&M) and $624.9 million to specialized schools (like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology), the Department of Education, and local education entities for fiscal year 2026. The total $900 million appropriation supports educational programs across the state, with specific amounts designated for each institution and district. Funds will be distributed per existing state education budgeting procedures without new policy changes. This is a funding measure, not a policy reform.

SB 159 would exempt commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses in Alabama from paying utility gross receipts tax and utility service use tax on natural gas or electricity used for heating or energy purposes. This directly affects agricultural businesses operating these facilities by reducing their energy-related tax burden. The bill amends Alabama’s tax code to specifically add these uses to existing exclusions, meaning these businesses would no longer pay these taxes on qualifying energy consumption. The measure is pending in the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee and would take effect on September 1, 2026, if enacted.

HB 220 allows Alabama's Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore to remove and replace any board member they appointed at any time, without needing a specific reason. This applies to all state boards, authorities, or commissions with appointed members (e.g., regulatory agencies or economic development boards), except for governing boards of public universities. The replacement must still meet the qualifications required by law for that board position. The bill would take effect on October 1, 2026, if passed.

HB 155 removes the annual verification requirement for veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as permanently and totally disabled to maintain a property tax exemption on their primary home in Alabama. Currently, these veterans must annually sign and return a form to confirm their disability status; the bill eliminates this step, making the exemption automatic after initial approval. The change applies only to veterans who already qualify under existing law and remains in effect until the veteran dies or moves to a new primary residence. The bill also includes minor technical updates to the tax code language.

SB 165 sets fixed qualification fees for municipal elections in Alabama's Class 4 municipalities (those with mayor-council government): $500 for mayoral candidates and $250 for council or school board candidates. It requires low-income candidates seeking fee exemptions to submit proof of income below 130% of the federal poverty level, replacing the prior system where they only needed three neighbor attestations. This directly affects candidates running for local office in these municipalities, changing both the fee structure and the documentation needed to qualify for fee waivers. The bill does not alter election procedures or voting rules, focusing solely on candidate filing requirements.

SB 63 prohibits Alabama health insurers from using artificial intelligence (AI) exclusively to decide coverage for medical services. It requires final decisions to deny or reduce coverage to be made by a licensed physician or qualified health care professional, not AI alone. Insurers must disclose to enrollees when AI is used in coverage determinations and annually certify their AI tools comply with fairness and transparency standards. The Alabama Department of Insurance can investigate and impose penalties for violations of these requirements.