SB 250 revises the compensation structure for the Jefferson County Sheriff in Alabama. It sets the sheriff's base salary at $160,000 annually (effective January 2019), adds a $40,000 annual expense allowance starting June 1, 2025, and ties future raises to deputy sheriff cost-of-living adjustments. The bill also increases the base salary to $248,000 effective January 18, 2027, replacing all prior compensation amounts. These changes directly affect the Jefferson County Sheriff and their retirement benefits, with all provisions taking effect on specific dates outlined in the bill.
SB 251 adjusts fee distribution for pistol permits issued in Jefferson County. It sets a $7.50 annual fee for pistol permits (paid to the county treasurer) and a $37.50 fee for five-year permits, with specific allocations: $4.50 to the retirement system, $0.50 to the sheriff's fund, and $2.50 to the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation Office Fund. Funds in the legislative fund exceeding $120,000 trigger distribution to public schools based on student enrollment, including the Gardendale School System upon separation from Jefferson County schools. This bill directly affects Jefferson County's fiscal management of pistol permit fees, not permit eligibility or gun laws.
This bill would require Alabama private schools and church schools affiliated with religious institutions to accept religious exemptions from vaccine or disease testing requirements for students. Parents would only need to submit a written statement declaring religious conflict, without needing third-party approval or school approval. Schools failing to comply would lose tax exemptions, face additional corporate income and property taxes, and become ineligible for CHOOSE Act school choice funding. The law applies to all such schools and takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 436 prohibits businesses (covered entities) in Alabama from sharing or using consumers' biological or neural data - like genetic information or brain activity data - without the consumer's explicit written or electronic consent. It bans using this data for marketing, transferring it to third parties without permission, or employing it beyond what's necessary for the services the consumer requested. Businesses must notify consumers before any data transfer or use and allow them to block it. The Alabama Attorney General's Consumer Interest Division can enforce the law and impose $3,000 penalties per violation, effective October 1, 2025.
HB 400 requires Alabama dental insurance providers to allow beneficiaries to carry over unused annual dental benefits into the next year, with a cap limiting accumulated rollover to twice the previous year's annual benefit maximum. This applies to all dental benefit plans and health plans covering dental services sold in Alabama, directly affecting residents enrolled in such coverage. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, and mandates insurers to include this rollover provision in contracts, while allowing them to set reasonable terms within the specified limit. It does not change existing coverage levels or create new benefits, only enabling unused funds to be preserved.
SB 229 mandates that all Alabama local school boards must adopt policies allowing K-12 students to earn elective credit for attending off-campus religious instruction during school hours, directly affecting students, parents (who must provide written consent), and school districts. The bill requires specific conditions: private religious groups must handle transportation and liability, no public funds can cover instruction (only minimal administrative costs), and students cannot miss required core classes. It builds on existing law by making the policy mandatory for all school boards, rather than optional, while ensuring constitutional compliance as affirmed by the Zorach v. Clauson Supreme Court case. The bill is pending committee review and would take effect July 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 420 allows Baldwin County municipalities with school boards to request a share of the special privilege license tax proceeds currently allocated to the Baldwin County Board of Education. Municipalities must pass a resolution to join this program and would receive a portion of the funds based on their average daily student enrollment compared to other local school districts. This bill changes the distribution method for existing tax revenue, directing a portion to participating municipalities starting October 1, 2025, without altering the tax itself.
HB 404 would require the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to license makeup artists and permit lash/brow artists, who are currently unregulated under state law. The bill establishes specific qualifications for these new licenses, includes exemptions for certain practices, and allows mobile studios to operate. It directly affects professionals providing makeup application (e.g., bridal, theatrical) and lash/brow services (e.g., extensions, tinting), requiring them to meet board-set standards. The bill adds new sections to Alabama law to formalize these requirements under the existing regulatory board.
HB 418, the Equality in Financial Services Act, prohibits Alabama financial institutions and insurers from denying services based on a "social credit score" - defined to include factors like religious exercise, speech, firearm ownership, refusal to conduct diversity audits, or opposition to certain government policies. It allows institutions to claim a religious exemption when making service decisions but bans using nonquantifiable or biased factors for discrimination. The Alabama State Banking Department and Department of Insurance would enforce the law and impose penalties for violations. The bill is currently pending committee review after its first reading on March 6, 2025.
HB 421 allows municipalities in Baldwin County with school boards to opt into sharing in the proceeds from a special privilege license tax. If a municipality passes a resolution, it will receive a proportional share of the tax funds currently distributed to Baldwin County's school board, based on tax collected within its boundaries. The bill adds this option to Alabama law and takes effect October 1, 2025. It directly affects Baldwin County municipalities that choose to participate in this tax-sharing arrangement.
This Alabama House resolution (HR 126) is a symbolic statement of support for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion. It formally declares the Alabama House's "unwavering support" for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. The resolution cites Russia's attacks on civilians, infrastructure, and Ukrainian children as context for this affirmation. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws, allocate funding, or directly affect any specific group or policy.
HB 415 creates a Police Abuse Registry maintained by Alabama's Attorney General, listing individuals convicted of offenses against law enforcement officers (such as assault or threats). Individuals on the registry can pay $5,000 per conviction to have their names removed, with fees funding the Law Enforcement Injury Fund to provide financial assistance for officers injured in the line of duty. Access to the registry is restricted to law enforcement for background checks, investigations, or monitoring, and unauthorized use is a misdemeanor. The bill also authorizes civil lawsuits for misuse of registry information.
