SB 203 requires Alabama dental insurance companies to spend at least 85% of collected premiums on actual dental care claims for policyholders. Insurers failing this threshold must refund the excess to customers, and must annually report financial details to the Insurance Commissioner for public disclosure. The bill also prohibits premium increases exceeding the cost of dental services inflation and mandates rate review hearings if insurers challenge commissioner decisions. This applies to standalone dental plans and dental coverage within broader health plans, directly affecting insurers and policyholders in Alabama. The bill is pending in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee after its first reading on February 27, 2025.
HB 337 removes size and building-type restrictions that previously limited where Alabama-registered interior designers could work, allowing them to practice in all building types without the prior 2,500-square-foot threshold. The bill also grants the Alabama Board for Registered Interior Designers new authority to discipline non-registered individuals who improperly use the title or practice interior design. These changes directly affect registered interior designers (expanding their work opportunities) and unregistered practitioners (who may now face disciplinary action). The bill maintains existing prohibitions against registered designers performing engineering or architecture work.
HB 331 allows Alabama's largest cities (Class 1 municipalities) to require property owners to register vacant buildings within 30 days of vacancy or ownership change. Owners would pay registration fees and maintain properties to prevent blight, with cities creating databases to track vacant properties and enforce standards like addressing overgrown vegetation or trash. The bill aims to address safety risks, declining property values, and public costs (e.g., inspections, police calls) linked to neglected properties. It applies to residential and commercial buildings but excludes government-owned properties.
HB 339 exempts certain general aviation aircraft and their installed equipment from Alabama's sales, use, lease, rental, and property taxes. It directly affects Alabama-based companies that own or lease qualifying aircraft (over 12,500 pounds, used in civil aviation, not commercial/military/drones). The bill removes sales/use tax burdens on purchases starting October 1, 2025, eliminates lease/rental taxes from that date, and exempts these aircraft from property taxes starting October 1, 2024. The Department of Revenue will handle implementation, and the law takes full effect September 1, 2025.
HB 342 requires all Alabama public school districts to adopt policies allowing students to leave class during the school day for religious instruction at private entities, with parental consent. The bill mandates that schools cannot use public funds for instruction (only minimal administrative costs), must verify attendance records, and prohibits school staff from providing religious education. Students attending such programs may earn elective credit, and transportation remains the responsibility of parents or private entities. This policy change affects K-12 public school students across Alabama, making religious instruction during school hours a mandatory option for school boards rather than an optional one. The bill cites the 1952 Supreme Court case Zorach v. Clauson as precedent for this constitutionally permissible approach.
HB 340 requires Alabama's Department of Human Resources (DHR) to provide parents or legal guardians with written notice when their child is under investigation for alleged abuse or neglect. It mandates DHR to explain due process rights, including the right to review investigation records, retain legal counsel, and request an administrative review. The bill also requires DHR to train staff, adopt uniform statewide procedures for all county offices, and offer family preservation services before removing a child from home (with exceptions). Additionally, DHR must annually report on child abuse investigations to the legislature.
HB 326, the "Parental Right to Participate in Schools Act," allows parents or legal guardians of school-age children to take up to 48 hours annually from work for school-related activities like conferences, performances, or sports events. Employees must provide 10 days' written notice (unless unforeseeable) and employers may deny leave only if it would substantially disrupt business operations. Employers must post notices about the law and face $100 daily fines for noncompliance, with enforcement handled by Alabama's Department of Workforce. The law applies to all employers in Alabama and takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 192 adds one historically Black college or university (HBCU) in Selma, Alabama, to the list of approved institutions eligible to participate in Alabama's Student Grant Program. This change directly affects Selma-area students at that specific HBCU who qualify as Alabama residents and meet other program requirements. The bill amends the definition of "approved institution" to include Selma-based HBCUs meeting federal accreditation and Title IV funding criteria, without altering the program's funding structure or eligibility rules for students.
HB 318 requires smartphone and tablet manufacturers to install a default filter on devices activated in Alabama for users under 18, blocking access to obscene content as defined by Alabama law. The filter must be enabled during device setup for minors and only removable via a password, with users notified when content is blocked. Manufacturers failing to comply face civil lawsuits by parents/guardians (up to $50,000 per violation) or the Attorney General (up to $5,000 per device), while non-parents disabling the filter could also be liable. The law applies to devices manufactured on or after January 1, 2027, and targets manufacturers with a registered agent in Alabama.
SB 189 would extend death benefits to survivors of volunteer firefighters who die from cancer, closing a gap in current law that only covers paid firefighters. To qualify, the firefighter must have passed a pre-certification cancer-free exam, served at least six years, been actively involved in a recognized fire department, and the department must document exposure to cancer-causing substances during service. The bill presumes work-related cancer if a known carcinogen exposure is linked to the cancer type, shifting the burden to the state to prove otherwise. This policy change, effective October 2025, aligns volunteer firefighter benefits with existing provisions for paid first responders under Alabama law.
SB 182 prohibits the sale of any beverage containing psychoactive cannabinoids (including delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10 THC derived from hemp) in Alabama, with exceptions only for products under medical cannabis laws. It directly affects beverage manufacturers, retailers, and distributors by banning these products in all non-medical contexts. The bill adds a new legal section requiring beverages to contain no psychoactive cannabinoids, imposing Class B misdemeanor penalties for violations. This applies to all such beverages, not just specific types, and takes effect October 1, 2025. The law clarifies that delta-9 THC is explicitly included in the definition of prohibited compounds.
SB 188 lowers the threshold amounts for certain Fentanyl-related drug offenses in Alabama. It changes the crime of "unlawful possession with intent to distribute" to apply when someone possesses *more than 0.5 grams but less than 1 gram* of Fentanyl, its analogues, or mixtures containing Fentanyl and the precursor ANPP. For "trafficking in illegal drugs," it lowers the threshold from 1 gram of pure Fentanyl to any mixture containing Fentanyl, its analogues, or Fentanyl mixed with ANPP. This bill directly affects individuals possessing these specific quantities of Fentanyl-related substances, making lower amounts trigger felony charges under current law. The changes amend Alabama Code Sections 13A-12-211 and 13A-12-231.
