Healthcare (Hospitals)

signed · Alabama · House Apr 16, 2026

HJR 315: Expressing gratitude to the Alabama Congressional Delegation

This bill is a resolution that formally thanks the Alabama Congressional Delegation for their efforts to address long-standing issues facing the state's hospitals. It highlights the significant economic role of healthcare facilities in Alabama while noting challenges such as high rates of uninsured patients and recent rural hospital closures. The text encourages the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to adjust the Medicare wage index formula to better reflect labor commuting patterns in rural areas. Ultimately, the measure expresses gratitude for legislative advocacy rather than creating new laws or changing specific policies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill advocates for policy changes to improve Medicare wage index, addressing rural hospital closures and economic challenges.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Medicare

signed · Alabama · House Apr 16, 2026

HJR 198: Alabama Mental Health Task Force, established

This bill establishes an Alabama Mental Health Task Force to address mental health needs in the state. The task force will include various members, including one executive officer from a hospital appointed by the Lieutenant Governor from a list provided by the Alabama Hospital Association. The legislation creates a formal structure for coordinating mental health efforts across the state. It does not specify the full membership composition or the task force's specific duties beyond this appointment provision.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes a task force to address mental health needs, indicating intent to strengthen and coordinate mental health services in Alabama.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

in committee · Alabama · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 607: Taxation; Jackson Hospital & Clinic, and JHC Pharmacy exempt from state, county, and municipal fees and taxes

This bill proposes to exempt Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc. and JHC Pharmacy, LLC from all state, county, and municipal fees and taxes. The exemption would apply for a five-year period starting May 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2031. The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage, removing the requirement for these two healthcare entities to pay various local and state taxes during the specified timeframe.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill exempts specific entities from taxes, reducing state revenue and limiting fiscal accountability90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides tax exemptions to healthcare entities, reducing their operational costs and potentially improving service delivery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives Hospitals Prescription Drugs Primary Care

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signed · Alabama · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 339: Crenshaw County; authorize law enforcement to take individual with mental illness into protective custody under certain conditions; legal immunity provided

This bill authorizes law enforcement officers in Crenshaw County to take individuals with mental illness into protective custody when they pose an immediate danger to themselves or others. The officer must transport the person to a hospital or treatment facility for evaluation, and if the individual does not consent, reasonable force may be used. The person must be released within 72 hours unless a judge orders further treatment, and the custody is not considered an arrest or criminal charge. Law enforcement officers and medical providers acting in good faith under this bill receive immunity from civil liability.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides mental health protective custody for individuals with mental illness, reducing unnecessary criminalization and promoting appropriate treatment instead of arrest.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill authorizes protective custody for mental health crises, ensuring access to hospital evaluation and treatment, which supports mental health services and patient safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Law Enforcement Hospitals Mental Health

in committee · Alabama · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 598: Creates the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Act and Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Program Fund to improve birth outcomes in rural communities

This bill establishes the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Act to improve birth outcomes in rural Alabama communities by expanding access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. It creates a new state fund to support grants for midwifery and doula services, requires Medicaid and private insurers to cover these services, and establishes a training program to recruit obstetric providers to rural areas. The legislation also provides capital grants for building rural birth centers and modernizing hospital obstetric units, while funding locally led maternal health partnerships that offer home visits and mobile clinics.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands healthcare access, creates funding for maternal services, mandates insurance coverage, and builds infrastructure for rural birth centers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals Women's Health

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in committee · Alabama · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 601: Creates the Rural Hospital Sustainability and Innovation Grant Program Act and Hospital Transformation and Innovation Fund to provide grants to preserve rural hospital services

This bill creates a new grant program and fund to help rural hospitals in Alabama stay open and improve their operations. It directly affects critical access hospitals, rural acute care hospitals, and other facilities designated as rural. The program provides financial assistance for immediate needs like preventing closures or fixing financial problems, as well as funding for infrastructure upgrades, telehealth expansion, and converting to rural emergency hospital designations. Hospitals must show community support and submit detailed plans before receiving grants, which are limited to one per hospital per year and must be repaid if milestones aren't met. The bill also requires annual reporting on how funds are used and how hospital services and finances perform.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates grant program and fund to preserve rural hospitals, improve operations, and expand telehealth access95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Telehealth

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in committee · Alabama · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 297: Hospitals; required to report certain staffing information to Alabama Department of Public Health and publicly indicate whether physicians are physically present in emergency department

SB 297 requires Alabama hospitals and freestanding emergency departments to report quarterly to the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) the number of hours physicians are physically present versus absent in emergency departments. ADPH must publish this data on its website in a searchable format, and hospitals must display real-time notices in the ER waiting room and on their website stating whether a physician is present (e.g., "A physician is physically present"). The bill defines "physically present" as a licensed physician on-site and immediately available for patient care, excluding telemedicine or off-site coverage. Hospitals violating these requirements may face license suspension or revocation, and the law takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to publicly disclose ER physician presence, improving transparency and patient access to timely care in emergency services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Public Health Telehealth

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in committee · Alabama · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 449: Alabama Lottery, established; Alabama Lottery Corporation, established to operate and regulate lottery games; revenue distribution, provided; criminal penalties for gambling offenses, increased

HB 449 establishes Alabama's state lottery system by creating the Alabama Lottery Corporation to operate and regulate lottery games. It sets up the Alabama Lottery Trust Fund, directing revenue to five specific uses: problem gambling treatment, college scholarships for public two-year and four-year institutions, cost-of-living raises for education employees, hospital operation grants, and tax credits for eligible residents. The bill also creates a Board of Directors to oversee the corporation, imposes advertising restrictions to limit appeals to minors, and increases criminal penalties for violations like selling tickets to minors or counterfeiting. This bill directly affects all Alabama residents through lottery participation and the allocation of lottery revenue to state programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes lottery revenue stream funding education raises, scholarships, hospital grants, and tax credits for residents, directly increasing public service funding and providing tax relief.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates lottery revenue to college scholarships and education employee cost-of-living raises, directly funding higher education and teacher compensation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates lottery revenue to problem gambling treatment (mental health) and hospital operation grants, directly funding healthcare-related services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Hospitals

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passed · Alabama · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 109: Baldwin County, ad valorem tax continued, constitutional amendment

HB 109 proposes a constitutional amendment to continue Baldwin County’s existing two-mill ad valorem tax (based on property value) for public hospital funding in 19 specific election precincts. The tax would be levied annually for 20 years starting October 2027, with proceeds exclusively used for hospital services in those precincts as defined in state law. This amendment requires voter approval in a constitutional election and would not change current tax rates or the designated hospital funding area.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesContinues existing property tax for public hospital funding, ensuring ongoing fiscal support for essential healthcare services without tax rate changes.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareContinues property tax funding for Baldwin County public hospitals, directly supporting hospital services with no defunding language.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Alabama · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 129: Midwives; administration of certain newborn screening tests authorized

HB 129 would amend Alabama law to allow licensed midwives to administer certain newborn screening tests for diseases, which they currently can only order. This change directly affects licensed midwives providing care outside hospitals and the newborns under their care, aligning with the state's Newborn Screening Program. The bill updates Section 34-19-16 to permit midwives to both order and administer these tests (as specified in Section 22-20-3) without requiring referral to another provider. The policy change aims to streamline screening access for families using midwifery services in non-hospital settings, with the law set to take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands midwives' scope to administer newborn screenings, improving access to critical health services without referrals, directly advancing public health program implementation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing

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