Labor & Employment in Alabama

passed · Alabama · Senate Apr 1, 2026

SB 88: Division of Construction Management; capital improvement projects valued less than $750,000 at covered K-12 and higher education institutions exempted from division inspections and recommendations

SB 88 exempts Alabama's K-12 schools and public higher education institutions from requiring inspections and recommendations by the Division of Construction Management for capital improvement projects valued under $750,000. Currently, these institutions must still submit projects for ADA and fire/safety inspections even if under $750,000, but the bill would eliminate all such inspection requirements for small projects. This change would reduce administrative steps for schools and institutions on minor construction work like repairs or upgrades. The bill also includes minor technical updates to align the state code with current formatting.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 29, 2026

HJR 62: Urging the State of Alabama to acknowledge and adopt the temporary workers' bill of rights for the betterment of the state and its workforce

This resolution (HJR 62) urges the State of Alabama to adopt a "Temporary Workers' Bill of Rights" but does not create binding law. It proposes specific standards for temporary workers, including requiring fair pay, safety training, clear assignment details, prohibiting fees for background checks, banning forced arbitration, limiting assignment lengths (90 days max), and mandating offers of permanent roles after 90 days (or 180 days for medical leave exceptions). The resolution directly addresses temporary staffing agencies and host employers in Alabama, outlining 12 key provisions to improve working conditions. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses legislative support but would require separate action to become law.

Topics ✓ Immigration ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Paid Leave

passed · Alabama · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 130: Teachers' Retirement System, reopened to allow the purchase of credit for prior service rendered to the St. Clair County DAY Program, Incorporated

HB 130 allows current or former employees of the St. Clair County Day Program, Incorporated (a nonprofit serving children with disabilities) to buy back credit for prior service at the program toward their Alabama Teachers' Retirement System benefits. It requires the program’s governing body to formally elect participation and cover costs for crediting past service, with the employer paying the full employer contribution. Employees can only purchase credit for service before the program’s election to join the system, and benefits are limited to their contributions plus interest earned, with no state cost. The bill takes effect June 1, 2026, and directly affects eligible staff who previously worked for the Day Program.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 27, 2026

HB 334: Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama, future Alabama High School Athletic Association employees prohibited from participation

HB 334 prohibits future employees of the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) from joining the Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama (TRSA) starting October 1, 2026. Current AHSAA employees already enrolled in TRSA or hired before that date will continue to be covered under the system. The bill amends Alabama Code Section 16-25-7 to explicitly bar new hires from TRSA participation based on their AHSAA employment, while preserving existing benefits and service credit for current participants. This change affects only future AHSAA hires, not current or past employees.

Topics ✗ Labor & Employment

signed · Alabama · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 361: Living organ donors; to prohibit discrimination in obtaining insurance coverage, provide paid medical leave for public employees who donate organs and a tax credit to private sector employers that provide similar paid leave to their employees

HB 361, the Alabama Living Donor Protection Act, prohibits insurers from denying or limiting disability, life, or long-term care insurance coverage to living organ donors. It requires public employers (state/local government) to provide up to 80 hours of paid medical leave for employees donating organs, with no retaliation allowed. Private employers offering similar paid leave (minimum 80 hours or 15 days) qualify for a 25% tax credit (capped at $2,000 annually) for tax years starting in 2027. The bill directly affects organ donors, insurers, public employees, and private sector employers. It aims to remove financial barriers to donation through concrete protections and incentives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Insurance Long-Term Care Paid Leave

in committee · Alabama · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 68: Retirement Systems of Alabama, full retirement benefits for first responders permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty provided without regard to Tier or number of years of creditable service

SB 68 would change Alabama's retirement system to provide full retirement benefits for firefighters and law enforcement officers who are permanently and totally disabled due to line-of-duty injuries, regardless of their specific retirement tier or years of service in the system. Currently, these first responders must meet certain service requirements to qualify for full benefits, but this bill removes those barriers. The policy change applies retroactively to January 1, 2023, ensuring eligible individuals receive full benefits for past service. This directly affects Alabama first responders who became disabled while performing their duties.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Alabama · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 135: Private sector employers and employees; to create the Alabama Retirement Savings Program for the purpose of promoting greater retirement savings for private sector employees

SB 135 creates the Alabama Retirement Savings Program to help private sector employees at small businesses (with 500 or fewer employees) save for retirement. The program allows eligible employees to voluntarily contribute to retirement savings through payroll deductions into Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs), without requiring employers to offer or mandate participation. Administered by the Alabama Department of Workforce, the program uses existing IRA structures to provide a low-cost, portable savings option, with contributions held in a separate state fund that cannot be commingled with public monies. Employees directly benefit by accessing retirement savings tools they might otherwise lack, while employers avoid significant administrative or financial burdens.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Retirement Benefits

in committee · Alabama · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 285: Coal-Impacted Communities Economic and Workforce Development Grant program established, new fund created, distribution of rent and royalties of federal coal lease sales

HB 285 establishes a grant program to fund economic and workforce development initiatives in Alabama's coal-impacted communities using revenues from federal coal lease sales. The bill creates a dedicated "Renewing Coal-Impacted Communities Act Fund" in the state treasury, which will receive rent and royalty payments from federal coal leases starting January 1, 2027. Grants can support workforce training, infrastructure improvements, community development projects, and operations of the Alabama Surface Mining Commission. The program targets designated coal-impacted areas - including Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties - and requires an advisory committee with local community representation to review applications and recommend funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

signed · Alabama · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 155: Coal-Impacted Communities Economic and Workforce Development Grant program established, new fund created, distribution of rent and royalties of federal coal lease sales

SB 155 establishes the Coal-Impacted Communities Economic and Workforce Development Grant Program to provide funding for job training, infrastructure, and community development projects in areas historically dependent on coal mining. It creates a dedicated fund using revenues from federal coal lease payments (starting January 1, 2027), with grants targeting specific communities like Fayette, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties. The program requires local development organizations - such as counties, nonprofits, or economic development boards - to use funds for workforce programs, public services, or community resilience projects. An advisory committee, appointed with representation from affected counties and coal industry stakeholders, will review grant applications and recommend allocations.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workforce Development

signed · Alabama · House Feb 24, 2026

HB 160: Tuscaloosa County; overtime compensation, public safety employees, further provided

HB 160 amends Alabama laws to update overtime rules for public safety employees in Tuscaloosa County. It requires law enforcement officers (including those in Northport and Tuscaloosa police departments) and firefighters to receive 1.5 times their regular pay or compensatory time off for hours worked beyond 8 hours in a day, 40 hours in a week, or 24 hours in a fire protection tour. The bill specifically allows Northport and Tuscaloosa to implement a four 10-hour shift schedule, triggering overtime rules for those assigned to such schedules. It excludes the City of Tuscaloosa’s Executive Director of Public Safety from all overtime benefits under these provisions. The changes apply only to Tuscaloosa County public safety staff and take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Labor Standards

All labor & employment bills