HB 350 creates the Angel Investor Tax Credit Act, allowing Alabama residents or entities investing in qualifying startups to claim a 25% income tax credit on their investments. The credit applies to investments in businesses headquartered in Alabama with ≤100 employees, operating for ≤10 years, and focused on sectors like manufacturing, technology, or agribusiness (excluding retail or financial services). At least 50% of annual credits are reserved for "priority impact businesses" in healthcare, agriculture, education, or workforce development. Credits are capped at $250,000 per investor yearly and $12 million total annually for subsequent years, with requirements to maintain operations in Alabama for three years.
HB 263 prohibits Alabama businesses and organizations (covered entities) from sharing or using consumers' biological data (like genetic or physiological information) or neural data (nervous system measurements) without the consumer's specific, prior written consent. It requires entities to notify consumers before any data transfer or use and allows consumers to block such actions. The Attorney General's Consumer Interest Division can enforce the law, imposing $3,000 civil penalties per violation for non-compliance. This bill directly affects Alabama residents whose data is handled by companies in sectors like health tech, fitness trackers, or medical 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 182 expands the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund to allow the Administrative Office of Courts to use its funds for general court operations, not just specific justice-related activities as previously restricted. It creates three new funds for Alabama's Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, and Court of Criminal Appeals, each funded by user fees and other sources tied to appellate court case management. These funds will support technology improvements like electronic payment systems, data sharing with agencies, court equipment, and staff training to enhance court efficiency. The bill does not change current credit card fee rules but broadens how funds can be spent to modernize court systems.
SB 234 requires retailers selling alcohol, tobacco, vape products, or consumable hemp to use digital or card-swipe technology to verify a customer's age at the point of sale after a violation for failing to check age. It authorizes two specific methods: a secure mobile app using minimal driver's license data or a card reader for state ID. The law applies to retailers found in violation of age verification rules and becomes effective October 1, 2026. It directly affects businesses selling age-restricted products in Alabama, aiming to improve verification accuracy after prior enforcement issues.
SB 237 clarifies that Alabama's ethics laws do not restrict public universities from accepting grants, conducting research, collaborating with others, or developing intellectual property through technology transfer agreements. The bill directly affects public institutions of higher education and their staff by removing ambiguity that might have discouraged such activities under existing ethics rules. It specifies these exceptions apply only when activities follow the institution's own established policies. The law takes effect on June 1, 2026, and does not alter broader ethics requirements for public employees.
HB 280 establishes the Alabama Health Command, an independent agency, to designate a virtual AI-assisted health platform for rural communities. The platform would provide non-diagnostic health management services - such as wellness education, appointment scheduling, and follow-up assistance - via an avatar-based system, connecting rural patients with local providers without diagnosing or treating medical conditions. The agency must set standards for patient privacy, data security, and preventing the platform from substituting for licensed medical care. Rural hospitals and clinics using this platform would be exempt from competitive bidding requirements, and the bill would take effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 171 would require social media platforms to implement age verification or obtain parental consent before allowing minors under 18 to access algorithmically curated content streams ("addictive feeds"). It prohibits platforms from sending notifications to minors between midnight and 6 a.m. and mandates disclosure of how algorithms prioritize content. The bill authorizes Alabama's Attorney General to enforce these rules, allowing platforms to correct violations before legal action. This legislation directly affects social media operators hosting such feeds in Alabama and applies to users under 18, though it remains pending committee review.
HB 324 requires AI chatbot providers to verify the age of all users through a strict process (like government ID, not just birth dates) and prevents minors under 19 from accessing chatbots with human-like features (e.g., those suggesting sentience or emotional bonding). It mandates providers to offer a simplified version without such features to minors if reasonable, implement safety protocols to detect and respond to emergencies (like self-harm), and limit data collection to what’s necessary for legitimate purposes. Therapeutic chatbots meeting specific standards, prescribed by a licensed psychiatrist, may still be used by minors. The bill directly affects AI chatbot providers and minors, creating enforceable requirements without banning chatbots entirely.
HB 304 would amend Alabama law to allow the Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund to be used for the general operation of courts, expanding its current limited use beyond specific purposes like electronic filing. The bill also creates three new funds: one for the Supreme Court, one for the Court of Civil Appeals, and one for the Court of Criminal Appeals. Each fund will support technology upgrades, including electronic case filing, data sharing with agencies, and staff training to improve court efficiency. The bill is currently pending in the House Committee on Ways and Means.
