Rep. David Faulkner

Maddy summaryHB 388 exempts 10 specific community foundations in Alabama from state sales and use taxes, including the Black Belt Community Foundation, Central Alabama Community Foundation, and others listed in the bill. It extends this state tax exemption through August 31, 2031, and allows local municipalities and counties to also exempt these foundations from local sales taxes starting September 1, 2026. The bill repeals the previous tax exemption law (Section 40-9-39.4) and requires these foundations to submit annual reports to the Department of Revenue. This policy change directly affects the 10 named community foundations by removing their sales tax obligations at both state and local levels for the specified period.

Maddy summaryHB 329 requires all Alabama public K-12 students to complete an approved computer science course to graduate, starting with the 2032 graduating class. The bill expands the definition of computer science to include AI and algorithmic processes, and establishes standards for approved courses that must focus on creating technology, not just using it. Approved computer science credits can count toward math, science, or career education graduation requirements without increasing the total credit count. School districts must implement phased course offerings: high schools by 2020-2021, middle schools by 2021-2022, and elementary schools by 2022-2023. The State Department of Education will develop course standards and maintain an approved course list.

Maddy summaryHB 328 amends Alabama's arson law to specifically include cases where a fire is set "in conjunction with or to effectuate a theft" causing $25,000 or more in property damage. This new provision makes such acts a serious felony (arson in the first degree), directly affecting individuals who commit arson as part of a theft scheme. The bill establishes a mandatory minimum 20-year prison sentence for these offenses, requiring the sentence to run consecutively with any other related convictions. The law applies to any arson incident meeting the theft connection and damage threshold, not to standard property arson cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commendation resolution honoring the Samford University Women's Basketball Team for winning the 2026 Southern Conference Tournament Championship and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The resolution formally recognizes the team's comeback victory against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, highlights key player performances, and acknowledges the coaching staff led by Head Coach Matt Wise. It does not create any new laws or change policy, but serves as an official legislative acknowledgment of the team's athletic achievement.

Maddy summaryHB 249 reforms Alabama's guardianship and conservatorship procedures to better protect vulnerable adults. It requires courts to appoint a court representative for allegedly incapacitated adults in certain cases, mandates training for guardians ad litem before appointment, and allows temporary/emergency guardians or conservators to prevent harm to an adult's health, safety, or finances. The bill also revises rules for moving cases from probate court to circuit court, clarifies who can request such transfers, and adds penalties for improper emergency petitions. These changes directly affect adults deemed incapacitated, their families, legal representatives, and court systems handling these cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal presumption that deadly force used in self-defense or defense of others is justified under specific circumstances, such as preventing burglary, kidnapping, or violent assaults like robbery or forcible rape. It establishes exceptions where this presumption does not apply, including when the defender is engaged in unlawful activity, the victim is a law enforcement officer acting in duty, or the defender is removing a child under lawful custody. The bill also requires pretrial hearings to determine if self-defense immunity applies before trial, with the defendant needing to prove justification by a preponderance of evidence. It directly affects individuals in Alabama facing criminal charges for using force in self-defense or defense of others.

Maddy summaryHB 248 revises Alabama's Business and Nonprofit Entities Code to clarify and modernize procedures for businesses and nonprofits operating in the state. It directly affects business corporations, nonprofit entities, and their officers, directors, and registered agents by clarifying key rules, such as requiring registered agents to perform duties in person (not virtually), streamlining processes for foreign entities withdrawing from Alabama, and establishing clear procedures for handling records requests with expedited court review if denied. The bill also adds safe harbor protections for officers and directors navigating conflicted transactions or corporate opportunity situations, while codifying existing common law practices to reduce ambiguity. These changes aim to simplify compliance and resolve longstanding procedural uncertainties in entity governance.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution that formally recognizes and honors the upcoming Alabama Yom HaShoah Commemoration scheduled for April 14, 2026. The event, organized by the Alabama Holocaust Commission, will take place at the Alabama Department of Archives and History to remember the victims of the Holocaust and honor recent and current survivors. The text acknowledges the historical significance of the day and includes specific tributes to survivors like Jack Schachter and Viktor Frankl. Ultimately, the resolution serves as an official state acknowledgment of these remembrance activities rather than creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 381 establishes safety and emergency preparedness requirements for camps and creates a new licensure system for camp operators. It directly affects all camp providers, requiring them to meet specific safety standards and obtain a license to operate. Key provisions include mandatory emergency response plans, staff training protocols, and facility safety inspections. The bill aims to standardize camp safety practices statewide, shifting oversight from voluntary compliance to a regulated licensing framework. This represents a concrete policy change by introducing mandatory licensing as a condition for camp operation.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally recognizes Jack Schniper as a Holocaust survivor and honors his contributions to Holocaust remembrance. It acknowledges his personal history, including his birth in a Ukrainian work camp and his family's survival of Nazi persecution in Poland and Ukraine. The resolution serves as a tribute to Schniper for sharing his story with younger generations to ensure the lessons of history are not forgotten.