Rep. Kelvin Datcher

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution from the Alabama House of Representatives that officially celebrates Catherine Sarah Davis on the occasion of her 104th birthday. The text honors her life by highlighting her long history of service, including her work in healthcare, her decades of involvement in her church, and her participation in the Civil Rights Movement. It serves as a formal tribute to her personal achievements and character rather than enacting any new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time refundable tax credit for eligible Alabama individual taxpayers filing returns for the 2025 tax year. To qualify, a person must have filed a state income tax return for both 2024 and 2025 and cannot be a nonresident, an estate, or a dependent claimed on another taxpayer's 2024 return. The credit amount is based on the taxpayer's 2024 tax liability or a fixed dollar amount determined by their 2025 filing status, such as $250 for single filers or $500 for married couples filing jointly. The refund will be automatically issued by the state tax department, applied to any outstanding debts owed to the state, and will not include interest or be treated as taxable income.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Class 1 municipalities in Alabama to create and manage their own housing trust funds to address local affordable housing shortages. The legislation allows these municipalities to establish advisory committees with seven members representing finance professionals, community advocates, and low-income residents to oversee fund administration. Municipalities can fund the trust through donations, grants, bonds, and other sources without creating new taxes, and must conduct annual independent audits of the fund. The bill defines affordable housing as units available to households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income and specifies allowable uses for the funds, including building new housing units, rehabilitating existing units, and maintaining affordability for vulnerable populations.

Maddy summaryHB 335 modifies Jefferson County's pistol permit fee structure under Alabama law. It sets a $7.50 annual fee and $37.50 five-year fee for pistol permits, with the county treasurer distributing these funds as follows: $4.50 annually to the retirement system, $0.50 to the Sheriff's Fund, and $2.50 to a new Jefferson County Legislative Delegation Office Fund. Funds in this office fund exceeding $120,000 trigger automatic distribution to Jefferson County public schools based on student enrollment, including Gardendale School System upon separation. The bill directly affects Jefferson County residents applying for pistol permits and county financial operations.

Maddy summaryHB 273 allows municipal employees to receive community development block grant funds (even when funds flow through the city treasury) if they meet two conditions: the benefit must be identical to what other recipients receive, and the employee cannot have any role in deciding who gets the funds. It specifically excludes elected municipal officials from this exception. The bill amends Alabama law to clarify this exception while maintaining existing restrictions on municipal employees having financial interests in city contracts. Violations would be punishable as misdemeanors with fines up to $1,000. The bill is pending in committee and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 402 would streamline Alabama's land bank system by shortening the redemption period for tax-delinquent properties to one year, allowing local land banks to acquire such properties more quickly through public auctions. The bill restricts the geographic areas where land banks can operate, eliminates the public notice requirement for selling land, and grants tax exemptions to properties owned by land banks. It also enables multiple counties to form joint land banks through agreements, permits land banks to transfer properties for flood management, and requires a portion of future property taxes on sold land to be returned to the land bank for five years. Additionally, the Governor would gain authority to create a land bank by executive order during emergencies.

Maddy summaryHB 401 increases the mortgage recording fee in Alabama from $0.30 to $0.45 for every $100 of loan amount on mortgages, deeds of trust, and similar instruments. This fee change directly affects borrowers, lenders, and title companies when recording property-related financial instruments. The bill redirects the additional revenue to the Alabama Housing Trust Fund, which supports affordable housing programs. The change modifies existing fee structures without altering the fundamental process of mortgage recording.

Maddy summaryHR 381 is a resolution honoring and commending Robert Smith upon his retirement. It recognizes his more than three decades of contributions to the telecommunications industry, government affairs, and community service in the state of Alabama.

Maddy summaryHB 375 relates to pistol permits and their associated fees within Jefferson County, Alabama. The bill amends existing state law to specify the fees for both one-year and five-year pistol permits. It sets the fee for a one-year permit at $7.50 and a five-year permit at $37.50. The bill further details how these collected fees are to be distributed among a retirement system, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Fund, and the Jefferson County Legislative Delegation Office Fund, with any excess funds from the latter directed to public schools for operational and security expenses.

Maddy summaryHJR 198 is a joint resolution that officially recognizes the last Tuesday of each April as APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease Awareness Day in Alabama. The bill aims to increase public awareness and understanding of this specific type of kidney disease, especially among individuals of Western and Central African ancestry who are at higher risk due to genetic factors.