Rep. Kenneth Paschal

Maddy summaryThis bill designates American Village in Montevallo, Alabama, as the official celebration capital for the United States' 250th anniversary in 2026. It officially recognizes the Sweet Home 250 Festival, scheduled for July 3-4, 2026, as Alabama's official celebration of the nation's Semiquincentennial. The resolution encourages citizens, schools, and organizations across the state to participate in commemorating this historic milestone through patriotic programs and educational activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new permanent advisory commission called the Permanent Joint Legislative Advisory Commission on Alabama Boys and Men to study issues affecting boys and men in the state and provide policy recommendations to the Legislature. The commission will consist of 14 members, including 10 non-legislative members appointed by the Governor and four legislative members from both the House and Senate, with requirements for diversity in race, age, geography, and professional background. The commission will meet at least quarterly to research topics such as education, health, family stability, and public safety, and must submit an annual report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. The commission is authorized to operate until October 1, 2030, when it will sunset unless extended by the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates American Village in Montevallo, Alabama, as the state's official celebration capital for the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. It also recognizes the Sweet Home 250 Festival, scheduled for July 3-4, 2026, as Alabama's official state celebration of the anniversary. The resolution encourages citizens, schools, and organizations across Alabama to participate in commemorating this milestone by reflecting on the nation's founding ideals.

Maddy summaryHB 138 allows retirees from Alabama's Employees' or Teachers' Retirement Systems to work full-time as school bus drivers without losing their pension benefits, provided they meet specific conditions. Retirees must earn below an annual income limit (adjusted yearly for inflation) and have drawn retirement benefits for 12 consecutive months (with an exception for those retiring before January 1, 2026). The bill also sets an expiration date of December 31, 2030, for this provision. It directly affects retired state employees seeking to return to full-time bus driving roles.

Maddy summaryHB 148 proposes a constitutional amendment to the Alabama Constitution, adding a fundamental right for parents to direct their children's education, upbringing, care, custody, and control. This would require any government action that restricts these parental rights to meet strict scrutiny: the government must prove the restriction serves a compelling interest and uses the least restrictive method possible. The amendment would apply broadly to all parents in Alabama, affecting how state laws or policies interact with parental decision-making. If passed, it would supersede existing statutes like the 2023 law referenced in the bill, embedding these protections directly into the state constitution. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee after being filed on January 12, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 77 helps disabled veterans with a 100% VA disability rating by streamlining their access to property tax exemptions when applying for home mortgages. The bill requires tax officials to issue a "tentative certificate" of disability exemption upon receiving basic documentation (like VA disability proof and purchase agreements) within 20 days. It also prohibits lenders from including homestead property taxes in a veteran’s debt-to-income ratio calculation when processing their mortgage application. This directly affects veterans seeking home loans who qualify for Alabama’s homestead tax exemption. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HJR 99) formally recognizes the 43rd Alabama State Games Opening Ceremony on June 12, 2026, as an "America 250 Alabama-certified event" honoring the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. It specifically acknowledges the Alabama State Games' role in celebrating Alabama heroes - including military descendants, Native American contributors, and community leaders - and their historical contributions to the state and nation. The resolution has no policy or funding impact; it is purely a symbolic gesture of legislative support for the ceremonial event. It directly affects the Alabama State Games Foundation (ASF Foundation), which organizes the ceremony and its "Honoring Our Heroes" program. The resolution urges broader community participation but does not create new obligations or changes to law.

Maddy summaryHB 464 revises Alabama's child abuse and neglect reporting system to strengthen due process for individuals accused of abuse or neglect. It updates definitions to require "imminent harm" for abuse and "substantial risk of harm" for neglect, and prohibits including unsubstantiated ("not indicated") reports in the central registry or disclosing them. The bill mandates that accused individuals receive notification of investigations, get a hearing before a confirmed finding is recorded, and learn their rights during the process. Additionally, it blocks law enforcement from using unconfirmed reports to obtain criminal warrants without grand jury approval, and requires the state to remove unsubstantiated reports from the registry.

Maddy summaryHB 147 would establish a legal presumption that joint custody is in a child’s best interest, requiring courts to explain in writing why they deviate from this standard - except in cases of domestic or family abuse. The bill defines "frequent and substantial contact" as equal or near-equal time with both parents and mandates that all divorce cases include a joint custody parenting plan. Courts must document their reasoning for rejecting joint custody, and parents face penalties for filing baseless motions to block it. The law also specifies remedies for violations of parenting schedules, such as makeup time or reimbursement for costs. This bill directly affects divorcing parents and family courts in Alabama, aiming to standardize custody decisions around joint parenting where safe.

Maddy summaryHB 186 changes Alabama's retirement rules for first responders (firefighters and law enforcement officers) permanently disabled in the line of duty. It eliminates the current requirement that these individuals must meet specific service years or Tier status to receive full retirement benefits. Under this bill, eligible first responders would automatically qualify for full benefits regardless of their years of service or retirement Tier. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2023, meaning affected individuals may receive back payments for the period since that date. This directly impacts disabled public safety workers who sustained service-related injuries.