Sen. Jay Hovey

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow cash transactions in Alabama to be rounded to the nearest five cents, affecting businesses and consumers who use cash for purchases. The rounding follows specific rules based on the final digit of the transaction amount, with no changes to sales prices, taxes, or fees. The law applies only to in-person cash payments and excludes transactions involving cards, checks, or payments to government agencies. If a transaction uses both cash and another payment method, rounding would apply only to the cash portion.

Maddy summarySB 324 authorizes Tallapoosa County's Judge of Probate to charge a fee for remote digital access to court records (like property deeds or marriage licenses). The fee, collected from users, must be deposited into a special fund to maintain and improve the county's record-keeping systems and remote access services. The bill also retroactively confirms that any similar fees collected before this law took effect were valid. This applies only to Tallapoosa County and becomes effective June 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally commends Kelli Fischer, principal of Opelika High School, for being named the 2025-2026 Alabama High School Principal of the Year. The resolution recognizes her leadership in improving school culture, student support, and academic outcomes, including specific programs like daily student mentorship and incentive systems that have reduced absenteeism and behavior issues. It highlights her response to the 2023 Dadeville mass shooting, noting how she helped injured students return to graduation and fostered a supportive school environment. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official acknowledgment of her achievements from the Alabama Legislature.

Maddy summarySB 329 transfers the responsibility for handling the redemption of land sold for taxes in Lee County from the Judge of Probate to the Lee County Revenue Commissioner. This means the Revenue Commissioner will now perform all duties related to processing these land redemptions. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Revenue Commissioner to charge an administrative fee, not exceeding $50, for each redemption processed, with these fees being deposited into the county's general fund.

Maddy summarySB 301 allows the Lee County Revenue Commissioner to establish procedures for the electronic filing of business personal property tax returns. Starting October 1, 2025, the Commissioner may require electronic filing for businesses engaged in leasing personal property, those with $10,000 or more in personal property assets, or those using a third-party tax preparer. The Commissioner must provide training and assistance to taxpayers for these new procedures and can grant exemptions for good cause. This bill directly affects businesses in Lee County that own personal property subject to taxation.

Maddy summarySB 122 proposes to appropriate $450,000 from the Education Trust Fund to Southern Preparatory Academy in Camp Hill, Alabama. These funds are designated for the support and maintenance of the institution's educational program for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. Before any funds are released, the academy must submit an operations plan for fiscal year 2026 and an audited financial statement for fiscal year 2024. The bill also requires the academy to provide quarterly expenditure reports and an end-of-year performance report to the Director of Finance.

Motor Vehicles & Traffic

Waters & Boating

Education

Taxation & Revenue