SB 208 proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize members of the Montgomery City Council to participate in the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama. If approved by voters, current and future council members would be treated as city employees for retirement purposes and could join the system under the same terms as other employees. The bill also allows council members to purchase service credit for their prior time in office, provided they are not simultaneously participating in a supernumerary program.
SB 163 revises the powers of the State Auditor and creates a new Division of Property Investigations within that office. The bill requires state agency property managers to report the loss or theft of certain state property and empowers the new division to investigate such incidents. This division can demand repayment for negligently lost, stolen, or damaged property, and authorizes the Attorney General to pursue civil actions in these cases. The bill also provides an exception for the standard inventory process for secured facility property in correctional and youth services departments.
This bill establishes the Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Alabama Department of Workforce to centralize leadership, support, and oversight for specific professional and occupational licensing boards. Effective October 1, 2026, it transfers 20 boards, such as those for athletic trainers, auctioneers, and marriage and family therapists, under this new office. The office will appoint an executive director and staff, including investigators, and aims to standardize provisions related to licensing, fees, and funding for these boards. The bill also transfers the Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission to the Department of Public Health and the Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Advisory Board to the Department of Environmental Management.
SB 72 revises the process for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to issue licenses for medical cannabis facilities. It increases the number of integrated facility licenses from five to seven and requires the commission to hire a consultant to select license recipients from applicants who applied by December 31, 2022. The bill also streamlines the appeals process, making the consultant's selection a final determination by the commission and allowing immediate appeal of certain court orders to the Alabama Supreme Court. Additionally, it removes the requirement for the commission to hold an investigatory hearing after denying a license.
SB 185 regulates the practice of veterinary medicine in Alabama, primarily by defining and clarifying the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. It prohibits veterinarians from prescribing or dispensing medication without first establishing this relationship. The bill specifies that a relationship created with one veterinarian is shared among all veterinarians practicing at the same location. Additionally, it defines terms such as "client," "patient," and "animal," and sets a maximum time limit for refilling prescriptions.
SB 254 modifies the statute of limitations for civil actions involving sex offenses. The bill specifically extends the time frame for victims to file a civil lawsuit against the actual alleged perpetrator of a sex offense. Under the bill, victims would have the greater of 20 years after the termination of a disability, or two years after the alleged perpetrator's criminal conviction or guilty plea, to commence an action. This extended timeline pauses during any criminal prosecution of the underlying offense and only applies to actions against the alleged perpetrator, not other parties.
SB 155 expands the types of deductions that can be made from the salaries of state employees in Alabama. Currently, deductions are allowed for membership dues, voluntary contributions, and insurance premiums. This bill would add "financial instruments offered through membership associations" to this list. It maintains that a group of at least 200 state employees must request a new deduction type, and allows the State Comptroller to collect a small administrative fee. The bill also includes technical revisions to update existing code language.
SB 268 defines a new category of "mixed spirit beverages," which are ready-to-drink liquor-based products containing up to seven percent alcohol by volume. The bill establishes a new licensing structure for the wholesale distribution and retail sale of these beverages, requiring them to be distributed through licensed wholesalers to licensed retailers for both on-premises and off-premises consumption, separate from state ABC stores. It also levies a new excise tax on these products. Additionally, the bill mandates that suppliers designate exclusive sales territories for each brand and enter into distribution agreements with wholesalers, outlining requirements for contract termination or nonrenewal. It also includes provisions for how these beverages must be displayed by retailers to prevent confusion with non-alcoholic drinks.
SB 246 would change how Alabama determines eligibility for food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill prohibits the State Department of Human Resources from granting categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits, except where federal law mandates it. Additionally, it prevents the department from applying gross income standards for food assistance that are higher than those specified by federal law. These provisions aim to align Alabama's SNAP eligibility criteria more closely with federal requirements, affecting households applying for or receiving these benefits.
SB 300 proposes to amend existing Alabama law concerning property taxation. The bill would increase the market value threshold for tangible personal property that is exempt from the state's ad valorem tax. This change directly affects individuals and entities owning tangible personal property, potentially reducing their state property tax obligations if their property value falls within the new, higher exemption limit. The bill also includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the code language.
Senate Bill 197 revises the Alabama Business and Nonprofit Entity Code, impacting various business structures including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships. The bill makes technical corrections, codifies existing practices for electronic filing and name reservations, and formalizes the common law doctrine of independent legal significance. It clarifies procedures for approving, naming, and setting termination fees in merger agreements, and establishes a ratification process for improperly approved documents. Additionally, the bill simplifies the process for purchasing ownership interests upon the death or disqualification of a stockholder or member in professional corporations, LLCs, and partnerships, and allows for the transfer of transferable interests upon death in certain entities.
SB 169 proposes a statewide constitutional amendment in Alabama. This bill would authorize the Governor to appoint an individual to fill a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor. Currently, the Governor holds this power for other statewide offices like the Attorney General and Secretary of State, but not for the Lieutenant Governor. If approved by voters, this change would amend Section 136 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022. The bill outlines the process for a public vote on this proposed constitutional amendment.
