HB 158 increases penalties for promoting and soliciting prostitution in Alabama. It upgrades promoting prostitution to a Class D felony (from a misdemeanor) and adds tiered penalties for soliciting: a second violation becomes a misdemeanor with mandatory jail time (5+ days), while third or subsequent violations become a Class D felony (30+ days jail). Crucially, it mandates a Class D felony charge for anyone soliciting trafficking victims (as defined in state law), regardless of whether the perpetrator knew the victim was trafficked. The bill directly affects individuals engaging in or facilitating prostitution, particularly repeat offenders and those exploiting trafficking victims.
SB 191, the Homeschooling Opportunities for Military Education (HOME) Act, requires active-duty military parents (with a "bona fide change in duty station" due to relocation orders) to notify their local school superintendent if homeschooling their children and comply with state homeschooling laws. The bill mandates that school systems provide these military homeschool students equal access to public school facilities, equipment, and special education services if they have disabilities, and must allow them to participate in interscholastic sports and activities within their district, subject to standard eligibility requirements. It specifically applies to children of military members whose relocation is ordered by the military, not all homeschoolers. The law aims to ensure military-connected students receive consistent educational opportunities during relocations.
HB 176 requires Alabama's Environmental Management Department to adopt rules by January 1, 2027, enabling the beneficial reuse of foundry sand - waste material from metal casting - instead of landfilling. The rules would allow foundry sand to be used as raw material in asphalt/cement, road subbase, landfill drainage, flood control sandbags, and other applications that substitute for virgin materials. This directly affects foundries producing the sand and industries using construction materials, promoting waste reduction and resource efficiency under state environmental regulations. The bill mandates specific reuse pathways while maintaining existing regulatory oversight for solid waste management.
This is a procedural resolution (SR 21), not a substantive bill. It sets a "Special Order Calendar" for the Alabama Senate on January 21, 2026, prioritizing specific bills for immediate debate and consideration above regular business. The resolution lists six bills (including SB101, SB93, SB115, SB131, SB30, and SB54) to be addressed in a specific order on that date. It directly affects the Senate's scheduling process, ensuring these bills receive early attention without changing any laws.
HB 137 modifies Alabama’s contract review process for executive branch agencies. It requires the Governor to certify in writing that an emergency justifying an exemption (affecting public health, safety, or welfare) actually exists before such contracts can bypass review by the Contract Review Committee. The bill also limits emergency contracts to 60 days, after which the committee must review any extension request. This directly affects executive branch agencies (including licensing boards) and the Contract Review Committee, adding a new oversight step for emergency contract exemptions. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 164 revises governance rules for the University of Montevallo's Board of Trustees. It changes trustee terms from 12 to 8 years (effective January 1, 2027), limits service to two terms, and increases the required quorum for meetings from five to six members. The bill also removes the existing requirement that the university president must be "an educator by profession," though it maintains other qualification standards like being a college graduate. These changes directly affect the board's composition, meeting procedures, and presidential appointment criteria for the University of Montevallo.
SB 198 replaces Alabama's state licensing requirement for prosthetists, orthotists, and pedorthists with a national certification system. It requires all providers and facilities to hold certification from an approved national entity (like the American Board for Certification) starting October 2026, rather than state board approval. The bill mandates that 50% of required continuing education must be completed through the Alabama Prosthetics and Orthotics Association and authorizes the Association to collect fees into a new certification fund. Violations of the certification requirement carry criminal penalties.
HB 275 establishes Alabama's participation in the Athletic Trainer Compact, allowing licensed athletic trainers from Alabama to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The bill creates uniform licensing standards across member states, eliminates the need for multiple state licenses, and sets up a Compact Commission to manage enforcement, disciplinary actions, and information sharing. It directly affects licensed athletic trainers seeking to work across state lines, military families relocating, and patients gaining access to consistent care. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, standardized disciplinary procedures, and provisions for telehealth services to improve access to athletic training.
SB 188 creates a legal presumption that a defendant’s self-defense claim was unjustified if they concealed, altered, destroyed, or disposed of a weapon used in the incident (unless voluntarily given to police). This applies to criminal cases where defendants claim self-defense or defense of others under Alabama’s existing law. The bill directly affects individuals facing criminal charges who used force, shifting the burden by presuming their defense invalid upon weapon tampering. It modifies Alabama Code §13A-3-23 to add this presumption, requiring defendants to overcome it with evidence at a pretrial hearing. The law does not change the standard for justifying force but adds a specific consequence for weapon-related conduct.
HB 211 would expand the official boundaries of the City of Loxley in Baldwin County to include approximately 101 acres of land known as the "Bertolla Property Legislative Annexation Area 1." The bill specifically describes a parcel bounded by Cabinet Shop Road and County Highway 64, adding it to Loxley's corporate limits for municipal governance. This boundary change requires a map to be filed with Baldwin County's probate office and takes effect on October 1, 2026. The bill directly affects the City of Loxley and the landowners within the newly included territory.
SB 204 would change how Alabama's local land banks handle properties with unpaid taxes. It shortens the redemption period for tax-delinquent properties to one year (allowing land banks to obtain deeds after this period), removes the requirement for public notice before selling land, and exempts land bank properties from local property taxes. The bill also allows multiple counties to create shared land banks through agreements, gives local governments authority to transfer properties for flood management, and permits the Governor to create land banks during emergencies. These changes primarily affect local land banks, county governments, and property owners facing tax sales.
HB 209 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Walker County residents aged 65+ to claim a property tax exemption on their primary residence. The exemption freezes the property's assessed value from the year before claiming it, applies only to single-family homes owned for at least five years, and requires written application between October 1-December 31, 2027. Homeowners must continue using the property as their primary residence to maintain the exemption, though millage rate changes and other exemptions remain unaffected. This amendment requires voter approval to become part of Alabama's constitution.
