HB 232 permanently extends a 6% tax on net patient revenue from privately operated hospitals in Alabama, which currently funds Medicaid payments but was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2028. This tax, described as a "cost of doing business" for these hospitals, requires them to pay the assessment annually to support Medicaid hospital payments. Funds collected go into the Hospital Assessment Account, which must be used exclusively for hospital payments and cannot replace other state Medicaid funding. The bill removes the sunset clause, making the tax permanent for all privately operated hospitals in the state.
HB 219, the Access & Responsible Digital Safety Act, requires app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play) to verify user ages when accounts are created and provide age information to app developers. It mandates that app developers must offer different experiences for minors versus adults, block minors from accessing restricted content without parental consent, and stop advertising to children. Parents gain tools to manage their children's app access, and app stores must share age data with developers only for safety purposes. Violations could trigger civil penalties enforced by the Attorney General, while app stores making good-faith efforts face limited liability. The bill directly affects app stores, developers, and parents of minors using mobile applications.
HB 229 appropriates $169,633 from Alabama’s State General Fund to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence for fiscal year 2027. The bill requires the Coalition to submit an operations plan and an audited financial report from fiscal year 2025 before receiving funds, along with quarterly updates on spending and progress and an annual performance report detailing services provided and costs. These reports must be submitted to the Director of Finance and forwarded to the Legislative Council. The funding is tied directly to accountability measures, ensuring transparency in how the money is used to support domestic violence services.
SB 141 allocates $31.48 million from Alabama's Education Trust Fund (ETF) and other sources for public education support, maintenance, and development during fiscal year 2027. It specifically funds programs including $31.48 million for charter school startup grants, $8.52 million for the State Arts Council's Fine Arts Program, and $10.06 million for child abuse prevention services. The bill directs funds to public schools, charter schools, arts initiatives, and state education agencies, with most appropriations coming from the ETF and supplemental funds from federal/local sources. This appropriation does not create new policies but allocates existing state funds for designated educational purposes.
HB 223 would provide a 2% salary increase for most Alabama state employees, effective October 1, 2026, covering those in classified/unclassified service, judicial personnel, legislative staff, and county health department employees under the state merit system. The increase applies to all eligible employees except those covered by existing labor contracts or local supplements tied to state salaries. Implementation requires state departments to revise pay plans and certify changes to the State Comptroller for processing. The bill does not create new appropriations but directs budgeting for the increase in the annual appropriations act.
SB 151 provides supplemental funding for Alabama's fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, by transferring specific amounts between state funds to various agencies. It allocates $50 million from the Strategic Energy Infrastructure Development Fund to the State Industrial Development Authority for energy projects, $34 million from federal small business funds to the Department of Finance, and $35.1 million from the Legislative Council Fund for construction of a new State House. Additional funding includes $588,612 for Medicaid, $16 million for energy infrastructure, and $1 million each for the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board from specialized funds. This procedural bill focuses solely on reallocating existing funds without changing policies or creating new programs.
HB 71 makes it a Class C felony for medical examiners in Alabama to keep a deceased person's organs without first notifying and getting consent from the next of kin. Currently, medical examiners must notify next of kin if they retain organs to determine identification or cause of death, and they are already prohibited from using organs for other purposes without consent. This bill strengthens that rule by imposing criminal penalties for unauthorized retention beyond the existing requirements. It directly affects medical examiners and forensic staff working in Alabama counties, requiring them to obtain explicit consent before retaining organs for any purpose other than identification or cause of death.
HB 20 would amend Alabama law to add a new capital offense: murder committed when the defendant knowingly creates a great risk of death to multiple people. This change would expand the list of capital murder charges (under Section 13A-5-40) and also add this scenario as an aggravating circumstance in sentencing hearings (under Section 13A-5-49). The bill directly affects defendants charged with murder who intentionally cause widespread danger to multiple victims, such as in mass casualty incidents. It does not change existing penalties but specifies that this new category must be considered in death penalty eligibility determinations. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
SB 80 requires all Alabama hospitals with emergency departments (regardless of classification) to have at least one physician physically present and responsible for the emergency department at all times it is open. This requirement becomes a condition for hospital licensing and renewal under Alabama law. The bill directly affects every hospital operating an emergency department in the state. It takes effect on October 1, 2026, and does not change current staffing levels beyond ensuring a physician is on-site during all open hours.
SB 98 expands Alabama's existing educational benefits for dependents of veterans to include graduate-level medical programs (such as health care administration, physical health, and mental health fields). It limits tuition for these new graduate courses to the in-state rate at qualifying schools, maintaining the current cap for undergraduate studies. The bill directly affects eligible dependents - children, spouses, and widows - of veterans who were killed, missing in action, prisoners of war, or disabled due to service. The changes update the Alabama G.I. and Dependents' Educational Benefit Act without altering eligibility criteria for other benefits.
SB 129 requires developers of AI tools that create images, videos, or audiovisual content to clearly disclose when output is AI-generated. This applies to all AI systems sold or used in Alabama, including those licensed to third parties, and mandates disclosures that are visible, permanent, and unavoidable in the same format as the content. Violations would be treated as deceptive trade practices under Alabama law, allowing both the Attorney General and affected individuals to seek legal action. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026, with a 30-day cure period before enforcement actions.
SB 49 prohibits law enforcement officers in Alabama from using tasers on individuals who are restrained (such as those in handcuffs or body restraints). It directly affects all police officers and law enforcement personnel covered by Alabama's definition of "law enforcement officer." The bill makes violations a Class C felony, imposing criminal penalties for using tasers on anyone unable to resist. If enacted, the law would take effect on October 1, 2026.
