SB 37 would exempt Alabama residents from paying municipal sales and use taxes when purchasing physical goods in a city where they do not live. Specifically, it requires proof of Alabama residency to avoid municipal taxes on such transactions, while leaving state sales tax unaffected. The bill applies directly to Alabama residents shopping outside their home municipality, such as someone living in Montgomery buying goods in Mobile. It would take effect on September 1, 2026, if passed.
HB 143 would upgrade penalties for motor vehicle accident violations in Alabama. It changes criminally negligent homicide caused by a vehicle operator from a Class C to a Class B felony and creates tiered penalties for failing to report accidents: Class C felony for physical injury, Class B for serious injury, and Class A felony for death. The bill also requires courts to consider accident victims eligible for restitution when convictions occur under these provisions. These changes directly affect drivers involved in accidents causing injury or death and the victims seeking compensation. The bill is pending committee review and would take effect October 1, 2026.
HB 177 prohibits abandoning dogs or cats in Alabama by defining abandonment as leaving a pet without minimum reasonable care. It creates a new criminal offense (a Class C misdemeanor) for intentionally or recklessly abandoning a dog or cat, with penalties for violations. The bill updates existing animal cruelty laws to explicitly include abandonment as a punishable act and clarifies enforcement procedures for law enforcement. This law directly affects pet owners who abandon animals, effective October 1, 2026.
This is a procedural resolution (SR 1) requiring the Alabama Senate Secretary to formally notify the House of Representatives when the Senate convenes and is ready to conduct business. It directly affects the internal operations of Alabama's state legislature by establishing a standard communication protocol between the two chambers. The bill contains no policy changes or public impact - it only specifies a routine procedural step for Senate-House coordination. As a simple administrative measure, it does not affect citizens, businesses, or existing laws.
HB 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.
HB 103, the Youth Athlete Protection Act, requires youth sports organizations and local governments (such as cities or counties) that provide sports for children under 18 to adopt safety policies to prevent child abuse. The bill mandates that these entities implement policies based on a model developed by the Department of Human Resources (DHR), which includes standards for prohibited conduct (like abuse or harassment), a code of conduct for interactions, and mandatory reporter training for coaches. Coaches - including volunteers - must undergo annual criminal background checks and complete mandatory reporter training to work with youth athletes. Organizations must register annual compliance with DHR, and non-compliant entities are barred from offering youth sports. DHR must adopt implementing rules by January 1, 2027.
This is a ceremonial resolution (not a substantive bill) that formally commends Dr. Jacqueline W. Stewart and her organization, Huggs and Kisses, Inc. It recognizes her 40+ years of providing childcare services for sick and special needs children in Birmingham, Alabama, including her work through the Mission Hugs, Inc. scholarship program. The resolution has no policy changes, funding, or legal effect - it solely expresses legislative appreciation for her community service. It does not directly affect any laws, regulations, or specific individuals beyond the named recipient.
HB 196 requires Alabama public high schools to designate one fall semester day annually for military recruiters to administer the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) career aptitude test to students on campus. Participation remains voluntary for students, and schools must provide appropriate testing accommodations. The bill amends existing law to mandate this specific access, granting military recruiters equal campus access as employers. It applies to all city and county public high schools and takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 198 allows Alabama sheriffs to appoint special reserve deputies during periods when over 250 unexecuted property seizure orders (writs) exist in a county. These deputies, who must be state-certified and trained in writ execution, assist in serving property seizure orders on behalf of petitioners. Petitioners pay a direct fee (capped at $250) to the special reserve deputy for service, not the county, and deputies receive no county funds for this work. The bill sets qualifications for deputies and requires sheriffs to maintain training records.
SB 73 would prohibit Alabama public K-12 schools from joining athletic associations that have governing boards made up of certain members (requiring at least 50% appointed by state leaders like the Governor and legislative leaders) or that enforce student-athlete eligibility rules not adopted through Alabama’s standard rulemaking process. It also allows the Legislative Council to permit any group to voluntarily adopt rules using that same state rulemaking procedure. If passed, the law would affect schools and athletic associations by setting specific membership requirements and rule adoption standards. The bill is pending committee review and would take effect October 1, 2026, if enacted.
HB 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.
SB 44 extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits related to child sexual abuse in Alabama. Survivors who were under 19 during the abuse can now file claims up to 20 years after turning 19 or two years after the perpetrator’s criminal conviction (whichever is later), instead of the current six-year window. The bill also revives time-barred claims filed by January 1, 2029, and removes barriers like notice requirements, damage caps, and immunity protections for claims involving abuse occurring on or after October 1, 2026. It applies to cases against perpetrators or negligent organizations (like schools or care facilities) that failed to prevent or address the abuse. This change aims to align legal timelines with the reality of delayed disclosures by survivors.
