Alabama Bills

SB 123 amends existing law regarding the reporting of civil asset forfeiture information in Alabama. It requires the Alabama Justice Information Commission to submit an annual report by February 1st to state leaders, detailing a summary of seizure and forfeiture activity, the type and value of property involved, and proceeds received. The bill mandates that this aggregate report, which may include disaggregated data and all civil case numbers, also be published on the Commission's website. Additionally, the Commission is authorized to include recommendations within the report to improve laws and policies related to seizures and expenditures.

HB 199 authorizes electronic monitoring for certain delinquent children and revises the circumstances under which status offenders may be detained. Specifically, the bill mandates electronic monitoring by the Board of Pardons and Paroles or another state agency for an alleged delinquent child if they are released and have been adjudicated or convicted of three or more prior offenses that would be classified as felonies if committed by an adult. This directly affects youthful offenders with a history of serious offenses.

HB 528 expands Alabama's consumer protection laws concerning pricing during declared emergencies. Currently, it is unlawful to charge excessively high prices for commodities or facility rentals during these times. This bill amends existing law to include the "provision of any service" under this prohibition. This means that during a state of emergency, businesses and individuals would also be prohibited from imposing unconscionable prices for services, protecting consumers from inflated costs. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2025.

HJR 310 is a resolution that promotes an increased trade relationship between the State of Alabama and the Port of Bar in Montenegro. It suggests that a trade collaboration would stimulate opportunities for greater investment, expanded trade, and traffic between the two. The resolution outlines potential areas of cooperation, including exchanging information on infrastructure and marketing, establishing working groups for security information, and creating mutual opportunities for technical and financial incentives to expand cargo and vessel traffic.

HJR 299 is a resolution celebrating Earlene Dixon Thomas on the occasion of her 100th birthday. It honors her life and acknowledges her dedication to family, faith, and community.

HB 600 proposes to exempt specific foundations from certain taxes. This bill would relieve the Alabama School of Fine Arts Foundation and the Healthcare Sciences Foundation from paying state, county, and municipal sales and use taxes. If enacted, these exemptions would apply to transactions beginning January 1, 2021.

HJR 285 is a procedural resolution that names the intersection of U.S. Highway 29 with Eagle Road and Harts Bridge Road in Covington County as the "PFC Thomas Lloyd Rodgers Memorial Intersection." This action honors Private First Class Thomas Lloyd Rodgers for his military service and sacrifice.

HJR 275 is a resolution that formally recognizes doulas as vital members of the childbirth team. It acknowledges their contribution to improving maternal and infant health, particularly by providing physical, emotional, and educational support before, during, and after childbirth.

This resolution commends the Alabama Center for the Arts and the Alabama Arts Hall of Fame for their contributions to the preservation and promotion of arts in Alabama. It also officially designates the Alabama Center for the Arts as the host and site for the Alabama Arts Hall of Fame.

SB 256 primarily affects Class 2 municipalities in Mobile County by altering rules related to municipal code liens and tax lien certificates. It allows these municipalities to include certain weed liens on property tax bills if the lien amount exceeds 50% of the property's fair market value. The bill also establishes that a Class 2 municipality is the prevailing party in a tied tax auction bid and can enter properties on which it holds a tax lien to make repairs. Additionally, it permits tax collecting officials to sell tax lien certificates that have been unsold for at least three years to a Class 2 municipality or other designated entities.

SJR 87 is a resolution that officially recognizes May 19, 2025, as "A Day of Hope" in the State of Alabama. This resolution encourages Alabama residents to observe the day to promote awareness of childhood cancer, highlighting the work of the nonprofit organization H.U.G.S. 4 Childhood Cancer.

HB 266, known as the REACH Act, establishes a nontraditional high school diploma option for students aged 17 and older who have withdrawn from traditional high school. This program is administered through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. Students participating in this option become eligible for driver's licenses. A key provision ensures that students who enroll in this program within one year of withdrawing will not be counted as dropouts for their former high school's graduation rate calculations. The bill also facilitates data sharing on students who drop out between educational bodies.