HB 439 proposes a constitutional amendment for Elmore County that would allow the county commission to levy two new charges. First, it would impose a 4.5% excise tax on the wholesale sales of vapor products, alternative nicotine products, and tobacco products. Second, it would establish an annual property assessment on all land parcels in the county, with rates varying by parcel type (land-only, residential, or commercial) and increasing annually. The funds collected from these taxes and assessments would be dedicated to public health, safety, and county fire and rescue protection services within Elmore County, and the amendment would require voter approval.
HB 412 aims to amend existing laws regarding unauthorized entry into critical infrastructure facilities and criminal tampering. The bill expands the definition of "critical infrastructure facility" to include a wider range of sites, such as chemical plants, pipelines, power facilities, and transportation hubs. It increases the penalty for unauthorized entry from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony, with further increased felony penalties for damaging property, attempting to disrupt operations, or using armed drones. Additionally, the bill makes it a Class C felony to threaten a utility employee with a deadly weapon while obstructing utility operations. It specifies that these provisions do not apply to lawful assembly, peaceful protest, labor disputes, or government actions on rights-of-way.
HB 426 revises the membership of the Alabama Ad Valorem Advisory Committee, which is responsible for advising on matters related to property taxes. Under current law, the committee is composed of local officials and tax administrators. This bill expands the committee's membership to include two resident taxpayers, appointed by the commissioner, who have paid taxes in Alabama for at least five years. This change aims to incorporate taxpayer perspectives into the committee's discussions and recommendations on ad valorem taxes.
HB 391 amends existing law concerning blood draws for individuals suspected of driving under the influence (DUI). Currently, law enforcement officers can request qualified medical personnel to draw blood for these cases. This bill would authorize physicians, registered nurses, paramedics, phlebotomists, and other qualified individuals to refuse to draw blood at a law enforcement officer's request, unless a court order is in place. This change directly affects medical professionals involved in blood collection for DUI investigations and impacts law enforcement procedures for obtaining such evidence.
HB 609 authorizes the Henry County Sheriff's Office and Henry County Task Force to sell, use, or destroy abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed personal property. After a minimum of six months, unclaimed property can be sold at public auction, with specific federal licensing and transfer requirements for firearms. Owners can claim their property before sale or the sale proceeds within six months, minus recovery and storage costs. Unclaimed proceeds, after expenses, are deposited into the Sheriff's Fund for law enforcement purposes, and unclaimed firearms may be used by the Sheriff's Office or destroyed if unsafe. This act applies only to Henry County.
HB 227 extends the qualifying period for certain benefits for firefighters. It changes the eligibility window for benefits related to occupational diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease, from 10 years to 15 years after a firefighter's last date of employment or retirement. The bill also lengthens the post-employment period to 15 years for line-of-duty death benefits if a firefighter dies of cancer. These changes directly affect firefighters and their families seeking these specific benefits.
HB 334 amends Alabama law to require health insurance plans to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for annual prostate cancer screenings. This means no deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance would be imposed for these screenings. The bill specifically applies to men over 50 years of age and men over 40 years of age who are identified as being at high risk for prostate cancer. "Men at high risk" are defined to include African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer or specific genetic markers. These changes are scheduled to become effective on October 1, 2025.
HB 68 expands the existing law that prohibits certain "foreign principals" from acquiring interests in agricultural, forest, and other real property within the state. The bill broadens the definition of a "foreign principal" to include any individual or company identified on the U.S. Department of the Treasury's sanctions lists. It also expands the types of prohibited acquisitions to include leasehold interests in addition to ownership or controlling interests. These new prohibitions on leasehold interests would apply to acquisitions made on or after August 1, 2025.
HB 47 proposes an amendment to the Alabama Constitution that would allow the state Legislature to authorize and regulate traditional paper raffles and paper bingo. Currently, the Constitution prohibits lotteries and gift enterprises. This amendment would create an exception, empowering the Legislature to pass general laws for the licensing, taxing, and operation of these activities. However, these activities would be strictly limited to noncommercial charitable fundraising purposes, primarily affecting charitable organizations and their fundraising efforts.
HB 55 proposes to exempt individuals from needing a fishing license when fishing in waters experiencing a "jubilee." A jubilee is defined as a natural occurrence, primarily in Mobile Bay, where low-oxygen water forces fish and shellfish towards the shore. This bill directly affects fishers in Alabama by removing the licensure requirement during these specific events. However, all other regulations concerning the number and size of fish and shellfish that can be taken would still apply.
SB 151 is a technical bill designed to correct outdated internal references within the Code of Alabama 1975. It specifically updates citations in existing laws related to insurable interest and life insurance policy loans, ensuring they accurately refer to the correct sections of the code.
Senate Bill 110 modifies regulations for trucks operating on state highways. The bill adds specific types of trucks to those already exempt from certain weight limits. It also revises enforcement procedures for weight limits, allowing vehicle operators to verify the accuracy of portable scales used by officers. Additionally, the bill removes the authority of some individuals to require vehicle operators to drive to stationary weigh scales for enforcement.
