This bill (HR 188) is a memorial resolution honoring John Hackett, Jr., a Birmingham, Alabama resident and longtime supporter of Alabama A&M University (AAMU). It commemorates his life, noting his service as an AAMU Board of Trustees member, leadership in the AAMU Alumni Association, career with Birmingham city agencies, and dedication to education and community. The resolution expresses the Alabama House of Representatives' "profound sorrow" at his death (February 23, 2026) and extends condolences to his family. It has no policy provisions or direct impact on constituents beyond acknowledging his legacy.
SB 319 establishes a civil service system for permanent city jobs in Helena, Shelby County, replacing the 1992 civil service law. It creates a Personnel Board (with employee-elected and appointed members), appoints a director to manage personnel, and sets standardized rules for hiring, promotions, and appeals for city employees. The bill defines key terms like "regular position" and "eligible register" to ensure consistent application of hiring processes, including open-competitive recruitment and merit-based advancement. This directly affects Helena city employees, hiring managers, and applicants for city jobs.
SB 305 allows Alabama public K-12 schools and charter schools to accept volunteer campus chaplains, but only if local school boards or charter governing bodies vote to permit it. To serve, chaplains must complete a recognized training program, pass a criminal background check, and cannot have been convicted of a sex offense requiring registration. Chaplains would provide services at the request of teachers, not as a school mandate. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and does not require state certification for chaplains.
HB 135 creates the Alabama Port Infrastructure Grant Program under the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to fund improvements at publicly owned inland ports and transportation hubs connecting different shipping methods (like rail and barge). It allocates $5 million annually starting in 2026 for competitive grants, requiring 20% local matching funds and limiting state funding to 50% of project costs. The program prioritizes projects that reduce highway congestion, boost port tonnage, and enhance regional competitiveness, while explicitly excluding routine maintenance, administrative costs, and new port construction without prior feasibility studies. Funding must directly support capital improvements, dredging near existing ports, or infrastructure development outside normal operating budgets.
SB 133 increases annual pay for Greene County Racing Commission members to $25,000 and adds $50 per day for attending events. It removes the previous 313-day limit on racing days, raises annual racetrack license fees from $1,000 to $25,000, and requires license applicants to reside in Alabama. The bill also establishes a new local tax on race betting revenue and repeals rules about license suspensions and race manipulation. These changes directly affect racetrack operators, commission members, and Greene County’s revenue streams.
HR 183 is a commemorative resolution honoring John Hackett, Jr., a Birmingham, Alabama resident and longtime Alabama A&M University (AAMU) Board of Trustees member, who died on February 23, 2026. The resolution records the House of Representatives' "profound sorrow" over his passing and celebrates his life, including his service as AAMU Board President, career with the City of Birmingham, and leadership in community organizations. It has no policy impact or funding provisions - it is purely ceremonial, expressing sympathy to his family and recognizing his legacy. This resolution directly affects no individuals or entities beyond acknowledging his contributions.
SB 253 amends Alabama's Entertainment Industry Incentive Act to create a new rebate program for small film and TV productions spending $100,000-$499,999 in the state. It provides a 45% rebate on payroll paid to Alabama residents by qualifying productions, directly benefiting small entertainment companies and local workers. The bill also extends the deadline for the Department of Commerce to complete a review of the incentive program, pushing the report to the first day of the 2028 legislative session. Additionally, it clarifies that payments to "loan-out companies" (contracting firms) count toward rebates only if Alabama withholding or income taxes were properly remitted.
HB 377 expands Alabama's veterans' educational benefits to include graduate-level courses in medical fields for eligible dependents, such as children, spouses, and widows of veterans who were killed, disabled, missing in action, or prisoners of war. Previously, benefits covered only undergraduate studies, but this bill extends them to graduate medical programs without altering existing tuition limits. The bill maintains current caps of $400 per semester hour for tuition and $1,000 per semester for books/fees for private school students, with the change taking effect July 31, 2026.
HB 244 exempts electricity and natural gas used in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses from Alabama’s utility gross receipts tax and utility service use tax. This directly affects agricultural businesses operating these facilities by reducing their energy-related tax burden. The bill amends Alabama tax code sections to explicitly add these uses to existing exemptions, clarifying that energy used for heating or operation in these specific agricultural settings is not subject to the taxes. The change takes effect September 1, 2026, and does not alter tax rates for other energy uses.
HB 136 requires Alabama's Governor to certify that an immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare justifies an emergency rule before it can take effect. This bill directly affects state agencies that issue emergency rules (e.g., health or safety regulations) by adding a new step: the Governor must formally confirm the emergency justification before the rule becomes effective. The key mechanism is amending Section 41-22-5 of Alabama law to mandate this certification, which must be filed with the Legislative Services Agency alongside the rule. Emergency rules would still be limited to 120 days and require justification for renewal, but this bill specifically adds the Governor's certification as a prerequisite. The bill does not change how agencies identify emergencies but adds a state executive-level checkpoint.
SB 70 expands Alabama's law against transmitting obscene material to children by making it illegal to send such material to someone the sender *believes* is a child, not just to actual minors. The bill specifically targets online content depicting nudity, sexual conduct, or extreme sexual acts, whether real or simulated. It maintains the offense as a Class B felony, requiring adult trials with no option for record sealing or expungement. This change directly affects individuals who send inappropriate material online while mistakenly believing the recipient is underage, broadening the scope of the existing law.
SB 84 requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to establish and enforce sanitation standards for food services in state correctional facilities, county jails, and municipal jails. The bill mandates regular inspections of food preparation, storage, and serving areas, and obligates facilities to correct identified violations. It grants the Department authority to issue sanitation scores and prescribe corrective actions but prohibits suspending food services without approval from the facility's governing body (e.g., the Corrections Commissioner for state facilities or local government for county/municipal jails). The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.
