Alabama Bills

SB 288 is a local bill for Barbour County that establishes the compensation for its supernumerary revenue commissioner. Starting October 1, 2025, this official will receive an annual salary of $37,125, paid in equal monthly installments from the county general fund. The bill also ratifies any compensation paid to the supernumerary revenue commissioner prior to October 1, 2025.

House Bill 615, known as the Community Health Worker Certification Act, establishes a system for certifying community health workers and their training programs in Alabama. The bill defines community health workers and their core competencies. It directs the Alabama Department of Public Health to create and oversee a certification program for both individuals and the academic and community-based training programs they attend. Additionally, it creates a Community Health Workers Review Board to advise the department on developing standards, rules, and reimbursement schedules for this new certification process.

HR 294 is a resolution from the House of Representatives celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Twenty-Third Street Missionary Baptist Church. It commends the church for its 125-year legacy, continuous community contributions, and commitment to faith-based service.

This bill amends the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, which governs the protection of certain public monuments and buildings. It requires governmental entities that replace a memorial building to either maintain its original name or erect a marker to memorialize it. The bill also changes the waiver process, deeming a waiver application denied if the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection fails to act on it within 90 days. Additionally, it revises the daily fine for violations from $25,000 to $5,000 and authorizes the Attorney General to commence civil actions to address ongoing violations.

SB 346 permanently establishes the Alabama Resilience Council as an appointed advisory group within the executive branch of state government. This council will coordinate resilience-related activities between state government and the private sector to proactively address harmful impacts on Alabama communities and infrastructure. The bill also authorizes the appointment of a Chief Resilience Officer and mandates a statewide resilience plan and a comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessment. The council's duties include developing strategies, enhancing community awareness, and soliciting private sector participation to strengthen the state's capacity to prepare for and recover from adverse events.

HB 487 revises the Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program, which provides tuition assistance. The bill establishes a pilot program to admit additional dependents of veterans into the scholarship program. This is achieved by adding Section 31-6-11.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, which appears to include revisions to the disability requirements for eligibility.

SB 51 regulates how health insurers reimburse emergency ground ambulance services in Alabama, aiming to protect individuals covered by health plans. It establishes minimum reimbursement rates for both in-network and out-of-network providers, using a percentage of the Medicare rate as a benchmark. A key provision prohibits "surprise billing" by ensuring that the combined payment from the insurer and the enrollee's standard in-network cost-sharing is considered payment in full, preventing providers from billing patients for additional amounts. The bill also requires ambulance providers to submit annual financial reports and mandates a study on its effects on service access before its scheduled repeal in 2029.

HB 606 updates the procedures for relocating utility facilities when new public highways are constructed. It requires the Director of Transportation to obtain estimated costs for these relocations. The bill expands the definition of "utility" to include providers of electricity, gas, water, sewer, broadband, cable, and telecommunications services, whether publicly, privately, or cooperatively owned. It also prohibits the Department of Transportation from charging fees for utilities using state rights-of-way.

HB 614 revises the penalties for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) for the first time. The bill changes the mandatory driver license suspension period for a first-time DUI conviction from 90 days to six months. It also adjusts the period for which a first-time offender can elect to install an ignition interlock device to stay the suspension, aligning it with the new six-month period. This directly affects drivers in Alabama convicted of their first DUI offense.

HB 283, known as the "Alabama Personal Data Protection Act," grants consumers new rights over their personal data collected online. It allows consumers to confirm if their data is being processed by an entity, correct inaccuracies, request deletion, obtain a copy of their data, and opt out of its processing. The bill requires entities that control personal data ("controllers") to establish secure methods for consumers to exercise these rights and also regulates the manner in which both personal and deidentified data can be processed.

Senate Bill 1 establishes the "Maryann Leonard Educators' On-The-Job Injury Act," creating a new program to provide compensation for work-related injuries sustained by full-time public education employees and adult bus drivers. The bill creates a dedicated board to administer this act, which will manage injury claims and reimburse employees for certain unreimbursed medical expenses, copayments, and deductibles not covered by their existing health insurance (PEEHIP). This board will also have the authority to select treating physicians and authorize independent medical examinations. The legislation outlines a formal dispute resolution process, including the use of hearing officers, for contested claims, with decisions subject to limited judicial review.

SB 190 requires health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screenings for certain groups of men. Specifically, it mandates coverage for African American men and men with a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer, starting at age 40. The bill also requires coverage for all men over 50 years of age. For both these high-risk men over 40 and all men over 50, these screenings must be provided without deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing requirements.