This bill proposes naming a specific section of Alabama Highway 9 in Elmore County the Lamar S. "Bubba" Woodham, Jr. Highway to honor his 47-year career with the Alabama Department of Transportation. The legislation requests that the State Department of Transportation coordinate with local officials to designate the road segment between Mt. Hebron Road and Boswell Road and install appropriate signage. The measure recognizes Woodham's service as a civil engineer, surveyor, and retired Navy officer, though it does not mandate the naming but encourages the state to consider it.
This bill proposes to increase the probate recording fee in Wilcox County from five dollars to ten dollars for each real and personal property instrument filed with the county judge of probate. The change directly affects individuals and businesses in Wilcox County who submit documents for official recording, requiring them to pay the higher fee in addition to any other existing charges. By repealing previous fee-related acts from 1990 and 2001, the legislation establishes this new fee structure as the current standard for the county. The bill would take effect on June 1, 2026, allowing the county governing body to collect the increased amount for recording services.
HB 380 proposes a constitutional amendment to establish a formal process for merging county school boards in public K-12 education. It requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules and conduct an impact study before any consolidation, and creates a procedure for boards to propose mergers while allowing protests from affected communities. The bill would make consolidation plans binding on the merging county boards and authorize the legislature to pass implementing laws. If enacted, this would directly affect county school districts considering consolidation, students, and local education stakeholders by changing how board mergers are managed and approved.
HB 500 (Mobile County; constable, number, territory, and qualifications amended) changes Mobile County's constable structure starting in 2029. It requires three constables per Alabama House district within the county (up from current numbers), with each serving a four-year term. Constables must also be registered voters in the district they represent. The bill takes effect January 1, 2028, pending passage of a broader state law allowing such local changes.
HB 498 defines specific public nuisances in Prichard, Alabama, including overgrown weeds (that pose fire hazards or are noxious), abandoned debris (like trash or tires), and inoperable vehicles visible on private property for 30+ days. The bill requires property owners to abate these issues within 10 days (with possible 28-day extensions) after receiving written notice from the city. If unresolved, the city can remove the nuisance and add the costs to the property owner’s next property tax bill, creating a lien. Owners can appeal the city’s determination to an administrative official or, if needed, to Mobile County Circuit Court.
HB 499 authorizes Alabama counties to adjust constable operations through local legislation. It allows counties to revise the number of constables, redraw geographic service areas for constables, or change conditions under which a constable's office becomes vacant. Currently, counties could only abolish the constable office entirely; this bill expands flexibility for local management. The changes would apply to all counties in Alabama and take effect October 1, 2026.
HB 501 authorizes the City of Prichard to establish self-help business improvement districts (BIDs) that allow local businesses to voluntarily form districts to fund area improvements. The bill requires 60% of business owners to petition for a district, sets a 4% cap on annual benefit assessments (based on gross revenue), and mandates detailed district plans covering boundaries, proposed projects, and funding methods. These districts would fund tangible improvements like maintenance or marketing to benefit participating businesses, with administration handled by a business owners' association requiring majority business owner representation. The law outlines procedures for district formation, renewal, and dissolution but does not require city approval for the initial petition.
HB 496 requires Class 2 municipalities (smaller Alabama cities/towns) to notify neighboring homeowners when foreclosing on properties for unpaid code violations (like unsafe housing). It adds "adjoining owners" to the list of parties who must receive foreclosure notices and grants them the right to bid on the property before public auction, with bidding preference over other bidders. This applies specifically to municipal liens from code enforcement, not tax foreclosures, and updates existing code language to clarify these requirements. The bill directly affects adjacent property owners in communities governed by Class 2 municipal codes and changes how foreclosure notices and bidding processes operate.
HB 510 expands the authority of industrial development boards in Alabama's Class 2 municipalities (populations 5,000-20,000). It grants these boards the power to issue bonds, finance projects through loans or grants, and manage development projects like buildings, housing, and infrastructure to advance economic growth. Specifically, boards can now use bond proceeds or other funds to construct, improve, or lease facilities for industrial, commercial, or residential use, provided they align with public purposes like job creation or eliminating blighted properties. The bill applies to both existing and newly formed boards in Class 2 municipalities, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 279 expands Alabama's general contractor licensing exemptions to include specific maintenance services. It adds painting, janitorial, floor waxing, pressure washing, security system maintenance, lighting/filter replacement, and maintenance of existing plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems to the list of services that do not require a general contractor license. This change directly affects small businesses and contractors providing these routine maintenance services, allowing them to operate without obtaining a general contractor license. The bill amends Alabama Code Section 34-8-7 to include these new exemptions, effective October 1, 2026.
HB 511 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Alabama public K-12 schools to begin each school day with the Pledge of Allegiance and an optional prayer (which students may choose not to participate in). Local school boards would need to adopt policies enabling this daily practice, with prayers permitted as prerecorded, live, or broadcasted but never mandatory. Schools or boards persistently refusing to comply after investigation could face a 25% reduction in state education funding, with further cuts possible through legislative action. This amendment requires voter approval to become part of Alabama's constitution.
HB 502 allows the City of Prichard in Mobile County to clear ownership of abandoned tax-sale properties it purchased from the state land commissioner through an expedited court process. The city must make a good-faith effort to identify owners (using deeds, tax records, and property signs) and notify them before filing a single court petition. If owners can't be found, the city may use newspaper publication for notice. The circuit court must schedule a hearing within 90 days, and a court ruling may extinguish all ownership claims, giving the city clear title to the properties. This applies only to Prichard's properties acquired under Alabama's tax sale laws.
