HB 518, the Prenatal Equal Protection Act, changes Alabama criminal law to define an "unborn child" as a person from the moment of fertilization, enabling homicide or assault charges for harm to an unborn child at any developmental stage. It removes exemptions that previously protected medical providers from prosecution for fetal death caused by lawful medical care or medication, and deletes the prohibition against prosecuting women for harm to their own unborn child. The bill allows "duress" as a defense for mothers facing charges related to their unborn child's death, while requiring such cases to be treated identically to cases involving a born child. Exceptions include spontaneous miscarriages and medical procedures taken to save the mother's life with reasonable efforts to save the unborn child. The bill is pending in the House Health Committee.
HB 361 authorizes the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe (a tribe recognized by Alabama) to hire its own certified police officers to protect tribal property, employees, and residents. The tribe must fund these officers using its own resources, not state or local law enforcement funds. Tribal police would have the same arrest powers as state officers on tribal land - including for trespassing and disorderly conduct - but their authority is limited to the reservation unless pursuing an offender or making a felony arrest related to tribal grounds. This bill clarifies that tribal officers cannot act as police off-reservation except under specific conditions, maintaining jurisdictional boundaries with state law enforcement.
SB 299 allows Alabama-licensed doctors to offer certain stem cell therapies not approved by the FDA, provided they give patients written notice about the treatment's unapproved status, risks, and expected outcomes, and obtain written consent. The bill requires providers to display this notice prominently in their offices and include it in all advertisements for the therapy. It defines "stem cell therapy" to include afterbirth placental stem cells but explicitly excludes treatments using fetal or embryo cells from abortion. Violating these requirements is deemed unprofessional conduct by the State Board of Medical Examiners, which must adopt implementing rules by October 2025.
HB 96 requires Alabama public high schools to excuse students from class during instructional time for organized National Signing Day activities related to athletic scholarships, college acceptances, apprenticeship programs, or military enlistments. Schools must also provide reasonable accommodations, such as meeting space and internet access, for these events. The bill directly affects high school students participating in these specific post-graduation commitments and the schools that must adjust schedules. It takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not alter existing student attendance policies beyond these designated activities.
HB 304 modifies procedures for impounded vehicles by requiring that cars not claimed by owners within 30 days of being towed must be sold or disposed of according to standard unclaimed vehicle rules. This directly affects vehicle owners whose cars are towed and fail to reclaim them within the new timeframe. The bill changes the redemption period from previous language to specify a clear 30-day window before disposal. It does not address local identification cards, as that provision is not covered in the provided bill text excerpt.
This bill is a ceremonial resolution designating April 10, 2025, as "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Day" in Alabama. It commemorates the sorority's founding in 1913, its global chapters (including 41 in Alabama), and its community service focus, specifically acknowledging their annual "Delta Days at the Capitol" event. The resolution has no policy or funding impact - it solely honors the organization’s history and contributions through symbolic recognition. It directly affects Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members in Alabama by formally celebrating their work.
HB 205 makes a technical correction to Alabama's use tax exemption rules to ensure they align with existing sales tax exemptions. It updates Section 40-23-62 of the code to explicitly incorporate all current sales tax exemptions (listed in Sections 40-23-4(a) and 40-23-4.1) into the use tax rules, so businesses and consumers face consistent exemption treatment for both taxes. The bill does not create new exemptions or change tax rates - it simply clarifies the existing legal language to prevent discrepancies. This affects businesses and individuals purchasing tangible goods who qualify for tax exemptions under state law. The change takes effect July 1, 2025.
HB 264 consolidates Alabama's current vessel registration fee structure, replacing the separate length-based fee and flat $5 fee with a single, unified fee per vessel class. It affects all boat owners who register vessels in Alabama, including livery boats and dealers. The bill updates how registration fees are distributed: the consolidated fee funds the State Water Safety Fund (for administrative costs) and sends $5 monthly to the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund. Key provisions clarify that fees cover registration processing but do not fund law enforcement salaries beyond Marine Patrol-specific needs. The bill maintains existing fee amounts per vessel size category (e.g., $18 for boats under 16 feet) while simplifying the payment structure.
HJR 81 is a non-binding resolution encouraging Alabama's Department of Transportation (DOT) to improve communication and collaboration with local government and law enforcement officials when discussing transportation matters. It does not create new laws or funding but urges the DOT to be more cooperative during consultations about road and highway needs. The resolution directly affects the DOT’s interactions with county and municipal officials regarding transportation projects. It has been referred to the House Rules Committee but has not yet become law.
HB 520 prohibits employers, public accommodations (like restaurants or hotels), hospitals, health insurers, and occupational licensing boards from discriminating against individuals who refuse certain vaccines, drugs, or facial coverings for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. It allows affected individuals to seek court orders, damages, and attorney fees for violations, and authorizes the Alabama Attorney General to enforce the law or defend entities facing federal penalties for complying with it. The bill specifically exempts surgical masks during medical procedures. This law creates a legal remedy for discrimination based on health-related choices while maintaining medical safety standards.
HB 44 allows employees of St. Clair County DAY Program, Inc. to purchase retirement credit for prior service rendered to the program. It enables the DAY Program’s governing body to elect participation in Alabama’s Teachers’ Retirement System, permitting eligible employees to count pre-2025 service toward retirement benefits. The DAY Program must cover all costs for crediting past service (determined by the retirement system’s actuary), including employer contributions and administrative expenses, with no cost to the state. This change takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to employees actively working for the program on the effective date of its election to join the system.
HB 524 allows juvenile offenders (those convicted of crimes while under 18) serving life without parole to become eligible for parole after completing 10 years in prison. This applies specifically to individuals sentenced to life without parole for offenses committed as minors, changing their eligibility from automatic lifelong incarceration to a potential parole consideration after a decade. The bill amends Alabama's parole law to establish this 10-year timeline as the standard for juvenile offenders, without altering other parole criteria or standards. It directly affects current inmates who were under 18 at the time of their offense and are serving life sentences without parole.
