SB 248 prevents public school students from being excused from required classes or mandated student interventions (like tutoring) to attend religious instruction during school hours. It directly affects students in public schools and school districts that previously allowed "release time" for religious activities. The bill amends existing law to explicitly state that no student may be excused for religious purposes, overriding any prior practice. This changes the policy by removing an exception that allowed time off for religious instruction during required instructional periods.
SB 118 establishes the Alabama Background Check Service and the Alabama Rap Back Program, allowing employers, licensing agencies, and other noncriminal justice entities to access background checks using fingerprints and criminal history data. It authorizes the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to conduct these checks for employment, licensing, or other noncriminal purposes, set fees for the service, and provide ongoing criminal history updates through the Rap Back Program. The bill repeals existing restrictions on releasing criminal history information, updating terminology and technical details to align with current law. It directly affects businesses, organizations, and individuals seeking background checks for noncriminal purposes, such as hiring or professional licensing.
HB 268 authorizes Alabama's State 911 Board to monitor local 911 districts' call response performance using specific metrics like call volume, answer times, and crime reports. If a district's service falls below acceptable levels based on this data, the Board may investigate, require corrective actions (such as staff training or technology upgrades), or assume direct operational control. The bill also allows the State 911 Board to share crime-related call data with the Attorney General and requires districts to report complaints about 911 service. This directly affects local 911 districts and their oversight, with the Attorney General empowered to enforce Board decisions through civil action. The bill does not change who operates 911 services but adds a structured oversight process for public safety.
HB 132 revises Alabama's assault in the second degree law to expand protections for specific professionals during work. It adds new circumstances where assaulting peace officers (including off-duty officers in approved uniform), teachers, healthcare workers (including home health care providers), social workers, letter carriers, or children in schools during their duties constitutes second-degree assault. The bill specifies that these protections apply when the assault occurs while the victim is performing their job, with exceptions for assaults by impaired patients on healthcare workers. Assault in the second degree remains classified as a Class C felony under this revision.
HB 152 repeals the law that established the School of Social Work of Alabama as a two-year graduate program within the University of Alabama. It removes Section 16-47-170 and related provisions from Alabama law, which previously defined the school's structure and purpose. The repeal takes effect on October 1, 2026, but does not eliminate the school itself - only its specific legal foundation under current statutes.
SB 203 strengthens protections for children and vulnerable individuals in Alabama by increasing penalties for certain sex crimes involving minors. It raises the age threshold for child victims in offenses like indecent exposure (making it a Class C felony if the victim is under 12) and expands the crime of transmitting obscene material to children to cover all electronic devices, removing the defense that undercover officers were posing as children. The bill also creates a new crime - *inpatient custodial sexual misconduct* - prohibiting sexual conduct between facility employees (in drug rehab or mental health centers) and patients, with consent explicitly not serving as a defense. These changes directly affect children under 12, patients in treatment facilities, and individuals accused of these specific offenses.
HB 303 requires cryptocurrency kiosk operators in Alabama to provide clear, upfront disclosures to consumers before transactions, including costs, fees, and exchange rates, and display warnings about common fraud schemes (like impersonation scams or fake lottery offers). Operators must give consumers a physical or digital receipt for each transaction and send a digital copy to the Alabama Securities Commission. The bill also mandates refunds for fraudulently induced transactions and requires operators to establish a consumer service line and direct communication with law enforcement. Violations could trigger civil or criminal penalties.
HB 86 revises Alabama's parole guidelines to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to give special attention to three specific factors when considering parole: an inmate's low risk of reoffending (based on a validated assessment), their employment during incarceration, and education completed while in prison. The bill also mandates that the board consider other factors in its guidelines and provide written reasons for all parole decisions. This change directly affects inmates seeking parole and the board's decision-making process, though the board retains full discretion to approve or deny parole. The revised guidelines must be reviewed every three years and posted online for public access.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow full-time mayors in Tuscaloosa County municipalities to join Alabama's Employees' Retirement System (ERS) under the same terms as other ERS participants. It directly affects mayors serving in Tuscaloosa County cities who are employed full-time in their mayoral roles. The key provision permits these mayors to participate in ERS, including purchasing service credit for prior service upon ratification. The amendment requires voter approval through a special election before becoming part of Alabama's constitution.
HB 7 increases penalties for making terrorist threats in Alabama, elevating the first-degree offense to a Class B felony (from Class C) and the second-degree offense to a Class D felony (from Class A misdemeanor). It also requires public school principals to immediately notify law enforcement when a student's conduct potentially involves such a threat and mandates a mandatory one-year school suspension for students charged with making a terrorist threat in either degree. The bill specifies conditions for student readmittance and requires convicted individuals to pay restitution to victims. This directly affects K-12 students, school administrators, law enforcement, and courts by tightening legal consequences for threats targeting schools, public spaces, or officials.
This special order calendar resolution directs the Alabama Senate to prioritize a specific list of bills for discussion on the twenty-eighth legislative day. The measure affects various policy areas, including energy, education, taxation, and healthcare, by ensuring these items are addressed before regular business. Key provisions include prohibiting new solar facilities for one year, removing verification requirements for disabled veterans' homestead exemptions, and mandating computer science courses in public schools. Additionally, the order covers updates to guardianship procedures, tax incentives for manufacturing zones, and the authorization of invisible disability license plate decals. By establishing this agenda, the resolution streamlines the legislative process to focus on these concrete policy changes.
This bill is a formal resolution that commends six specific student interns from the Alabama Law Institute for their exemplary service during the 2026 legislative session. It directly affects the House of Representatives and the named interns, who are students from various universities in Alabama and Kansas. The resolution recognizes their contributions to the legislative process and directs that a copy of the commendation be presented to each intern as a gesture of appreciation.
