This legislative resolution commemorates the 65th anniversary of the Montgomery Alumnae Chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity in Alabama. It formally recognizes the group's history since 1961 and highlights their community service activities, including volunteer work and support for breast cancer research. The bill does not alter existing laws or allocate funds, serving instead as a symbolic gesture of appreciation from the House of Representatives.
This bill proposes to expand the official boundaries of the City of Owens Cross Roads in Madison County, Alabama. It achieves this by adding a specific parcel of land, identified as Parcel 22-09-32-0-001-034.000, to the city's corporate limits. The legislation requires a map of the proposed changes to be available for public review at the Madison County Probate Office and sets the official effective date for the expansion as October 1, 2026.
This bill is a commemorative resolution honoring Sidney Mae Brown Burks on the occasion of her 100th birthday. It recognizes her life achievements, including her work as a teacher, business owner, and community leader, as well as her long-standing faith and family legacy. The resolution expresses congratulations and well wishes for her continued well-being but does not enact any new laws or policies.
This bill designates the State of Alabama office building at 501 Washington Avenue in Montgomery as the "Kay Ivey Office Building" to honor the state's 54th governor. The resolution requires the Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority to officially name the building and install signage displaying Governor Ivey's name on the exterior and inside the lobby. This is a commemorative measure that does not alter any laws or policies but instead recognizes Governor Ivey's tenure through a permanent naming designation.
This bill creates the College and Higher Education Excellence and Results (CHEER) Act, which would provide bonus funding to specific Alabama higher education institutions that meet performance goals related to student outcomes. The program would establish a new fund and create a coordinating committee to set performance metrics, track student success, and distribute additional money to schools that improve in areas like student retention, degree completion, and post-graduation employment. Eligible institutions include all state universities, community colleges, and historically Black universities in Alabama, with funding bonuses tied to measurable achievements such as helping low-income students succeed and placing graduates in high-wage jobs. The bill defines various student categories and performance measures that the coordinating committee would use to evaluate institutional progress and determine bonus funding amounts.
This bill requires the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling to conduct criminal history background checks on all applicants seeking initial licensure as professional counselors or associate licensed counselors. The legislation mandates that applicants submit fingerprints for state and national background checks through the FBI and Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, with all associated costs borne by the applicant. The board is authorized to establish additional procedures for requesting background checks of current licensees and may use these results when making licensing decisions, though background check information remains confidential unless it supports a license denial. The bill also allows the board to adopt rules requiring background checks for license renewal and to interpret how background check results affect licensing eligibility.
This bill authorizes county commissions in Alabama counties bordering the Gulf of Mexico to create zoning rules for large-scale solar farms. It allows these counties to set standards for where solar farms can be built, establish permitting requirements, and determine operational conditions for these facilities in unincorporated areas. The legislation includes provisions for penalties, such as fines up to $1,000 and property liens for violations, along with an appeal process that lets affected parties challenge decisions in circuit court. Counties may also charge fees to cover administrative costs and establish exemption processes for specific cases.
SB 366 creates a Municipal Firefighters' Bill of Rights in Alabama, establishing minimum standards for how municipal fire departments handle investigations and disciplinary actions against firefighters. The bill requires that firefighters be notified of pending personnel actions that could affect their pay or status, and it sets rules for investigations including allowing firefighters to have witnesses present, recording interrogations, and prohibiting threats or promises to induce answers. Additionally, the legislation prohibits requiring firefighters to disclose personal financial information for promotions or job assignments, allows off-duty political activity, and ensures firefighters cannot be penalized for exercising these rights. The act applies to public servants whose primary duty is fighting fires and providing fire protection services to municipalities.
This bill expands the types of single-dose epinephrine devices that public schools and authorized entities in Alabama can stock and use to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. Currently, only specific autoinjectable forms are approved, but this legislation would allow any FDA-approved single-dose premeasured epinephrine system to be carried and administered by students, school staff, and authorized personnel. The changes apply to students who self-administer medication under existing guidelines and to schools that maintain emergency response protocols for allergic reactions. Schools and staff members would remain protected from liability when using approved epinephrine devices in accordance with the bill's requirements.
This bill provides up to $203 million in federal funding to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs for the Rural Health Transformation Program during fiscal year 2027. The money is divided among ten specific health initiatives, including support for electronic health records, rural healthcare services, maternal health, workforce development, cancer care, emergency medical services, and mental health programs. The legislation also establishes rules for carrying over unspent funds to the next fiscal year and requires approval from federal officials before any money can be moved between different initiatives.
This bill, known as the Rural Health Antitrust Immunity Act, allows rural healthcare providers in Alabama to collaborate on activities like shared services, joint purchasing, and coordinated staffing to improve healthcare access and quality in rural areas. To receive this protection from state and federal antitrust laws, providers must obtain a certificate from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, which will review whether the collaboration is necessary to advance public health goals and outweighs any negative effects on competition. The bill requires that these certificates be approved by the Governor and are valid for three years, with ongoing oversight to ensure the collaborations continue to benefit rural communities. It specifically targets rural healthcare facilities facing challenges like provider shortages and facility closures by permitting regulated cooperation that would otherwise be considered anticompetitive.
This bill creates a three-tier system for classifying rural areas in Alabama based on population size, density, geographic isolation, and local economic characteristics. The tiers range from remote communities with under 2,500 residents to rural-adjacent areas with up to 20,000 residents, allowing state agencies to identify specific rural conditions rather than relying solely on countywide data. State agencies may use this classification to determine eligibility for programs, prioritize funding, adjust administrative requirements, and target resources to the most underserved communities. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and applies to municipalities, unincorporated communities, and census tracts regardless of whether they are located in metropolitan counties.
