SB 324 authorizes Tallapoosa County's Judge of Probate to charge a fee for remote digital access to court records (like property deeds or marriage licenses). The fee, collected from users, must be deposited into a special fund to maintain and improve the county's record-keeping systems and remote access services. The bill also retroactively confirms that any similar fees collected before this law took effect were valid. This applies only to Tallapoosa County and becomes effective June 1, 2026.
HB 522 changes Cullman County's commission meeting schedule and structure. It requires the county commission to hold at least one meeting each month after 6:00 p.m. to improve public access, while also restructuring the commission from three members to a chair plus four associate commissioners elected by district. The bill specifies that associate commissioners must live in their districts, with staggered terms (two-year initial terms for two districts), and the chair serves full-time while associate members serve part-time. This affects all Cullman County residents who attend meetings or vote for county commissioners, effective October 1, 2026.
HB 429 prohibits operating drones (unmanned aircraft systems) near ticketed entertainment events, including middle and high school sports events. The bill creates a new criminal offense for violating this ban, directly affecting drone operators who fly near such venues. Key provisions expand the existing prohibition to explicitly cover school athletic events, which were previously excluded. The bill is currently pending committee review in the House of Origin and has not yet become law.
HB 125 lowers the minimum age for Alabama's ReEngage Alabama Grant Program from 25 to 22 years old, expanding eligibility to younger adult learners. It also creates a new eligibility path for students who previously earned an associate degree, took a two-year break from college, and are now pursuing their first bachelor's degree without having received a grant before. The bill does not change the grant amounts ($3,000 per semester for universities, $1,500 for community colleges) or other core program rules. This directly affects Alabama residents aged 22-24 who are returning to college for their first bachelor's degree after an associate degree and a two-year gap. The bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.
SB 215 modifies Alabama's requirement for residential home builders to disclose liability insurance status to homeowners before construction begins. If a builder has insurance, the disclosure only needs signatures from the builder and homeowner (no witness required). If a builder lacks insurance, the disclosure must still be signed by both parties and attested by a witness. This bill directly affects home builders and homeowners in residential construction contracts across Alabama. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill changes how Alabama courts review state agency interpretations of laws. Currently, courts may assume agency interpretations are correct, but the bill would require courts to treat reasonable agency interpretations favorably without presuming they are right. It directly affects state agencies (like environmental or health departments) and courts handling administrative law cases. The key change replaces existing language to emphasize that courts must consider the meaning and effect of agency actions without bias toward correctness, focusing instead on whether interpretations are reasonable. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee.
HB 124 renames Alabama's AMSTEP program to the LASEA Program (Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama) and expands eligibility to include educators certified in any subject designated as having an acute shortage by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). The bill provides standard loan assistance to educators certified in shortage subjects and adds supplemental payments for those teaching in public K-12 schools or systems identified as having acute educator shortages. ACHE, in consultation with the State Department of Education, determines which subjects and school locations qualify as "acute shortage" areas. The program aims to attract and retain teachers in high-need fields and schools through targeted financial support.
SB 185 allows transit authorities in Alabama counties with populations of 600,000 or more to join business organizations focused on transit operations, land acquisitions, and related activities. It authorizes these authorities to create subsidiaries and arrange loans for such business ventures. Crucially, the bill specifies that these business organizations cannot exercise eminent domain powers. The changes update Alabama law to better support transit authority partnerships while maintaining legal safeguards.
SB 170 creates a "safe harbor" to protect health insurance plans that qualify for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) from conflicting state or federal rules. It ensures these plans remain eligible for federal HSA benefits by requiring that cost-sharing rules (like copays) only apply after the federal minimum deductible is met. The bill directly affects individuals enrolled in high-deductible health plans that allow HSA contributions, preventing state mandates or federal guidance from disqualifying their plans. It requires Alabama's Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules implementing this protection, maintaining federal HSA eligibility for enrollees.
HB 189 requires Alabama juvenile courts to send written notice within seven days to a school superintendent or private school principal when a student enrolled in K-12 is charged with or found delinquent for certain serious offenses (like murder, rape, or Class A/B felonies). It also allows courts to notify schools if a student is charged with any other offense that would be a crime if committed by an adult. The notice must include the offense details and case disposition, and school staff receiving it must keep the information confidential solely for supporting the student's rehabilitation or protecting others. This directly affects school officials who must handle such notifications and students involved in juvenile court cases for specific criminal acts.
HB 289 would prohibit Alabama state-issued death certificates from including the date of burial or cremation (referred to as "date of disposition" in the bill). Currently, death certificates list this date alongside the manner and location of disposition, but the bill would remove this requirement. The Alabama Department of Public Health, which issues death certificates, would no longer include this information on state-administered forms. The change is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 362 revises the job duties for legal positions within the Alabama National Guard's Legal Services Office. It specifically clarifies responsibilities for roles including State Staff Judge Advocates, General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, and various Associate General Counsels. The bill details their duties in areas like military justice, contract and financial advice, legal training, and supporting military personnel matters. These changes affect only internal National Guard legal staff, not the public or external entities. The bill aims to streamline legal service delivery within the Guard's structure by updating role descriptions.
