SB 81 would require dental insurance companies in Alabama to spend at least 75% of premiums collected on individual dental care claims and 83% on group plans. Insurers failing to meet these thresholds must refund the difference to policyholders. The bill also mandates that insurers publicly report their financial data, including claims payments and expenses, to the Insurance Commissioner. This applies to standalone dental plans sold by commercial insurers, excluding self-funded plans, Medicare Advantage, and certain state-run programs.
SB 96 requires Alabama's Governor to certify that an immediate threat to public health, safety, or welfare justifies an emergency rule before it can take effect. This bill directly affects state agencies that issue emergency rules under the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act. Currently, agencies can adopt emergency rules for urgent threats without full notice, but this bill adds a mandatory Governor certification step before such rules become effective. The certification requirement applies to all emergency rules, ensuring executive oversight before they take effect, while maintaining the existing 120-day limit for emergency rules.
SB 142 expands Alabama's reckless endangerment law by adding a new provision for conduct creating a substantial risk of serious injury to multiple people, which would be punishable as a Class C felony. It also increases penalties for using a firearm during such an offense, elevating it to a Class B felony. The bill directly affects individuals who recklessly endanger multiple people or use weapons while committing reckless endangerment. These changes would take effect on October 1, 2026, modifying existing penalties under Alabama Code Section 13A-6-24.
SB 148 requires Alabama municipalities to use a formal council ordinance - not a resolution - to impose new taxes or increase existing tax/fee rates. It mandates a 30-day public notice period before any hearing on such tax changes, including details like the tax amount, hearing date/time, and where to access the proposal. The bill applies to all cities and towns in Alabama, directly affecting local governments that need to change tax structures. Key requirements include publishing notice in local newspapers, posting online, and holding a public hearing before final adoption, with the law taking effect October 1, 2026.
SB 181 allows Alabama's Administrative Office of Courts to create a nonprofit entity to manage judicial education funding. This nonprofit would collect nonpublic funds (not state money) for judge and court staff training, hold those funds outside the state treasury (with annual audits), and receive state funds for educational purposes. The nonprofit would operate under the Administrative Office of Courts and be staffed by its employees. It directly affects judicial education programs for judges, court staff, and related personnel. The bill primarily changes how funding for judicial education is structured and administered.
SB 187 revises Alabama's Business and Nonprofit Entities Code to clarify procedures and correct technical errors. It directly affects all Alabama business corporations, nonprofits, registered agents, and their officers, directors, and shareholders. Key provisions include requiring registered agents to perform duties in person (not virtually), streamlining processes for foreign entities withdrawing from Alabama, establishing clear rules for records requests with expedited court review if ignored, and creating safe harbor procedures for resolving conflicts of interest involving officers or directors. The bill formalizes existing common law practices without creating new substantive requirements.
HB 353 requires Alabama school districts to create an "Advanced Math Pathway" to prepare students for Algebra I in middle school and college-level math in high school. It automatically enrolls students who score proficient or higher on state math assessments (grades 5-11) but allows parents to opt their child in or out of the pathway. School districts must provide transparent information to families about math pathways, offer academic support for students in the pathway, and report annually to the legislature on enrollment, performance, and support usage. The bill directly affects students in grades 5-11, parents/guardians (through enrollment choices), and school districts (through implementation and reporting requirements).
HB 354 establishes a workforce talent recruitment grant program administered by Alabama's Department of Economic and Community Affairs. It provides grants to eligible municipalities, counties, and economic development nonprofits to incentivize households earning at least $55,000 annually to relocate to Alabama from outside the state. Grant recipients must submit detailed plans with household relocation targets and demonstrate 20% cost-sharing, with funds disbursed in two phases tied to meeting half the target. The bill creates a dedicated "Talent Recruitment Program Grant Fund" to manage funding, requiring semiannual reports on relocation outcomes and economic impact. The program aims to attract new residents and boost local economies through structured relocation incentives.
SB 208 removes a requirement that state rural electrification authorities and electric membership corporations must get written approval from Alabama's Department of Finance before issuing bonds. Currently, these entities must file a petition, hold a public hearing, and secure departmental consent before bond sales. The bill eliminates this approval process, streamlining how these organizations finance rural power infrastructure projects. This change directly affects rural utilities responsible for delivering electricity in underserved Alabama areas. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 132 allows specific Class 8 municipalities in Alabama (with 25,000+ population and corporate limits spanning two counties) to opt out of their county personnel board's jurisdiction after providing six months' notice. If a municipality opts out, it must create its own civil service system that protects current employees' rights and prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or political views. The bill repeals a prior law that permitted similar opt-outs and confirms retroactive application for municipalities already operating under that older law. This directly affects eligible municipalities seeking greater control over local personnel decisions while maintaining employee protections.
SB 125 creates a state income tax credit for Alabama restaurants that donate oyster shells to approved recycling programs. Restaurants can claim a credit of $1 for every 50 pounds of shells donated, up to a maximum of $2,000 per business annually, with a total annual cap of $100,000 across all restaurants. The credit applies to tax years 2026 through 2030 and requires restaurants to maintain records for verification. This policy directly affects restaurants participating in oyster shell recycling, incentivizing them to support coastal conservation efforts through tax benefits.
SB 117 allows Alabama counties to expand their existing simplified procurement programs to cover purchases of services (such as consulting or maintenance) in addition to physical goods. It also permits county commissions to consider "administrative savings" (like reduced paperwork or faster processing) alongside cost savings when evaluating these programs. The bill further enables counties to appoint someone other than the chief administrative officer to manage procurement program oversight. This update modifies Alabama Code Section 11-3-61 to provide greater flexibility in how local governments handle purchasing decisions.
