SB 45 requires individuals applying for certain driver licenses in Alabama to present documentation proving lawful presence in the United States. This affects applicants seeking specific license classes under Section 32-6-18 of the Alabama Code of 1975. The bill revises licensing rules to invalidate licenses issued without this proof of lawful presence. The measure is currently pending committee review in the Alabama Senate.
SB 61 requires Alabama's Medicaid Agency and the State Department of Human Resources to verify eligibility for Medicaid and food assistance (SNAP) through regular data matching with state agencies, instead of accepting self-attested information. It prohibits using categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits (where eligibility for one program automatically qualifies for another) and mandates that SNAP income/asset standards align strictly with federal limits. The bill also requires monthly checks of death records, incarceration, and residency data, and quarterly reviews of employment and tax records to confirm ongoing eligibility. Additionally, it mandates public reporting of aggregated fraud investigation data and sets certification periods for SNAP benefits based on household characteristics.
SB 108 expands educational benefits for Alabama National Guard members by adding workforce development programs (like certifications and short-term training) to the existing tuition assistance program. It allows benefits to cover on-campus living expenses and meal plans, in addition to tuition. The bill removes the previous requirement for academic excellence benefits (which needed a 3.5 high school GPA and 3.0 college GPA) and revises eligibility rules for the program. These changes would directly affect National Guard members seeking non-degree career training or college degrees.
SB 176 allows circuit clerks in Alabama to participate in both a supernumerary program and the Employees' Retirement System, provided they qualify for each based on separate years of service. Currently, state law prevents circuit clerks from using the same service years for both programs. The bill adds a new section to Alabama law clarifying that clerks who independently qualify for both programs through distinct service periods may enroll in both. This change would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed. The bill directly affects Alabama circuit clerks who meet the separate service-year requirement for both retirement options.
This bill requires Alabama tax officials to issue a "tentative certificate" to disabled veterans with a 100% VA disability rating who provide proof of their rating, a home purchase agreement, and an affidavit confirming the property will be their primary residence. It prohibits lenders and settlement agents from including homestead property taxes in these veterans' debt-to-income ratio calculations when processing mortgage applications. The certificate allows eligible veterans - who already qualify for homestead tax exemptions under existing law (Sections 40-9-19/21) - to avoid having their property tax burden counted toward loan eligibility. This change directly affects disabled veterans with 100% VA disability ratings seeking home loans in Alabama.
SB 38 amends Alabama law to allow the Governor to remove executive officers from occupational and professional licensing boards, extending existing removal authority currently held for most executive branch appointees. The bill specifically adds these licensing board positions to the list of roles the Governor may remove "with or without cause," consistent with the current process for other state appointments. This change directly affects executives leading boards that regulate professions like nursing, law, or contracting, though it excludes individuals covered by the state Merit System. The bill does not alter the removal process but explicitly includes these board leaders under the Governor's authority.
SB 55 expands hiring preferences for military spouses in Alabama state employment. It adds spouses of active-duty service members (not just veterans) to receive five extra points on state job application tests, matching the existing preference for spouses of veterans. The bill also allows local governments and private employers to voluntarily offer similar hiring and promotion preferences to veterans and their spouses. This change updates Alabama's employment code to include active-duty spouses while making the policy available beyond state jobs.
SB 43 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Alabama's Legislature to revive civil claims related to child sexual abuse that were previously barred by time limits. It would enable the creation of procedures for survivors to pursue lawsuits even if filed after standard statute of limitations periods, including retroactive application to claims barred before, on, or after January 1, 2027. The amendment explicitly excludes claims already resolved through final judgments or signed settlements. It defines "child sexual abuse" as conduct directed at individuals under 19 that would be punishable under Alabama's criminal laws. This is a procedural constitutional change currently pending committee review in the Alabama Senate.
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.
