This bill formally commends Paul H. Reynolds for his decades of public service and leadership within the Alabama Republican Party. The resolution recognizes his long history of political involvement, including his work in various presidential campaigns and his roles as a state and national party leader. It highlights his contributions to party development and his advocacy for constitutional issues like maintaining the Supreme Court's nine-justice structure. The bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors Reynolds' distinguished service but does not create new laws or policies.
This bill proposes a renewal process for Wilcox County, Alabama, to replace an expiring ad valorem tax that will end in 2027. The legislation authorizes the county commission to increase the local property tax rate by nine mills, raising the total from 10 mills to 19 mills, with the increase taking effect when the current tax expires. The additional tax revenue would be split between county general purposes and public schools, with two mills going to the county and seven mills to the school board. However, this tax increase requires voter approval at a future election before it can be implemented. The bill becomes effective on June 1, 2026, allowing time for the renewal process to be completed.
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the Covington County Sheriff to sell abandoned, stolen, and unclaimed personal property and firearms, with proceeds used for law enforcement. The amendment requires the sheriff to maintain public records of recovered items and store them properly, while allowing immediate sale of perishable property without notice if owners cannot be found. Firearms would be sold only to licensed gun dealers through sealed bidding, and other unclaimed property would be auctioned publicly after proper notice and a six-month waiting period. Owners can reclaim their property before sale by proving ownership and paying recovery and storage costs. If unclaimed after six months, net proceeds from sales would be deposited into a dedicated fund for the sheriff's office to use at their discretion for law enforcement purposes.
This bill is a Senate Joint Resolution that formally commends retired U.S. Army Colonel Shawn Thomas Prickett for his volunteer service to disabled veterans. The resolution recognizes his leadership as President of the National Whitetail Warrior Project, where he has organized over 230 veteran hunts across multiple states and helped raise more than $500,000 to fund these programs. The measure extends official appreciation from the Alabama Legislature for his work providing outdoor experiences and fellowship opportunities to veterans, with no changes to existing laws or policies.
This bill designates March 17, 2026, as Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Day in the State of Alabama. It recognizes the organization's history, noting its founding in 1911 and its presence with 33 chapters across Alabama. The resolution formally acknowledges the fraternity's contributions to civic and community life over more than a century. No laws or regulations are changed by this measure, as it serves only as a symbolic recognition.
This bill updates how money is managed in Lawrence County's Community Corrections and Court Services Fund by changing when surplus funds are transferred to the county's general budget and adjusting the timeline for remitting appearance bond deposits to the fund. It also clarifies when municipalities can join temporary release and related programs, requiring them to adopt a resolution that becomes effective at the start of the next fiscal quarter. The legislation repeals an older 1979 law to modernize these administrative procedures without changing the core purpose of the fund, which supports investigation, administration, and rehabilitation programs for defendants in Lawrence County.
HB 447 allows Montgomery County residents to file their wills directly with the county judge of probate. The bill requires the judge to maintain a confidential record of each will's filing and withdrawal dates, accessible only to the filer, their legal representative, or attorney before the filer's death. The public can view the docket listing filings, and the judge may charge a reasonable fee for this service. This law does not affect a person's ability to revoke a will or change its terms.
HB 431 imposes a 20% tax on companies storing carbon dioxide underground in designated wells (like those used for carbon capture projects), based on the market value of the stored CO2 at injection time. It directly affects businesses using underground storage facilities for carbon management, such as those operating Class VI wells regulated under federal law. The tax revenue is split equally: 50% goes to Alabama’s state General Fund, and the other 50% is distributed to the local county or municipality where the storage occurs, to be spent at the discretion of local officials. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026, and requires monthly tax payments to the state Department of Revenue.
HB 385 allows Tuscaloosa County's Tax Assessor and Tax Collector to create electronic filing procedures for business personal property tax returns. It requires certain businesses - those leasing property, owning $10,000+ in personal property assets, or using professional tax preparers - to file electronically starting October 1, 2026. The bill mandates that electronic returns include the same information as paper forms and follow existing electronic filing standards. It also requires the county to provide training and grant temporary exemptions for good cause.
HB 383 requires all new employees hired under Tuscaloosa County's civil service system to complete a 12-month probationary period before becoming permanent. It also allows the county's Civil Service Board to establish rules for hiring part-time employees to support efficient county operations. The bill repeals an outdated section (Section 9 of Act 49-357) related to temporary employees. This legislation directly affects county employees and hiring practices, taking effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 384 amends Tuscaloosa County's fee structure for personal delivery of court documents (service of process) by the sheriff's office. It sets a $60 fee per document for local civil cases (with $3 retained by the circuit clerk's office), and an $85 fee for out-of-state service requests. Fifty percent of the net fee collected goes to the sheriff's office, and the remaining 50% to the district attorney's office for operational costs. The bill makes technical updates to the existing law's language without changing fee amounts or coverage, effective June 1, 2026. It directly affects Tuscaloosa County residents and legal professionals handling civil court cases requiring personal service.
HB 430 authorizes the Montgomery County Judge of Probate to hold fundraising events like rodeos and use the proceeds for any lawful purpose related to their office operations. It directly affects Montgomery County's probate court, allowing the judge to generate revenue for administrative needs. The bill retroactively ratifies past fundraising activities conducted in compliance with this law and declares the measure "remedial and curative." The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
