Alabama Bills

HR 342 is a resolution honoring senior athlete Makayla Amador for her outstanding performance, securing three sectional titles in track and field. It also commends the Skyline High School varsity girls track and field team for their exemplary skill and achievements.

HB 387 revises the rules for how local governments can adjust their sales tax on food. Currently, counties and municipalities can reduce their local sales tax rate on food by a maximum of 25%, but only if their general fund grew by over two percent in the prior year. This bill would eliminate both that 25 percent limit on the rate reduction and the requirement to meet the growth target. This change would give county and municipal governing bodies more flexibility in setting their local sales tax rates on food.

HR 316 is a resolution from the Alabama House of Representatives that mourns the death and celebrates the life of Alexis Herman. The resolution recognizes her impactful career as a public servant, including her historic role as the first African American U.S. Secretary of Labor.

HB 53 creates a rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody and equal or approximately equal parenting time with both parents is in the best interest of the child. It requires courts to document their reasons if they deviate from this presumption and establishes uniform guidelines for other custody arrangements. The bill mandates that all parties in custody matters submit a parenting plan, outlining remedies like makeup parenting time for non-adherence. Additionally, it removes outdated language regarding a husband's automatic custody in cases of abandonment by the wife.

HB 273, known as the Hunger-Free Campus Act, establishes a program for public and private higher education institutions in Alabama to be designated as "hunger-free campuses." Administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, the bill outlines an application process for institutions to qualify for this designation. Institutions that receive the designation become eligible for competitive grants awarded by the commission, with certain grants prioritized. The act aims to support efforts by colleges and universities to address food insecurity among their students.

HR 318 is a resolution by the Alabama House of Representatives commemorating the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel. It expresses the House's support for Israel's right to self-defense and urges the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza. The resolution also reaffirms the relationship between Alabama and Israel and congratulates Robert Shwartzman as the first Israeli IndyCar driver competing in Alabama.

HB 414 revises the financial audit requirements for municipalities in Alabama based on their annual expenditures. It increases the threshold for mandatory annual audits from $300,000 to $500,000 in annual expenditures. Municipalities with annual expenditures between $300,000 and $500,000 will now be required to undergo biennial audits. Additionally, the bill allows municipalities with less than $300,000 in annual expenditures to submit an annual financial report to the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts instead of a biennial audit, a change from the previous $100,000 threshold. These adjustments aim to modify the frequency and type of financial oversight for various municipalities.

HB 472 proposes an adjustment to the meal allowance for state employees in Alabama. The bill specifically increases the meal allowance for state employees from 15 percent to 17.5 percent of the regular per diem rate for official trips lasting between six and 12 hours. This change directly affects state employees who travel for state business and is set to become effective on October 1, 2025.

House Bill 388 proposes to increase the income tax exemption for certain individuals in Alabama. Specifically, it would raise the amount of taxable retirement income exempt from state income taxes for individuals aged 65 or older. The bill increases this exemption from the current $6,000 to $12,000. This change directly affects older Alabamians receiving taxable retirement income.

HB 297 requires money transmission businesses in Alabama to collect a 4% fee on outgoing international electronic wire transfers from customers, effective January 1, 2026. These collected fees are deposited into a new Wire Transfer Fee Fund managed by the Alabama Securities Commission. The funds are then distributed quarterly to county sheriffs for immigration law enforcement, to the State Department of Education for English language learner programs in public K-12 schools, and to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The bill also authorizes an income tax credit for the amount of fees paid by taxpayers.

SB 85 modifies the process for obtaining religious exemptions from vaccine and testing requirements for students in Alabama. It allows K-12 students, through a parent or guardian, and students at public institutions of higher education to obtain an exemption by submitting a written statement affirming a sincerely held religious belief. The bill specifies that no additional forms, fees, or documentation may be required from the student or parent/guardian to secure enrollment based on this religious exemption. This applies to both public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher education.

HB 46 proposes to replace the existing income tax credit for physicians, including rural physicians, with a new one. The bill will establish specific definitions related to this new physician income tax credit. It also adjusts the termination date for the credit, repealing the former credit's associated legal sections on December 31, 2030. This aims to update tax incentives for medical professionals.