HB 297 would expand the city limits of Monroeville, Alabama, to include specific areas along State Highway 21, U.S. Highway 84, and State Highway 136 in Monroe County. The bill details precise boundary descriptions for these highway corridors, adding adjacent lands to the city's corporate limits. This change would directly affect property owners within the newly included areas, as they would come under Monroeville's municipal jurisdiction. The bill requires a public map of the proposed boundaries to be available at the Monroe County probate office and takes effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 90 lowers the license fee for Alabama residents who already hold certain other seafood licenses (such as fishing permits under specific sections of state law). Instead of paying $465, these individuals would pay $265 for a seafood dealer license. The bill also makes this fee change retroactive, allowing license holders to adjust past payments made at the higher rate starting October 1, 2025. This directly affects existing license holders in Alabama’s seafood industry who operate under multiple permits.
HB 254 prohibits Alabama law enforcement officers from stopping or boarding vessels solely to conduct safety or marine sanitation equipment inspections. This directly affects vessel operators on Alabama waters and law enforcement agencies that previously performed such routine checks. The bill requires officers to have another legal reason beyond inspection purposes to stop a vessel. It takes effect on June 1, 2026.
HB 274 authorizes Alabama's Department of Corrections to take reasonable actions against unauthorized drones near correctional facilities, including jamming (within federal limits), hacking, physical capture, or other measures to disrupt drone operations. It directly affects prison security operations by granting the Department specific tools to address drone threats, such as potential contraband smuggling. The bill requires all actions to comply with federal law and specifies these measures are limited to neutralizing drone threats. The law will take effect on June 1, 2026.
HB 331 increases Blount County's lodging tax from 4% to 5% of room charges for short-term stays (under 30 days) and authorizes an additional $3 per room per night tax. It affects hotels, motels, and similar lodging businesses in Blount County that rent to transients. The tax will be collected like the state lodging tax, with proceeds deposited into the county tourism fund to support tourism promotion, park maintenance, beautification projects, and covered bridge upkeep. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 168 prohibits Alabama public K-12 schools from using the "three-cueing system" (which teaches reading through meaning, sentence structure, and visual cues) for foundational reading skills like decoding and word recognition. Instead, it requires all reading materials and teacher training to use evidence-based "structured literacy" methods focused on phonics, phonemic awareness, and systematic instruction. The law applies to textbooks, instructional materials, and educator preparation programs, banning visual memory strategies for word recognition while allowing context and vocabulary support for comprehension. It takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year, with violations requiring public notification by the State Board of Education.
HB 300 requires all health insurance plans sold in Alabama that cover breast exams to provide screening and diagnostic mammograms without charging deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It directly affects Alabama residents with health insurance, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary breast screenings under the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines. The bill covers both routine screening exams (for high-risk individuals) and diagnostic exams (to evaluate abnormalities), but excludes limited policies like dental-only or Medicare supplements. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
HB 359 amends Alabama's Sweet Home Alabama Tourism Investment Act to clarify that a $2.5 million annual tax rebate is supplemental to the initial award, not a replacement. It directly affects tourism companies seeking tax rebates for certified projects like resorts, attractions, or entertainment complexes. The bill requires these companies to document actual project costs through certification by an independent CPA, ensuring transparency about expenses. This change aims to verify that rebate amounts align with verified project investments, rather than estimated costs.
SB 230 modifies Alabama's campaign finance rules to allow campaign funds to cover specific security costs for candidates, elected officials, and their immediate families or staff. It permits using contributions for cybersecurity services (like removing personal data from data brokers), home security devices (locks, cameras, alarms - excluding property value improvements), and security personnel. The bill explicitly defines "security expenses" to prevent misuse of funds for non-security purposes. This change applies directly to political campaigns and officeholders seeking to protect themselves or their close associates. The bill is currently pending in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee.
SB 200 renames Alabama’s "Office of Minority Affairs" to the "Office of Civic Engagement" and updates related legal references throughout state code. The bill makes no changes to the office’s duties, purpose, or funding - it continues to advise the Governor on issues affecting minorities (including women) in areas like education, health, and economic opportunity. It only adjusts terminology in statutes to reflect the new name, such as changing "Minority Affairs" to "Civic Engagement" in sections governing the office’s structure and advisory committee. This is a purely procedural renaming with no substantive policy shifts.
HB 96 increases Alabama's homestead exemption to $56,400 for residents aged 62 or older and individuals with disabilities, up from the current $15,000. It changes bankruptcy rules so the exemption amount used is based on the date a bankruptcy petition is filed - not the date the debt was incurred. This bill directly affects seniors and disabled Alabama residents by providing greater protection for their primary homes against creditors and bankruptcy-related debt collection. The law also updates related legal language to reflect these changes while maintaining the existing 160-acre property size limit for homestead protection.
SJR 64 is a commemorative resolution honoring the life and legacy of Jo Ann Blackmon Bland, a Selma, Alabama civil rights activist who died on February 19, 2026. The resolution recognizes her childhood involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, her participation in Bloody Sunday (1965), her role in founding the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, and her community work. It expresses the legislature's "overwhelming sense of loss" while celebrating her contributions to justice, education, and preserving civil rights history. The resolution does not create any new laws or policies - it is purely a ceremonial tribute to her life and work.
