HB 494 proposes changes to the compensation structure for the Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, and their key deputies in Jefferson County. Beginning October 1, 2027, the base annual salary for the Jefferson County Tax Assessor and Tax Collector will be set at 110 percent of the highest annual salary of any merit system employee in their respective offices. This base annual salary will be adjusted yearly and can increase but not decrease after this date. The bill also updates and removes obsolete language related to previous expense allowances and fixed salaries for these positions.
HB 537 modifies the process for preliminary hearings in criminal cases. Currently, individuals arrested for a felony have a right to a preliminary hearing to determine if there's enough evidence to proceed before being formally charged. This bill proposes that a pretrial detention hearing, specifically one held for certain serious offenses covered by "Aniah's Law," would satisfy this existing right. This means that for these specific felony cases, one hearing could serve as both a pretrial detention review and the required preliminary hearing.
HB 247, titled the "Gulf of America Act," renames the Gulf of Mexico for all official purposes within the state. Beginning October 1, 2025, state and local government entities and employees would be required to use this new name where practicable. Compliance is not mandated if it imposes an operational or financial burden on the entity. Public K-12 schools and universities are permitted to continue using "Gulf of Mexico" for historical academic instruction.
SR 89 is a procedural resolution adopted by the Alabama Senate. It establishes a special order of business for the twenty-seventh legislative day, prioritizing a specific list of House Bills for consideration over other regular or pending business. This resolution dictates the agenda for that legislative day, affecting the flow of legislative work within the Senate.
SB 187 requires app store providers to verify the age of users and obtain verifiable parental consent for minors to download or purchase apps and make in-app purchases. It mandates that app stores affiliate minor accounts with parent accounts and notify both users and parents of significant app changes, requiring renewed parental consent for minors. The bill also requires app store providers to share age and consent status with developers and protect personal age verification data. Violations can be pursued by the Attorney General as deceptive trade practices.
HR 317 is a resolution that commends the students of Alabama State University's GEAR UP program. It specifically acknowledges their dedication, enthusiasm, and talent displayed during their participation in the Zion Global STEAM and Leadership Academy, highlighting achievements such as building an underwater robot.
HR 296 is a resolution from the Alabama House of Representatives that commends the Park Crossing High School Girls Basketball Team. It congratulates the team and their coaches for winning the 2025 Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A State Championship.
House Resolution 297 is a commemorative resolution that honors the life and legacy of Sheriff Joe Wheeler Patterson. It recognizes his decades of public service, including his military service in the Korean War, his career with the Huntsville Police Department, and his four terms as Sheriff of Madison County, Alabama.
HB 592, relating to Henry County, abolishes the Southeast Alabama Human Development Council. This bill transfers all duties previously held by the council to the Alabama Department of Youth Services. It also repeals the specific section of the Code of Alabama that originally established the council, with an effective date of June 1, 2025.
HB 576 authorizes the Sheriff of Jackson County to establish procedures for using a credit card or debit card to make purchases of tangible personal property or services for the sheriff's office. The bill requires the sheriff to adopt written policies, including monetary limits for individual and total monthly purchases, and procedures for secure card access, accurate record-keeping, and timely bill payment. Any rewards or rebates earned from card use must be deposited into the sheriff's discretionary account. This measure provides a new payment method for authorized purchases without increasing spending limits or creating debt for the Jackson County Commission.
SB 315 modifies how funds from the Alabama 21st Century Fund, sourced from tobacco settlement revenues, can be used. It allows revenues not needed for the Alabama 21st Century Authority's bond debt service to instead cover other project costs and debt service for bonds issued by the State Industrial Development Authority. Additionally, the bill mandates a one-time transfer of $5,000,000 from the fund to the Alabama Department of Commerce. These transferred funds are designated for establishing international offices, enhancing rural development strategies, and covering associated operational and personnel costs.
HB 572 authorizes the Escambia County Commission to implement an additional annual fee on motor vehicle registrations, transfers, and renewals. This fee, which can be up to five dollars ($5) per vehicle, would apply to vehicles in Escambia County starting with the registration year commencing January 1, 2026. The county's license issuing official would collect this fee in addition to existing charges. All proceeds from this new fee would be distributed monthly to the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund.
