Alabama Bills

This bill would allow pharmacies in Alabama to sell consumable hemp products without needing a license from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, shifting regulatory oversight to the Alabama Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacies must still follow safety requirements for testing, labeling, and packaging, and sales can only occur under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist to customers aged 21 and older. The law also clarifies that food stores selling hemp beverages must meet specific space and separation requirements, while pharmacies selling topical or sublingual products remain subject to existing ABC Board rules.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Chambers County, Alabama to collect a two-mill property tax specifically to fund volunteer fire departments. Property owners in areas served by paid municipal fire departments can opt out of the tax if their local government chooses to do so. The collected funds would be distributed to volunteer fire associations based on the area they serve and can only be used for equipment, supplies, and operational costs, not for paying salaries or administrative expenses. The amendment would be voted on by voters in a statewide election scheduled for November 2026.

This bill establishes the Main Street Revival Act to support economic development in small Alabama towns with populations under 25,000. It creates four grant programs administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help businesses start or expand, preserve historic commercial buildings, support temporary retail spaces and business mentorship, and assist local governments with updating zoning and land use regulations. Additionally, the bill creates a 25 percent income tax credit for property owners who renovate eligible vacant or underutilized commercial properties. Funding for these programs depends on future legislative appropriations, and the law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

This bill proposes to exempt Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc. and JHC Pharmacy, LLC from all state, county, and municipal fees and taxes. The exemption would apply for a five-year period starting May 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2031. The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage, removing the requirement for these two healthcare entities to pay various local and state taxes during the specified timeframe.

This bill creates the Rural Allied Health Professional Workforce Expansion Act to address shortages of allied health workers in rural Alabama communities by establishing new funding and training programs. It provides tuition grants for students in eligible allied health programs and offers loan forgiveness for graduates who commit to working in medically underserved areas for at least two years, with priority given to those with rural backgrounds. The legislation also establishes a Rural Clinical Training Partnership Fund to support health programs in creating rural clinical training agreements, recruiting rural preceptors, and delivering specialized training, while creating paid internships with up to $5,000 in stipends for students completing rural clinical experiences.

This bill establishes the Rural Industry Reshoring and Reinvestment Act to attract manufacturing and supply chain companies to rural areas of Alabama by offering financial incentives. It creates a tax credit program that provides eligible businesses with up to 5% of qualifying payroll for up to 10 years when they create at least 15 full-time jobs with wages at or above the county median, plus an additional 10% bonus for projects that replace imported supply chains. The legislation also sets up a grant program to fund infrastructure improvements like roads, utilities, and broadband at rural industrial sites, with a separate grant for job creation based on the number of new positions. The Department of Commerce will designate specific rural areas as opportunity zones based on population and economic indicators, and these designations will be reviewed every three years.

This bill requires public K-12 schools in Alabama to equip designated employees with mobile emergency rapid response devices by October 1, 2030, and to train staff on their use. The devices must directly connect to emergency services and provide precise location data within school buildings and grounds. The State Superintendent of Education will create a list of approved vendors for these systems, and schools may use existing security and technology funds to purchase them. The law applies to teachers, administrators, custodial staff, coaches, and other personnel who have access to students during the school day.

This bill requires Alabama's Department of Agriculture and Industries to create programs supporting farmers, ranchers, and agricultural cooperatives by providing grants for infrastructure like cold storage and processing equipment. It mandates the department to offer training in business development, food safety compliance, and direct sales strategies to eligible producers. The legislation also authorizes matching funds for marketing and market participation, grants for building regional food hubs and shared kitchens, and establishes a revolving loan fund for infrastructure investment. All funding programs are subject to future legislative appropriation and include cost-sharing requirements for applicants.

This bill creates a new Community Health Worker Certification Board in Alabama to oversee the training and certification of community health workers, who serve as liaisons between health services and community members. The legislation establishes a core competency framework for these workers and authorizes training programs through public K-12 schools, colleges, and other approved providers. It also creates a state fund to support the board and sets rules for when certification is required, including standards for using the certified title and disciplinary measures. Additionally, the bill requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency to seek federal approval to allow Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by certified community health workers.

This bill establishes the Rural Maternal and Infant Health Equity Act to improve birth outcomes in rural Alabama communities by expanding access to prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. It creates a new state fund to support grants for midwifery and doula services, requires Medicaid and private insurers to cover these services, and establishes a training program to recruit obstetric providers to rural areas. The legislation also provides capital grants for building rural birth centers and modernizing hospital obstetric units, while funding locally led maternal health partnerships that offer home visits and mobile clinics.

This bill creates the R&D Tax Credit Enhancement Act to provide income tax credits for organizations in Alabama that invest in research and development, specifically targeting health sciences, biotechnology, and university-based research. The program would offer a 10% tax credit on qualified research expenses, with higher 15% credits for collaborative research involving in-state academic institutions and up to $250,000 in refundable or transferable credits for startups and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The Department of Revenue would administer the program, which is capped at $30 million annually, and publish annual reports on the number of credits issued and the sectors receiving support. The bill would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2027, and would require a streamlined application process for eligible organizations to claim the credits.

This bill establishes a formal process for creating a new regional health care authority from an existing one in Alabama, allowing counties or municipalities to split their current health care services into separate entities. It requires the original and new authority boards to negotiate a separation plan that divides facilities, assets, and liabilities fairly, with binding arbitration available if they cannot agree. The legislation mandates that the new authority have a distinct board of directors and outlines specific steps for transferring ownership of hospitals and other health care resources. Additionally, it sets a 12-month timeline for finalizing the separation plan and requires regular progress reports to the Judge of Probate.