This bill requires owners of large solar energy projects in Alabama to register with the state Department of Environmental Management every three years and pay a $5,000 filing fee. It mandates that project operators submit detailed plans for shutting down and restoring the land, along with financial guarantees like bonds to cover these costs. The law also gives the department authority to take over decommissioning and restoration if a project is abandoned, using money from a newly created state fund. These rules apply specifically to ground-mounted solar projects covering at least two acres that connect to the electrical grid, excluding smaller systems used for personal energy needs.
This bill directs the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate to meet in a joint session on March 19, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in the House Chamber to recognize Military Appreciation Day. The legislation applies to all members of the state legislature who will attend the session. The primary mechanism is a formal resolution scheduling the joint meeting for the specific purpose of honoring military service. No additional policy changes or funding provisions are included in this measure.
This bill is a resolution honoring Ruther Lee Averett on the occasion of her 90th birthday. It formally recognizes her life achievements, including her long marriage, dedication to her family and church, and her career in textile manufacturing. The resolution expresses appreciation for her faith, resilience, and contributions to her community but does not create any new laws or policies.
This bill requires law enforcement agencies across Alabama to annually report the number of sworn officers they employ to the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Commission. The reports must be submitted by July 1, 2026, and February 1 each year thereafter, and must include details about whether officers are certified by the state's peace officers standards commission. The information collected will be shared with the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency and Attorney General, who will compile and publish the data on their official website. Agencies that fail to submit these reports face penalties including fines, potential removal of officials from office, and loss of eligibility for state grant funding. The bill also authorizes the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to create rules to implement these reporting requirements.
This bill expands the definition of vehicle protection products in Alabama to include individual component parts of a vehicle, such as engines, transmissions, and body panels. The change ensures that existing consumer protection rules for vehicle protection products now apply to warranties covering these specific parts. Companies selling warranties for vehicle components must comply with the same regulations that currently govern warranties for devices like alarm systems and tracking equipment. The law clarifies that these warranties are not insurance and must provide reimbursement for incidental costs if the protected component fails to perform as promised.
This bill strengthens the CHOOSE Act in Alabama by creating legal enforcement mechanisms to protect students who use educational savings accounts from discrimination in interscholastic athletics. It allows parents, students, or participating schools to sue athletic associations if they deny athletic eligibility based solely on a student's CHOOSE Act status. The law permits courts to issue injunctions to ensure participation, award damages for economic harm, and grant reasonable attorney fees to successful plaintiffs. These provisions apply to all athletic associations regulating K-12 sports in Alabama, including the state high school athletic association.
This bill allows licensed swimming pool contractors in Alabama to request that local government officials perform required inspections for pool construction, repair, or maintenance projects. The provision applies only when the work is done by the contractor, their employees, or subcontractors under the contractor's supervision. If approved, this change would take effect on October 1, 2026, and would streamline the inspection process for qualifying contractors by giving them the option to schedule inspections directly through local authorities rather than through separate channels.
This bill creates the Student Athlete Eligibility and Career Transition Act, requiring Alabama public high schools to track the academic and athletic progress of all students starting in ninth grade to monitor NCAA eligibility. Schools must designate staff to oversee this tracking, provide annual updates to students and families, and develop individualized transition plans by eleventh grade that outline paths to college, military service, or workforce entry. The State Department of Education will create implementation guidelines, offer training resources to schools, and report annually on compliance and outcomes beginning in 2027.
This bill establishes a new in-person early voting system for Alabama's general and special elections, allowing voters to cast paper ballots without needing an excuse. It requires each county to set up early voting centers with specific operating hours, starting 10 days before election day and ending 5 days before, with centers open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Sundays which open at 1 p.m. The legislation mandates that counties maintain at least one center per 100,000 residents and ensures proper staffing and equipment including tabulator machines. The Secretary of State must create rules to prevent duplicate voting and integrate early voting locations into the state's voter information system.
This bill proposes to increase the meal allowance for state employees traveling within Alabama for six to 12 hours from 15 percent to 17.5 percent of the regular per diem rate. The change directly affects state workers on official business who do not require an overnight stay and are traveling for a duration between six and 12 hours. The bill amends existing state law to update this specific reimbursement calculation while maintaining other travel expense rules. The new provisions would take effect on October 1, 2026, and apply uniformly to all state employees traveling on official business within the state.
This bill is a recognition resolution that honors the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, as its members celebrate the 2026 Alabama State Conference. The resolution acknowledges the fraternity's history as a historically African-American organization founded in 1914 and its growth into an international service-oriented group with over 225,000 members worldwide. It extends formal tribute to the fraternity's contributions to education, business development, and community service throughout Alabama. The measure does not change laws or policies but serves as a ceremonial gesture of appreciation and well-wishes for the fraternity's upcoming conference at Auburn University at Montgomery.
This bill is a resolution to formally record the death of Calvin Miller II, a veteran and community leader from Huntsville, Alabama. It honors his military service in the U.S. Army and his extensive contributions to Freemasonry and his local church. The resolution expresses condolences to his family and celebrates his life through a formal legislative tribute.
