This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Covington County residents aged 65 or older to claim a property tax exemption on their primary home. To qualify, homeowners must have owned and lived in the home as their principal residence for at least five years before applying. The exemption freezes the property's assessed value at the 2026 level (for claims starting October 2027), preventing tax increases due to rising home values, though local tax rate changes still apply. Homeowners must submit a written application to the county revenue commissioner between October 1 and December 31, 2027, to activate the exemption.
SB 301 establishes a new voting center in Perry County at the National Guard Armory (620 Magnolia Street, Marion, AL 36756) to serve voters in Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. The bill creates a physical location for voting operations, effective immediately upon enactment. This procedural bill directly affects Perry County residents in those four districts by providing a new facility for in-person voting.
HB 273 allows municipal employees to receive community development block grant funds (even when funds flow through the city treasury) if they meet two conditions: the benefit must be identical to what other recipients receive, and the employee cannot have any role in deciding who gets the funds. It specifically excludes elected municipal officials from this exception. The bill amends Alabama law to clarify this exception while maintaining existing restrictions on municipal employees having financial interests in city contracts. Violations would be punishable as misdemeanors with fines up to $1,000. The bill is pending in committee and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.
HJR 51 establishes the Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Children's Internet Safety to examine how AI, social media, and internet access affect children. The commission, composed of diverse members including legislators, state officials, mental health representatives, and industry stakeholders, will study these impacts, research other states' approaches to child safety online, and develop legislative recommendations. It must submit a final report with findings and proposed legislation to the Alabama Legislature by November 1, 2026. This resolution creates a research body - not a law - and directly affects future policy discussions about children's online safety in Alabama.
HJR 128 is a ceremonial resolution commending former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett for his contributions to advancing "virtue and education." It amends an existing resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to specifically include this commendation. The bill does not create new laws or affect any policies, programs, or individuals beyond honoring Bennett. As a procedural resolution, it is currently pending committee review in the House.
HB 467 changes compensation for members of the Tallassee City Board of Education. Currently unpaid, board members will receive a monthly allowance of up to $900 starting after board approval, and this allowance will convert to a salary effective June 1, 2026. The bill updates existing code language to reflect this change while maintaining the board's structure and election rules. It directly affects the seven members of Tallassee's school board.
HB 213 changes the official name of Alabama's port authority from "Alabama State Port Authority" to "Alabama Port Authority" throughout state law. It directs the Code Commissioner to update all references to "State Port Authority," "Alabama State Docks Department," and "Alabama State Port Authority" in the Code of Alabama to the new name. The bill repeals outdated 1975 laws establishing the authority (Chapter 13 of Title 33) because those provisions are now obsolete, but it does not dissolve the current port authority or alter its operations. This is a procedural name update to modernize legal references.
HB 356 transfers Houston County's responsibility for selling or redeeming land due to unpaid property taxes from the judge of probate to the revenue commissioner. This change directly affects property owners in Houston County who may face tax sales or redemption processes. The bill requires the revenue commissioner to handle all such duties moving forward, relieving the judge of probate of these tasks. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
HB 38 creates the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force to address seagrass loss in state marine waters. The task force, composed of state officials, university leaders, environmental representatives, and private sector members, will develop a 10-year restoration plan by 2027. It will coordinate research, test restoration technologies, and report annually to the Governor and legislature on progress and recommendations. The bill directly affects coastal ecosystems and communities dependent on healthy seagrass beds, which support fisheries and water quality. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab will manage task force funding and operations.
This bill modifies how Alabama distributes local funds from the simplified sellers use tax, shifting the basis for allocation from the most recent federal decennial census to population projections updated every five years by the U.S. Census Bureau. The change directly affects counties and municipalities across the state by altering how they receive their share of tax proceeds, with the updated methodology beginning in 2027. Under the new system, 60% of local funds would go to municipalities and 40% to counties, with distribution ratios based on current population estimates rather than waiting for a full census. The bill also repeals existing provisions regarding the timing of tax distribution and sets the effective date for October 1, 2026.
This bill requires money transmission businesses in Alabama to report large or suspicious cash transactions to the state Securities Commission and imposes a 1.5% fee on outgoing international wire transfers. The collected fees would be placed in a state fund and distributed to local sheriffs to help cover immigration law enforcement costs, while taxpayers who pay these fees would receive an income tax credit to offset the charges. The legislation also establishes criminal and civil penalties for businesses that fail to comply with reporting requirements and creates a study commission to monitor how the fee proceeds are used. These provisions would remain in effect until December 31, 2030, when they are scheduled to be repealed.
This bill requires certain Mobile County water and sewer commissioners to transfer conservation easements on over 100 specific real property parcels to qualified conservation organizations by October 1, 2027. The easements must be conveyed to charitable entities that protect natural resources, agricultural land, or historical features, while excluding certain areas like road rights of way. The legislation defines conservation easement holders as organizations dedicated to preserving open space, environmental quality, or cultural assets, and applies to boards established under existing state law.
