Alabama Bills

HR 260 is a resolution adopted by the House of Representatives to mourn the death and celebrate the life of James Merle Sasser Compton. It acknowledges her contributions to her family and community as a seamstress, cook, gardener, and long-time bank employee.

HB 255 allows certain law enforcement officers to receive payment for unused annual leave. Specifically, members of the State Police Tier II Plan within the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama are eligible. The bill enables these officers to be paid for up to 80 hours of unused annual leave, provided those hours exceed 480 hours per year.

HR 258 is a commemorative resolution that commends the Springwood School Varsity Girls Basketball Team and Coach Lisa Sampson for winning the 2025 Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) AA State Basketball Championship. It officially honors their achievement and dedication.

HR 257 is a resolution from the House of Representatives formally mourning the death and celebrating the life of Reverend Melvyn Watson Salter. It acknowledges his extensive service in ministry, as a hospital chaplain, and as a Judge of Probate, extending heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones.

HB 396 aims to assist disabled veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total disability rating when applying for home mortgage loans. It requires County Property Tax Commissioners to issue these veterans a tentative certificate of permanent and total disability before they purchase a homestead, upon submission of specific documents. This tentative certificate allows settlement agents and loan closing officers to exclude homestead ad valorem taxes when calculating the veteran's debt-to-income ratio. The bill ensures that these veterans' exempt property taxes do not negatively impact their ability to qualify for a home loan, as the certificate becomes valid upon purchasing the homestead.

SB 22 amends the Alabama Jobs Act, which offers economic development incentives to businesses in Alabama. The bill allows the state to recapture these awarded incentives from a company if that company, or a related entity, engages in human trafficking violations. Additionally, incentives can be recaptured if the company violates federal child labor provisions outlined in the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. This aims to add specific conditions under which the state can reclaim economic development funds.

SB 92 aims to regulate technology use and promote online safety for students in public K-12 schools. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the bill prohibits students from using or possessing wireless communication devices during the instructional day on school grounds, with exceptions for educational purposes, emergencies, or as allowed by local policy. It also requires local school boards to adopt internet safety policies for district-owned devices, limiting access to age-inappropriate content and social media. Finally, the State Department of Education must develop a social media safety course, which all students will complete prior to entering eighth grade.

HB 551 authorizes the Sheriff of Butler County to sell surplus property, including vehicles, from the sheriff's department, aiming to achieve the greatest return on investment. All funds generated from these sales must be deposited into a newly established "Sheriff's Vehicle Fund" within a Butler County bank. This fund is specifically designated for the purchase of vehicles or related equipment for the sheriff's office. The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts will audit all receipts and expenditures of this fund.

HB 222 authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles to share electronic monitoring data with law enforcement agencies. Specifically, the bill allows the Board to provide GPS data and relevant biometric data. This sharing is permitted when law enforcement agencies are conducting an active investigation and request "probative" electronic monitoring data. The bill directly affects individuals subject to electronic monitoring and facilitates information exchange between the Board and law enforcement.

HB 532 relates to Conecuh County and modifies the selection process and compensation for its county commission chair. Effective June 1, 2025, the county commission will select its chair by a majority vote of its members for the remainder of the current term. Additionally, the chair will receive an extra expense allowance of $500 per month, paid from the county's general fund. These changes, regarding both the selection process and the expense allowance, are temporary and will expire at the end of the current term on November 14, 2028.

HB 459 revises the membership and meeting requirements for the Board of Trustees of the University of South Alabama. The bill increases the number of at-large board members, adding one from the United States at-large and four from the state at-large. It removes the requirement for trustees to be appointed from specific state senatorial districts as existing terms expire. Additionally, the bill changes the timing for the board's annual meeting and revises the notice period for special meetings from at least 10 days to no less than 24 hours.

HB 61 authorizes home school students to attend career and technical education programs offered in public K-12 schools. This bill directly affects home school students seeking vocational training and the public school system that will provide these programs. To implement this change, the bill requires the State Board of Education and local boards of education to adopt appropriate rules and policies.