This bill (SB 238) removes an exemption that previously allowed autocycle operators to avoid motorcycle safety gear requirements. It requires all operators and passengers of three-wheeled autocycles (defined as vehicles meeting specific safety standards) to wear protective headgear and shoes compliant with existing motorcycle safety rules. The law applies to both operators and riders, aligning autocycles with motorcycle safety standards for head protection and footwear. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 123 exempts retail sales of unmanufactured fish or seafood directly sold by anglers or fishermen (defined as "producers") from Alabama's state sales and use tax. It also allows counties and municipalities to choose to exempt these same sales from local sales taxes through a local resolution or ordinance. The bill applies only to seafood in its original, unprocessed state sold at retail by the producer, not to restaurants or processors. The exemption would take effect on September 1, 2026.
SB 31 increases penalties for making terrorist threats in the first or second degree. It requires school officials to immediately contact law enforcement when a student makes a terrorist threat, and establishes procedures for student suspensions, readmittance, and restitution for victims. The bill directly affects individuals making threats (facing harsher criminal penalties), schools (mandating immediate reporting), and students involved in such incidents (subject to suspension and restitution requirements). Key provisions include enhanced criminal penalties, mandatory law enforcement notification by schools, and defined processes for student suspension and victim restitution. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee and does not specify exact penalty amounts or detailed suspension procedures in the provided context.
SB 11, the "Alabama Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act," requires Alabama's presidential electors to pledge before the election to vote for their party's presidential and vice presidential nominees. If an elector fails to follow this pledge (e.g., by voting for a different candidate), the bill establishes a clear process to replace them: first using a designated alternate, then selecting from remaining electors of the same party, or finally by random draw. This applies directly to Alabama's 9 presidential electors and ensures the state's electoral votes align with voters' choices. The law also mandates that the Secretary of State verify ballots match electors' pledges before certifying votes.
This bill bans "slap fighting" in Alabama, defined as unarmed combat where opponents stand at arm's length and take turns slapping each other in the face without moving or defending. It directly affects promoters, managers, and participants in such events, as well as the Alabama Athletic Commission, which now has expanded enforcement powers. The law authorizes the Attorney General to sue violators and imposes criminal penalties: Class C felonies for promoters/managers who knowingly violate the ban, and Class B misdemeanors for fighters. Violators may also face civil fines up to $25,000, with penalties applied alongside other relevant criminal laws. The bill amends existing athletic commission statutes and takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 20 amends Alabama's assault law to specifically criminalize assaults against public officials. It creates a new provision making it a Class C felony to intentionally cause physical injury to a current or former local, state, or federal public official while they are performing their duties. This change directly affects individuals who assault public officials, including police, judges, elected representatives, and other government workers. The bill updates existing assault statutes by adding this specific protection for public officials, alongside other existing categories like assaults on teachers, healthcare workers, and emergency personnel.
SB 23 proposes a new special primary election for legislative or congressional districts when their boundaries are changed too late for the regular primary schedule. It directly affects voters in districts where redistricting occurs after the regular primary date, requiring a special primary by August 31st. The bill specifies that candidates who qualified for the regular primary remain eligible for the special election, voids previous primary results for affected districts, and requires the Governor to call the election within five days of a boundary change. This ensures candidates for impacted districts are properly selected through a new primary, rather than relying on outdated election results. The bill is currently pending committee review in Alabama's Senate.
This bill authorizes Shelby County to sell gas, minerals, and other materials recovered from its public landfill to public or private buyers. The county must use competitive sealed bidding to award contracts for these sales, with agreements limited to a maximum of 20 years. All money earned from these sales must be deposited into the county's General Fund and used for solid waste collection, landfill maintenance, and other legally permitted purposes. The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill creates a pilot program in Alabama to test automated photographic speed enforcement cameras in highway work zones where construction or maintenance is actively underway. The system would automatically record images of vehicles and their license plates when they exceed the speed limit by 10 mph or more, allowing law enforcement to issue civil traffic citations rather than criminal charges. The Department of Transportation and Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency must collaborate to implement the program in one interstate work zone by October 2026, with full enforcement not beginning until November 2026 to allow for proper driver notification and system rollout. The bill also requires the agencies to submit progress reports to the Legislature by March 2027, including data on whether the cameras improve safety for workers and reduce speeding in construction zones.
HB 269 exempts local governments in Alabama from competitive bidding requirements for vehicle repairs under $15,000. It directly affects county commissions, city councils, and utility boards (like water or sewer authorities) when repairing vehicles weighing 12,000 pounds or less. The bill requires these authorities to obtain and document price quotes from at least two repair shops before proceeding, but does not require full competitive bidding. This change applies only to individual repair incidents, not aggregated costs across multiple repairs. The exemption takes effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 284 revises Marshall County's procedures for handling abandoned and stolen property recovered by the sheriff's office. It requires the sheriff to sell unclaimed property (including firearms) at public or online auctions after 12 months, with notice published in local newspapers or posted at the courthouse. The bill adds specific rules for firearms: sheriffs must maintain permanent records of recovered firearms, attempt to locate owners (notifying neighboring counties), and sell only to licensed dealers via sealed bids, with proceeds going to the sheriff's office. This directly affects Marshall County residents who may have unclaimed property and the sheriff's office managing these sales.
SB 306 requires county and municipal government agencies, boards, commissions, departments, employees, and officials with discretionary accounts to publish their fund amounts and expenditures online. This also applies to certain state officials whose accounts are maintained at the county level, such as sheriffs and judges. The information must be posted monthly on their official website or, if no website exists, on the website of a relevant state association. The Chief Examiner of the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts will set the rules for this publication.
