HB 321 creates an Alabama income tax credit for farmers who donate edible farm products (like fruits, vegetables, or livestock) to qualifying food banks. Eligible farmers - those earning at least $1,000 annually from growing food or filing USDA acreage reports - can claim a credit equal to 15% of the donation's value, up to $5,000 per year. The credit is non-refundable, cannot reduce taxes below zero, and is capped at $2 million total annually across all taxpayers. It applies to donations made between 2026 and 2030, requiring farmers to file an annual report and receive a tax credit certificate from the Department of Revenue.
HB 316 amends Alabama law to define foods containing vaccines or vaccine material as "drugs" under state regulations. This requires such foods to be clearly labeled with conspicuous labeling to avoid being classified as "misbranded." The bill directly affects food manufacturers and sellers who incorporate vaccine material into edible products, mandating specific packaging disclosures. It updates existing definitions and labeling standards without changing broader food safety requirements. The bill is currently pending in the House Health Committee after its first reading on February 20, 2025.
HB 317 requires app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play) and app developers in Alabama to verify the age of users and obtain verifiable parental consent before minors (under 18) can download apps, make purchases, or use in-app features. It mandates app stores to notify users (and parents for minors) of significant app changes, provide real-time age and consent data to developers, and protect age verification information through encryption. The bill prohibits app stores and developers from enforcing contracts against minors without consent, misrepresenting disclosures, or sharing age data improperly. Violations can be enforced by the Attorney General as deceptive trade practices.
HB 143 prohibits Alabama's Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources from banning the possession of certain-sized fish in tournaments on the Coosa River unless evidence proves prior restocking attempts in that area failed. This directly affects fishing tournaments held on the Coosa River and its reservoirs. The bill requires the commissioner to provide documented proof of failed restocking before implementing size restrictions, rather than allowing automatic rule changes. It applies only to the Coosa River system and takes effect October 1, 2025. The law does not create new fishing rules but restricts the commissioner's authority to adopt them without specific evidence.
HB 293 would exempt the State Board of Genetic Counseling from Alabama's Open Meetings Act restrictions on electronic participation, allowing all board members to join regular meetings via phone or video instead of requiring in-person attendance. This change applies to all routine board meetings but does not affect disciplinary proceedings, which must still be held in person. The bill directly affects the State Board of Genetic Counseling, which oversees the licensing and regulation of genetic counselors in Alabama. The exemption aims to streamline board operations by making remote participation easier for members.
HB 303 would provide property tax reimbursement to Alabama veterans rated 100% permanently and totally disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It allows these veterans to receive refunds for ad valorem (property) taxes paid for up to two years prior to their disability determination date, upon applying for homestead exemption. To qualify, veterans must submit VA documentation showing their disability status and effective date. Local tax officials would process reimbursements by deducting the amount from property tax collections on behalf of state, county, and local governments. The bill, pending committee review as of February 18, 2025, would take effect June 1, 2025, if enacted.
HB 305 amends Alabama's theft statute to specifically criminalize taking items mailed or shipped to another person with intent to deprive the recipient. It adds a new provision (subsection 5) making it unlawful to knowingly obtain unauthorized control over such mailed or shipped property. This directly affects individuals who intercept or steal packages or mail intended for others. The bill does not change existing theft laws but explicitly covers mail and shipping theft, effective October 1, 2025.
HB 291 would repeal Alabama's existing "Alabama Uniform Minimum Wage and Right-to-Work Act" (specifically Sections 25-7-40 through 25-7-45 of the state code). This bill removes the legal framework that previously governed minimum wage standards, collective bargaining, and right-to-work rules for employers and employees in Alabama. If passed, it would eliminate these specific regulations, meaning Alabama would no longer have a state-level minimum wage or right-to-work law under this code section. The repeal would take effect on October 1, 2025, but does not establish new wage or labor policies.
HB 308 amends Alabama election law to clarify that county judges of probate are not required to publish the list of registered voters before a primary election if the publication cost would exceed $40,000. This directly affects counties facing high printing expenses, preventing unnecessary spending on voter list publications. The bill does not change existing requirements for publication when costs are below $40,000, nor does it alter other provisions like the 10-day window for adding omitted voters. The exception is intended to save local governments money while maintaining the core election process.
SB 176 changes Alabama's drug distribution laws by reclassifying the unlawful sale of controlled substances as a violent offense (instead of nonviolent), meaning standard sentencing rules no longer apply. It removes marijuana from the general controlled substance statute and creates a new specific offense for "unlawful distribution of marijuana" with dedicated penalties. The bill also modifies sentencing enhancements for drug distribution occurring near schools or public housing projects, allowing judges to impose an additional five-year sentence. These changes directly affect individuals convicted of drug distribution crimes in Alabama, altering how such offenses are categorized and punished.
HB 292 requires Alabama's Department of Commerce to publish the value of any tax incentive repayments made by companies that fail to meet the terms of their project agreements under the Alabama Jobs Act. This directly affects companies receiving economic development incentives who later violate their project agreements. The bill adds this repayment information to the existing list of details (like company name, job estimates, and investment values) already required to be published on the department's website. It does not change the incentives themselves but increases transparency about when companies must repay incentives for noncompliance.
HB 306 proposes an amendment to Alabama's constitution requiring all public K-12 schools to broadcast or sanction the performance of the first stanza of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at least once weekly during school hours. Local school boards must adopt policies implementing this requirement, using only recordings or sheet music archived by the Library of Congress. The bill directly affects every Alabama public K-12 school and its governing boards. This policy change would standardize a weekly patriotic observance in schools, replacing any existing voluntary practices with a constitutionally mandated routine.
