This special order calendar resolution establishes the priority agenda for the twenty-first legislative day of the Alabama Senate, placing specific bills ahead of regular business. The measure directly affects state government operations, healthcare providers, and public employees by setting the sequence for debating funding, assessments, and policy changes. Key provisions include appropriations for various state agencies, removal of sunset clauses on nursing home and hospital assessments, cost-of-living adjustments for state employees, and funding for children's health programs and domestic violence services. The resolution does not alter the content of the bills themselves but determines their order of consideration during the legislative session.
HB 610 requires businesses in Alabama to provide clear and conspicuous disclosures to consumers before entering into automatic renewal or continuous service agreements. The bill mandates that businesses inform customers about recurring charges, cancellation policies, and renewal terms in a visible manner, and must allow cancellation through the same method used to make the original purchase. It also prohibits businesses from obstructing or delaying the cancellation process and requires reminders before each billing cycle. Violations of these requirements could be treated as deceptive trade practices, allowing the state Attorney General to enforce civil and criminal penalties. The law directly affects consumers who sign up for subscriptions or services that automatically renew and the businesses that offer them.
This bill requires the Legislative Services Agency to create a Rural Impact Report for any legislation if a lawmaker asks for one. The report must analyze how proposed laws affect rural areas, including impacts on farmers, agricultural businesses, and rural school districts, with specific data broken down by legislative district. It also mandates comparisons between rural, suburban, and urban areas to identify any disparities, and requires the agency to use input from experts and rural stakeholders to complete the report within 30 days. Once finished, these reports will be made publicly available on the Legislature's website and shared with relevant committees and stakeholder groups.
This bill expands expungement eligibility in Alabama by allowing individuals with pardoned, vacated, or overturned convictions to petition for record sealing. It also clarifies hearing procedures for expungement petitions and adds specific circumstances under which misdemeanor charges can be expunged, including successful completion of drug court, mental health court, or other diversion programs. The legislation maintains restrictions on expunging violent offenses, sex offenses, and crimes involving moral turpitude while permitting expungement for certain non-violent misdemeanors after a three-year waiting period. Additionally, the bill specifies that expunged records remain accessible to criminal justice agencies for investigation purposes and to certain entities like utilities and child protection services.
This bill encourages the National Congress of American Indians to recognize Alabama's state-recognized tribes as eligible for membership in the organization. The resolution is based on the claim that NCAI recently excluded these tribes from membership, which the bill argues deprives them of networking opportunities and policy insights. The text highlights Alabama's legal authority to recognize tribes and notes that the state's Indian Affairs Commission has long worked to support these communities through scholarships, grants, and other programs. The measure does not change any laws or policies but serves as a formal expression of support for the tribes' inclusion in the national organization.
This bill encourages the National Congress of American Indians to accept Alabama's state-recognized tribes as members of the organization. It addresses a situation where NCAI denied membership to these tribes, arguing that state recognition should be respected and that the tribes deserve access to the organization's benefits and networking opportunities. The resolution does not change any laws but serves as a formal request to NCAI to reconsider its membership criteria for Alabama's recognized tribes.
This bill proposes a new 8% privilege tax on net gambling revenue from historical horse racing activities in Mobile County, Alabama. The tax would be collected from licensed historical horse racing operators by the Mobile County Racing Commission and distributed according to local laws. The legislation defines net gambling revenue as money received from wagers after excluding free bets, promotional credits, federal taxes, voided wagers, and prize payouts. This tax would replace any other local taxes currently applied to historical horse racing in the county but would not affect taxes on live greyhound or thoroughbred racing. The bill does not authorize any new gambling activities beyond what is already permitted by law and would take effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill creates the Market Accountability Compensation Fund in Alabama to help victims of investment fraud who cannot recover their losses from the perpetrators. It establishes a $2.5 million fund financed by transfers from the Alabama Securities Commission, with additional contributions allowed up to a total cap of $2.5 million. Victims who have been ordered to receive restitution but cannot collect it from the fraudster may apply for assistance, with maximum awards of $25,000 for most claimants and $50,000 for vulnerable adults, subject to overall fund limits. The bill also grants the commission the right to recover funds if a restitution order is overturned and includes penalties for fraudulent claims.
HB 446, the Alabama Dog Tethering and Outdoor Shelter Act, requires dogs to be tethered using a specific trolley system (with features like swivels, proper length, and secure attachment) or confined in a secure enclosure that provides adequate space, food, water, and shelter. It exempts certain activities like veterinary care, kennels, dog shows, and training for livestock or hunting. Violations are classified as a Class A misdemeanor, and animal control officers can inspect properties and remove dogs in danger. The law does not apply to dogs on leashes or temporary tethering at campsites or near businesses under specific conditions.
HB 398 exempts the organization "High Socks for Hope" from paying state sales and use taxes. It also allows Alabama counties and municipalities to choose whether to exempt the same organization from local sales and use taxes. The bill directly affects High Socks for Hope by removing a tax burden on its sales, and local governments by giving them the option to provide the same exemption. The exemption becomes effective on September 1, 2026.
HB 458 amends Alabama law to clarify that possessing at least 50 physical items or digital files of legally defined obscene material constitutes "knowingly possessing with intent to distribute." This directly affects individuals and businesses distributing such material, including those operating in commercial contexts like retail or production. The key change sets a specific threshold (50 items/files) for triggering criminal penalties, which previously lacked this clear definition. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors (up to $10,000 fine or 1 year in jail) for first offenses, escalating to Class C felonies for repeat violations. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 274 removes makeup application and blow-dry styling services from the licensing requirements of Alabama's Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. Specifically, it amends state code to define "makeup application" (including airbrushing) and "blow-dry styling" (cleansing, drying, or arranging hair without cutting or chemicals) as exempt practices. This means individuals offering these services no longer need a cosmetology license to operate, directly affecting independent makeup artists, beauty stylists, and small businesses providing these specific services. The bill updates existing definitions in the code to reflect these exemptions without changing other regulated cosmetology practices.
