Alabama Bills

HR 165 is a ceremonial resolution congratulating the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) Men's Basketball Team on their 32-2 record and historic 32-game winning streak during the 2024-2025 season, which included a South Region Championship Sweet Sixteen appearance. The resolution specifically acknowledges the players, head coach Mick Hedgepeth, and assistant coaches for their teamwork and excellence, expressing the Alabama House of Representatives' admiration for the team's achievements and community impact. As a purely symbolic gesture with no policy or funding changes, it serves only to honor the team's success.

This is a procedural resolution (not a substantive bill) that establishes a special calendar order for the Alabama Senate. It prioritizes consideration of multiple House bills related to extending sunset dates for various professional licensing boards (e.g., medical, dental, nursing, and veterinary boards) on March 19, 2025. The resolution directs the Senate to address these specific bills before other pending business, setting their order of debate. It does not change the content of the underlying bills but affects the Senate's scheduling process. The resolution was adopted on March 19, 2025.

HB 140 allows privately owned sewer and wastewater systems that are under common ownership with systems already regulated by Alabama's Public Service Commission to voluntarily elect to come under the Commission's jurisdiction. It creates a process for these "affiliated systems" to file a notice with the Commission, after which their capital and operating costs would be combined with the regulated systems to set a single, unified rate for all customers. The bill does not apply in counties with local constitutional amendments governing wastewater utilities, and existing rates remain in effect until new rates are approved. This change directly affects private utility systems seeking streamlined regulation under the Public Service Commission.

HB 280 amends Alabama law to clarify when municipalities can sue to stop public nuisances (like harmful events or conditions affecting community health or safety). It specifically requires organizers of unpermitted events causing nuisances to pay for abatement costs - including police, traffic control, and sanitation - while protecting property owners, landlords, or business owners who didn’t help organize the event. The bill directly affects event promoters and organizers of unpermitted gatherings, making them financially liable for cleanup expenses. This changes existing rules by shifting responsibility from local governments to event organizers for costs tied to unpermitted events.

HB 270 revises Alabama's licensing requirements for water well drillers under the Department of Environmental Management. It increases annual license fees to $1,000 for unrestricted drillers and $500 for restricted drillers or business entities, extends licenses to a two-year period (starting October 1, 2025), and requires continuing education (6 hours for unrestricted, 3 hours for restricted) for renewal. The bill directly affects individuals and businesses drilling water wells, geothermal systems, or environmental monitoring wells, mandating licensing for those managing or supervising drilling operations. It also establishes two license types: unrestricted (full drilling rights) and restricted (specialized work only), with business licenses requiring a licensed key employee. The bill does not change existing prohibitions on unlicensed drilling but adds new fee structures and education requirements.

HB 214 would allow Alabama to join the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, enabling school psychologists licensed in Alabama to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The compact creates a standardized process for states to recognize equivalent licenses, reducing redundant requirements like multiple exams or background checks. This directly benefits school psychologists seeking to work across state lines, especially military families relocating, and helps schools address staffing shortages by expanding access to qualified professionals. States retain authority to set their own scope of practice and licensing standards, ensuring safety while simplifying cross-state mobility.

HB 359 adds Parkinson's disease to Alabama's list of occupational diseases eligible for disability or death benefits for firefighters. It directly affects firefighters who develop Parkinson's during their service and their dependents seeking compensation. To qualify, firefighters must demonstrate exposure to a known toxin linked to Parkinson's, after which the disease is presumed work-related. The bill also updates existing code language to remove redundancies and improve clarity, without changing other benefit eligibility rules.

HB 336 adopts the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists in Alabama to practice in other participating states without obtaining a separate license in each state. The bill establishes a commission to manage the compact, handle disciplinary actions across states, and coordinate joint investigations. This aims to improve patient access to respiratory therapy services, support workforce mobility for therapists, and reduce administrative burdens for states.

HB 322 requires Alabama healthcare providers to assess new mothers for postpartum depression during routine postnatal care and mandates the Alabama Department of Public Health to create plain-language educational materials about the condition for both providers and new parents. The bill directly affects new mothers (through mandatory screening), healthcare providers (who must conduct assessments), and hospitals (which can distribute the materials). Key provisions include developing materials on signs/symptoms and treatment resources, requiring assessment as part of standard care, and protecting providers from liability for following these guidelines. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and does not change existing medical standards or liability laws.

This bill establishes a formal process for appointing visiting judges in Alabama courts to handle specific violent crime cases. The Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court may appoint sitting or retired judges upon request from prosecutors, after reviewing case details and reasons for the need. Visiting judges gain full judicial authority for their assigned cases, receive expense reimbursement through a new Speedy Trial Fund, and must use available courtroom resources and jury schedules to expedite proceedings. It directly affects prosecutors, courts handling violent crimes (as defined in existing law), and county court operations.

HB 3 requires enhanced sentencing for illegal alien defendants convicted of crimes against minors. Specifically, it mandates that illegal aliens convicted of a felony with a minor victim face an automatic upgrade in felony class (e.g., a Class D felony becomes a Class C), while misdemeanor convictions against minors are reclassified as Class C felonies. The bill directly affects non-U.S. residents who commit offenses against children, applying to all felony and misdemeanor cases where the victim is a minor. It does not change sentencing for citizens or cases without minor victims, focusing solely on the defendant's immigration status and the victim's age. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

HB 187 changes how court fee funds allocated to Alabama sheriff's offices can be used. Currently, these funds are restricted to jail operations, but this bill would allow sheriffs to spend them on all office functions (including law enforcement) as directed by the sheriff. The bill amends Section 12-19-312 of Alabama law to remove the jail-only restriction. It directly affects all Alabama sheriff's offices that collect these court fees. The change would take effect on October 1, 2025.