Alabama Bills

This Special Order Calendar resolution establishes a specific agenda for the Alabama Senate's twentieth legislative day, prioritizing 21 bills over regular business. The measure directly affects state employees, educators, veterans, businesses, and various public institutions by setting the order in which these legislative proposals will be considered. Key provisions include changes to retirement systems, ethics rules for universities, digital driver licenses, tax exemptions for disabled veterans, and new policies for day care centers and sick leave for education workers. The resolution also covers topics such as unmanned aircraft restrictions, juvenile court procedures, and firefighter compensation for Parkinson's Disease.

This bill allows experienced teachers from accredited private schools to receive a starting salary increase when they transfer to public schools in Alabama. To qualify, teachers must have at least five years of full-time teaching experience at a private school, with salary adjustments ranging from 2.5 to 10 years based on their private school service. The adjustment applies beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, though those who transferred between 2022 and 2026 can still claim it by submitting documentation during that school year. Years of private school service counted toward this salary adjustment cannot be used for retirement purposes.

This bill is a commendation resolution honoring former Alabama Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor Bill Baxley for his significant contributions to the state. It recognizes his legal career achievements, including reopening the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing case and prosecuting the ringleader, as well as his mentorship of notable legal professionals. The resolution formally expresses the Alabama House of Representatives' high regard for Baxley's service and impact on Alabama's legal and political history.

This bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Dr. Bernice Carter Richardson as a special guest at the Rosetta James Foundation's 20th Annual "Honoring Our Elders Day" Gala in Huntsville, Alabama. The resolution recognizes her decades of service in education, community leadership, and advocacy for seniors and students. It does not create new laws or change policy but serves to acknowledge her contributions and the event celebrating her and other community elders.

This bill would allow pharmacies in Alabama to sell consumable hemp products without needing a license from the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, shifting regulatory oversight to the Alabama Board of Pharmacy. Pharmacies must still follow safety requirements for testing, labeling, and packaging, and sales can only occur under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist to customers aged 21 and older. The law also clarifies that food stores selling hemp beverages must meet specific space and separation requirements, while pharmacies selling topical or sublingual products remain subject to existing ABC Board rules.

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow Chambers County, Alabama to collect a two-mill property tax specifically to fund volunteer fire departments. Property owners in areas served by paid municipal fire departments can opt out of the tax if their local government chooses to do so. The collected funds would be distributed to volunteer fire associations based on the area they serve and can only be used for equipment, supplies, and operational costs, not for paying salaries or administrative expenses. The amendment would be voted on by voters in a statewide election scheduled for November 2026.

This bill establishes the Main Street Revival Act to support economic development in small Alabama towns with populations under 25,000. It creates four grant programs administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help businesses start or expand, preserve historic commercial buildings, support temporary retail spaces and business mentorship, and assist local governments with updating zoning and land use regulations. Additionally, the bill creates a 25 percent income tax credit for property owners who renovate eligible vacant or underutilized commercial properties. Funding for these programs depends on future legislative appropriations, and the law takes effect on January 1, 2027.

This bill proposes to exempt Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc. and JHC Pharmacy, LLC from all state, county, and municipal fees and taxes. The exemption would apply for a five-year period starting May 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2031. The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage, removing the requirement for these two healthcare entities to pay various local and state taxes during the specified timeframe.

This bill creates the Rural Allied Health Professional Workforce Expansion Act to address shortages of allied health workers in rural Alabama communities by establishing new funding and training programs. It provides tuition grants for students in eligible allied health programs and offers loan forgiveness for graduates who commit to working in medically underserved areas for at least two years, with priority given to those with rural backgrounds. The legislation also establishes a Rural Clinical Training Partnership Fund to support health programs in creating rural clinical training agreements, recruiting rural preceptors, and delivering specialized training, while creating paid internships with up to $5,000 in stipends for students completing rural clinical experiences.

This bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Mrs. Veronica Curtis-Richie as a special guest at the Rosetta James Foundation's 20th Annual "Honoring Our Elders Day" Gala. It recognizes her 34-year career in education and her community service contributions, including her work with military families and civic organizations. The resolution does not create new laws or policy changes but serves to publicly acknowledge her achievements at a specific event.

This bill is a resolution honoring Mr. Willie Smith as the special guest at the Rosetta James Foundation's 20th Annual "Honoring Our Elders Day" Gala. The resolution recognizes Smith's lifelong contributions as a community member, worker, and artist, highlighting his career at various local institutions and his work preserving Buffalo Soldier history. It also acknowledges the foundation's mission to celebrate senior citizens and fund scholarships for students, with the event scheduled for March 14, 2026, at the Jackson Center in Huntsville. The bill serves as a formal tribute rather than establishing new laws or policies.

This bill establishes the Rural Industry Reshoring and Reinvestment Act to attract manufacturing and supply chain companies to rural areas of Alabama by offering financial incentives. It creates a tax credit program that provides eligible businesses with up to 5% of qualifying payroll for up to 10 years when they create at least 15 full-time jobs with wages at or above the county median, plus an additional 10% bonus for projects that replace imported supply chains. The legislation also sets up a grant program to fund infrastructure improvements like roads, utilities, and broadband at rural industrial sites, with a separate grant for job creation based on the number of new positions. The Department of Commerce will designate specific rural areas as opportunity zones based on population and economic indicators, and these designations will be reviewed every three years.