Senate Resolution 36, adopted on March 5, 2025, establishes a special order of business for the Alabama Senate, prioritizing three specific bills for immediate consideration on the twelfth legislative day. It designates SB199 (state employee paid parental leave), SB137 (public utility jurisdiction for private sewer systems), and HB230 (real estate transaction disclosure requirements) as the top agenda items, moving them ahead of regular business. This procedural resolution does not change policy but directs the Senate's schedule to focus on these three legislative proposals.
HB 106 expands Alabama's catastrophe savings account program to help homeowners cover hurricane and flood-related costs. It allows account holders to use funds for broader "Qualified Catastrophe Expenses," including FORTIFIED insurance endorsements and home improvements that reduce storm damage risk (like reroofing). Contribution limits are adjusted based on individual insurance deductibles, with caps up to $15,000 for most homeowners or $250,000 for self-insured individuals. Account contributions qualify for state income tax deductions, and interest is tax-exempt, while distributions for eligible expenses avoid immediate taxation.
HB 261 removes a requirement for nonresident surplus line brokers to post an additional $50,000 surety bond when seeking a license in Alabama. Currently, these brokers (who are already licensed in their home state to sell "surplus line" insurance not typically available through standard agents) must pay an application fee and license fee but also provide the bond. The bill changes this by eliminating the bond requirement, aligning Alabama's rules with other states' reciprocity agreements for insurance licensing. This directly affects nonresident brokers seeking to operate in Alabama without the added financial guarantee.
HB 167 requires towing companies to immediately report unclaimed or abandoned vehicles to the Department of Revenue via the existing Unclaimed/Abandoned Vehicle Portal after towing them, rather than waiting 30 days as currently required. This change directly affects towing businesses and the Revenue Department, streamlining the process for handling such vehicles. The key provision replaces current waiting periods with an immediate reporting obligation through the state's digital portal. The bill aims to improve efficiency in tracking and managing unclaimed vehicles statewide. It will take effect on October 1, 2025.
This is a commemorative resolution (HR 116), not a legislative bill with policy changes. It formally commends Eliza Jane Manuel for her role in the Civil Rights Movement, specifically recognizing her contributions during the 1963-1965 voting rights marches in Selma, Alabama. The resolution honors her work at Brown Chapel (including meal preparation for marchers) and her community service, linking her efforts to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It will be presented at the Fourth Annual Foot Soldiers Celebration, symbolically acknowledging her as a "formidable force" in securing voting rights. No new laws, funding, or direct effects on constituents are created.
This resolution commends Sadie Mae Simmons Mitchell Moss for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and her decades of community service in Selma, Alabama. It specifically recognizes her work as a "Foot Soldier" (including participating in marches and being arrested), her 50+ years as an educator and counselor, and her role in founding the "Sadie Moss Summer Learning Institute." The resolution formally honors her at the Fourth Annual Foot Soldiers Celebration, acknowledging her efforts to secure voting rights and support youth education. As a commemorative resolution, it has no binding policy impact and solely serves to publicly recognize her legacy.
HB 151 expands eligibility for Alabama's firefighter distinctive license plate to include certified fire chaplains, who must prove membership through an affidavit from the Alabama Fellowship of Fire Chaplains' president. It adds a $1 annual fee for these plates, with half the revenue funding the Alabama Firefighter Memorial in Tuscaloosa and half supporting the Firefighter Peer Support Program. The bill also establishes a Class C misdemeanor penalty for falsely obtaining or certifying a firefighter plate. This policy directly affects current firefighters, fire chaplains, and vehicle owners seeking this plate type, with changes effective January 2026.
HB 17, the "Alabama Squat Truck Law," prohibits altering passenger vehicles or trucks so that the front fender height exceeds the rear fender height by four or more inches through suspension, frame, or chassis modifications. This directly affects vehicle owners who modify their cars or trucks for non-commercial use, such as lowering or raising the front end. Exceptions apply for bona fide commercial or agricultural vehicle modifications. Violations carry fines of up to $250, increasing with repeat offenses within five years, and the law takes effect October 1, 2025.
SB 66 establishes a new crime in Alabama for "presentment of a forged instrument," specifically making it illegal to knowingly present a forged document or a document falsely tied to another person to state or local government employees with intent to defraud. The bill defines two scenarios: (1) presenting a forged instrument to government staff, or (2) presenting a document falsely identifying another individual, both with fraudulent intent. Violations are classified as a Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects individuals attempting to commit fraud using fake documents when interacting with government offices, such as at DMVs or tax offices. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.
HB 79 prohibits the State Board of Pharmacy and employers from disciplining pharmacists who recommend off-label medical treatments to patients. This directly affects pharmacists, protecting them from professional penalties when suggesting medications for uses not specifically approved by the FDA. The key provision bans disciplinary actions against pharmacists for providing such recommendations during patient consultations. The bill aims to expand pharmacists' role in patient care by allowing them to discuss off-label options without fear of licensing or employment repercussions.
HB 236 increases the supplemental per diem for Baldwin County Board of Equalization members. Starting in 2025, members will receive $100 per day (up from $150 for 2008-2009), with annual adjustments beginning in 2026 based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill also requires retroactive payment for board meetings held in 2025 before the law's effective date. Funding comes from county tax revenues, with each political subdivision contributing proportionally based on its share of local property taxes. The changes apply specifically to Baldwin County's local board, not statewide.
HB 274 proposes amending Alabama's constitution to change the term length for Crenshaw County Board of Education members from six years to four years. If approved by voters, this change would take effect starting with the November 2026 election for the county's school board. The bill requires voter approval through a statewide election, as specified in Alabama's constitution and election laws. This amendment would directly affect Crenshaw County residents and school board members by altering their election cycle and term duration.
