This proposed Alabama bill (HB 21) would require most employers to provide reasonable unpaid break time (or allow using existing paid breaks) and a private, non-bathroom space near the work area for employees to express breast milk. It applies to working mothers of infants under two years old who need this accommodation. Employers must make reasonable efforts to provide these accommodations without causing significant disruption to operations, and cannot discriminate against employees using this benefit. The bill has been filed but remains pending committee review.
HB 162 prohibits Alabama state and local governments, along with their law enforcement officers, from moving homeless individuals to another city or county within the state without specific permission. This includes requiring written consent from the receiving city/county (which must actually accept the person) or a court order, rather than simply relocating individuals without their agreement. Violating this law would be a Class A misdemeanor, with separate penalties for each person moved. The bill applies directly to homeless individuals in Alabama and takes effect on October 1, 2025.
HB 63 creates legal presumptions favoring joint custody and shared parenting time when an unmarried father voluntarily acknowledges paternity. It requires courts to presume that joint custody is in the child's best interest if parents live within 40 miles of each other, and prohibits either parent from removing the child from Alabama without the other parent's consent or court permission. These presumptions can be challenged with evidence but include exceptions for cases involving domestic or family violence. The bill directly affects unmarried parents who sign paternity acknowledgments and applies to custody, visitation, and child support proceedings. It does not change existing paternity acknowledgment procedures but alters how courts evaluate custody arrangements in those cases.
HB 39 allows Alabama's Department of Human Resources to share specific information from the putative father registry with licensed attorneys who provide a sworn affidavit confirming the data is solely for adoption proceedings. Previously, only courts could request this information. The bill requires attorneys to attest to this limited purpose before accessing details like a potential father's name, address, and child-related dates. This affects adoption attorneys, individuals listed in the registry (putative fathers), and birth mothers by ensuring adoption cases can properly notify potential fathers. The registry remains confidential otherwise, with no changes to adoption procedures or rights.
HB 6 prohibits Alabama political parties from disqualifying candidates for primary elections solely based on receiving campaign contributions from specific individuals or political action committees (PACs). The bill amends existing election law to explicitly block parties from using contribution sources as a qualification barrier, directly affecting candidates who might otherwise be barred from party nominations. This change removes a specific disqualification tool parties currently have under Section 17-13-47, ensuring candidates cannot be excluded due to who funded their campaigns. The law becomes effective June 1, 2025, and applies to all party nominations for elected offices.
HB 26 prohibits possessing a pistol with any part or combination of parts designed to convert it into a machine gun. It directly affects individuals who own or handle such conversion parts on pistols, excluding law enforcement officers, registered firearm parts under federal law, and parts that only increase rate of fire without enabling automatic fire. The bill defines a "machine gun" broadly to include conversion parts and classifies violations as Class C felonies. It exempts parts registered with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Explosives or designed solely to increase rate of fire without automatic capability. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 51 prohibits possessing bump stocks in Alabama's Class 1 municipalities (typically cities with populations over 10,000). It defines a bump stock as any device that uses recoil to fire a firearm repeatedly, making possession a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The law does not apply to law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity. The bill would take effect on October 1, 2025, if passed.
HB 16 expands law enforcement authority during stops by allowing officers to demand a suspect's date of birth when reasonably suspecting a felony or public offense, in addition to name and address. It criminalizes providing a false date of birth with intent to mislead, classifying it as a Class A misdemeanor under Alabama law. This directly affects individuals stopped by police under these circumstances, requiring them to provide accurate date of birth or face potential misdemeanor charges. The bill amends existing statutes (§13A-9-18.1 and §15-5-30) to include date of birth as a required disclosure during such encounters.
SB 37 would allow Alabama to join the Interstate Massage Compact, creating a system where licensed massage therapists from participating states can practice in Alabama without obtaining separate licenses. The compact standardizes licensing requirements across member states and requires sharing of disciplinary information to protect public safety. It specifically includes provisions to support military members and their spouses who relocate between states. This bill directly affects massage therapists seeking multi-state practice and the public receiving these services.
HB 22 would add Juneteenth (June 19) as an official state holiday in Alabama, aligning state observance with its existing status as a federal holiday. This change would require all state offices to close on June 19 each year, consistent with how other state holidays like Memorial Day and Veterans' Day are observed. The bill also makes minor technical updates to Alabama’s code language to remove redundant phrasing and modernize formatting. It directly affects state employees and public institutions, which would close on this date, while leaving existing holiday rules unchanged. The bill is pending committee review and would take effect October 1, 2025.
HB 139 would expand Alabama's anti-discrimination laws by making it unlawful to deny full and equal access to public accommodations (such as stores, restaurants, and hotels) based on race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. It also prohibits local school boards from discriminating against students or staff on these grounds and bans employment discrimination by employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations in hiring, pay, and workplace conditions. The bill creates a state cause of action, allowing individuals to sue violators without paying court fees and seek remedies like back pay or reinstatement. This affects businesses, schools, and employers statewide by requiring compliance with these expanded protections.
SB 11 imposes new annual fees on electric vehicles: $200 for fully electric vehicles and $100 for plug-in hybrids, with these fees increasing by $3 every four years starting in 2023. It also adds a $5 annual fee for all motor vehicles, effective October 2025, with all proceeds going directly to the Alabama Public Transportation Trust Fund. The bill specifies that if electric vehicle registrations exceed 4% of all vehicles, the fees will drop to $150/$75 and funds will shift to road infrastructure. This affects all vehicle owners in Alabama, with the new fees specifically targeting electric vehicle owners and generating dedicated revenue for public transportation expansion. The law does not change existing fees for conventional vehicles beyond the new $5 charge.
