Senate Bill 297 (SB 297) amends existing state law regarding the Alabama Office of Water Resources. This bill changes the employment classification for the Division Chief of the office. Currently, the Division Chief is a state Merit System employee; under this bill, the position would become an employee in the exempt service. This change directly affects the hiring and employment status of the individual serving as the Division Chief for the Alabama Office of Water Resources.
SB 151 is a technical bill designed to correct outdated internal references within the Code of Alabama 1975. It specifically updates citations in existing laws related to insurable interest and life insurance policy loans, ensuring they accurately refer to the correct sections of the code.
Senate Bill 110 modifies regulations for trucks operating on state highways. The bill adds specific types of trucks to those already exempt from certain weight limits. It also revises enforcement procedures for weight limits, allowing vehicle operators to verify the accuracy of portable scales used by officers. Additionally, the bill removes the authority of some individuals to require vehicle operators to drive to stationary weigh scales for enforcement.
Senate Bill 134 (SB 134) authorizes the Board of Pardons and Paroles to share electronic monitoring GPS data with local law enforcement agencies. Currently, existing law does not permit this sharing. Under this bill, local law enforcement agencies may request this data from the Board during an active investigation. The Board of Pardons and Paroles then has the discretion to share the requested electronic monitoring GPS information. This change would become effective on October 1, 2025.
Senate Bill 45 revises the composition of the Alabama Athlete Agents Commission. It authorizes the Secretary of State to designate an individual to serve in their place on the commission, rather than requiring the Secretary of State to serve personally. The bill also includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language for stylistic consistency.
Senate Bill 183 authorizes the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe, recognized by the State of Alabama, to employ certified police officers. These officers would be responsible for providing police protection to tribal grounds, property, employees, and residents. They would have powers similar to state police officers, including the ability to make arrests, but their authority would generally be limited to the tribe's reservation. However, they could pursue offenders or make felony arrests off-reservation if the offense originated on tribal property. The bill specifies that no state or local funds would be used to support these tribal police officers.
SB 97 amends current law regarding the licensing requirements for nonresident surplus line brokers in Alabama. The bill removes the requirement for these nonresident brokers to file an additional surety bond when applying for a license in the state. Nonresident surplus line brokers would still be required to submit an application and pay a license fee. This change is proposed to ensure Alabama's conformance with existing reciprocity provisions for the licensing of nonresident insurance agents.
HB 250 revises the deadlines for candidates to file their statement of economic interests with the State Ethics Commission. This bill directly affects individuals running for state, federal, and municipal offices. For candidates seeking state or federal office, the filing deadline is tied to the first primary election. Candidates for municipal office must file their statement of economic interests no more than five days after the deadline for submitting their qualifying papers.
HJR 226 creates the Alabama Unmanned Aircraft System Study Commission. This commission is tasked with studying issues related to unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, within the state. Its members will be appointed by various state and local entities, including the Attorney General, the Director of the Department of Transportation, the Alabama Sheriffs Association, and the Alabama League of Municipalities.
SB 259 revises the structure and meeting procedures for the Board of Trustees of the University of South Alabama. The bill increases the number of at-large board members from both the United States and the state, while eliminating appointments based on specific state senatorial districts. Trustees currently holding seats from those districts may complete their terms, after which new appointments will follow the revised at-large structure. Additionally, it changes the requirement for the annual meeting from the first Monday in June to sometime during June, and reduces the notice period for special meetings from 10 days to at least 24 hours.
SB 119 revises state law concerning firearm possession and related offenses. It expands the list of individuals prohibited from possessing a firearm to include anyone convicted of any felony offense, not just specific violent crimes. The bill also prohibits firearm possession for individuals charged with certain violent or domestic violence offenses who have been released pending or during trial. Additionally, it increases the penalty for discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling to a Class A felony and mandates or allows for the revocation of parole or probation for firearm possession. Finally, it adds certain firearm-related offenses to the list for which a judge may deny bail.
SB 36 revises competitive bidding and contract protest procedures for government entities. It specifies that volunteer fire departments and rescue squads will be governed by local competitive bid laws. The bill shortens the deadline for protesting a competitive bid contract from 14 days to 5 days and exempts these protest procedures from the Administrative Procedure Act. Additionally, it modifies requirements for financial disclosure statements, allowing for alternative forms, annual submissions for multiple proposals, and exempting contracts with publicly traded companies and economic development incentives.
