HB 123 exempts the Cook Museum of Natural Science and the McWane Science Center from paying state sales and use taxes. Local counties or municipalities may also choose to exempt these institutions from local sales and use taxes, following existing tax exemption procedures. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2026, providing tax relief for these specific educational institutions. This policy change directly affects the two museums' operational costs by removing a financial burden related to sales and use taxes.
SB 149 establishes a temporary teaching certificate for military veterans seeking to enter education. It directly affects veterans who qualify under this program but clarifies that time served under this temporary certificate won't count toward tenure or service status. The bill also prohibits individuals with this temporary certificate from later obtaining an emergency teaching certificate. These provisions create a specific pathway for veterans while defining the scope and limitations of their temporary certification.
This bill (SB 136) extends the Alabama Massage Therapy Licensing Board's operation until October 1, 2027, and reorganizes it as a division within the Alabama Department of Public Health. The Alabama Department of Public Health will now provide all administrative services (including finance, legal support, staffing, and IT), appoint an executive director, and handle all board property. This change directly affects licensed massage therapists, massage therapy schools, and establishments in Alabama that operate under the board's regulations. The bill modifies existing law (Sections 34-43A-2 and 34-43A-5) to reflect this structural shift.
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for intentionally disrupting a scheduled religious worship service. It applies to individuals who enter a church building or adjacent property (including mosques, synagogues, or other religious sites) with the intent to disrupt and then engage in rioting, disorderly conduct, harassment of participants, or blocking access to the property. A first violation is punishable as a Class C felony, while repeat offenses require a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence. The law, set to take effect on October 1, 2026, directly affects those who target religious gatherings through such disruptive actions.
HB 281 modifies Alabama's child custody law to streamline temporary emergency custody orders under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). It removes the requirement for courts to explicitly state that a temporary emergency custody order becomes final, instead automatically making such orders final after six months if no other custody proceeding is filed in the proper state. This directly affects families involved in urgent custody situations where a child is moved across state lines during an emergency, such as abuse or abandonment. The key change simplifies the process by eliminating a court's explicit step, ensuring temporary orders gain final status without further action if unresolved within six months.
HB 37 would change Alabama's penalties for drivers who flee or attempt to elude law enforcement. If passed, courts must sentence convicted offenders to a minimum of 60 days in jail (replacing the prior requirement for license suspension only), and must also suspend their driver's license for six months to two years. The bill also requires that anyone arrested for this offense be held in custody for at least 48 hours without bond or release. This law directly affects drivers convicted of eluding police, increasing both the mandatory jail time and pretrial detention period. The changes apply to all cases where a driver intentionally flees an officer's attempt to stop them.
HB 26 would require parole or probation officers to restrict certain adult sex offenders (those convicted of offenses involving children) from using post office boxes or electronic devices with internet access, such as computers, tablets, or phones. It also mandates that courts or the Board of Pardons and Paroles may require these offenders to complete sex offender treatment, including periodic polygraph exams, as a condition of release. Violating these restrictions or treatment requirements would be a Class C felony. The bill applies specifically to sex offenders under community supervision (like parole or probation) and authorizes the Board to create rules for implementing the treatment program, which would include cost-sharing based on the offender’s ability to pay. The bill is pending in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.
HJR 92 is a resolution commending Dr. Bradley Heim for his decades of service as an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Enterprise Women's Center in Enterprise, Alabama. It honors his work providing comprehensive women's health care - including prenatal, obstetrical, and gynecological services - to rural communities in Southeast Alabama over more than 20 years. The resolution also acknowledges the center's impending closure in March 2026 due to persistent rural health care access challenges. As a non-binding commemorative resolution, it does not create policy changes but formally recognizes Dr. Heim's contributions and the broader struggles facing rural health care providers.
HJR 110 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Tuskegee University's contributions to Alabama. It commemorates the university's legacy as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), highlighting its status as a National Historic Site, its production of over 75% of the world's African American veterinarians, and its role in training the Tuskegee Airmen. The resolution formally celebrates Tuskegee University and welcomes its representatives to the Alabama State House for Legislative Day on February 11, 2026. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or funding but honors the institution's educational and historical impact on the state.
HB 330 repeals an existing Alabama law (Section 45-28-71) that provided a specific alternative process for filling vacancies in Etowah County offices. This bill directly affects Etowah County, as it removes the option to use this alternative method when a vacancy occurs more than one year before a term ends. The key provision is the simple repeal of the existing section, meaning vacancies will now follow standard vacancy procedures instead of the county's previous alternative method. This is a procedural change with no new policy requirements or direct impact on residents beyond standard office filling.
This resolution declares February 24, 2026, as "Alabama Links Day" at the Alabama Capitol to honor The Links, Incorporated, a volunteer organization focused on advancing African American communities through initiatives like civil rights advocacy and health equity. It recognizes the organization's 21st anniversary of gathering at the Capitol under the theme "Lead with Intentional Friendship and Service." As a symbolic gesture, the resolution has no legal effect or policy changes - it simply acknowledges the group's community work and encourages future collaboration with lawmakers.
HR 181 designates March 2026 as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Awareness Month in Alabama. The resolution recognizes that approximately 37 million Americans have CKD, with 90% undiagnosed, and aims to raise public awareness about CKD prevention, screening, and treatment access. It does not create new programs or funding but formally encourages community efforts to address CKD through official recognition. The bill passed committee and was adopted by the Alabama House of Representatives on February 26, 2026.
