This bill is a symbolic resolution recognizing March 11, 2026, as "Rev Up Day of Advocacy" in Alabama. It acknowledges the challenges faced by Alabama's nearly one million adults with disabilities in voting and civic participation, highlighting the work of the REV UP Alabama Chapter to remove barriers. The resolution does not create new laws or policies - it simply encourages citizens to support accessible democracy and the disability vote. It directly affects Alabama's disability community by formally honoring their advocacy efforts. (This is a procedural resolution, not a policy bill.)
HB 497 establishes standardized incident classifications and reporting requirements for service providers certified by Alabama's Department of Mental Health (ADMH) that support individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It defines specific incident types (like "major injury," "exploitation," "elopement," and "suicide attempt") and mandates that providers report these incidents through a centralized electronic system. The bill requires ADMH to adopt necessary rules for implementation while prohibiting the department from imposing stricter reporting rules than those set by the bill or federal law. This affects all ADMH-certified providers serving this population, ensuring consistent incident tracking and management.
HB 421 proposes a constitutional amendment for Lawrence County that would allow residents aged 65 or older to freeze their property tax assessed value on their primary residence. To qualify, individuals must own the home as their principal residence for at least five years and claim the exemption in writing with the county revenue commissioner between October 1 and December 31, starting October 1, 2027. The exemption freezes the property’s assessed value at the prior year’s level but does not affect homestead exemptions, millage rate changes, or taxes on future property additions. This amendment requires voter approval to become part of Alabama’s constitution.
HB 371 proposes a constitutional amendment for Alabama to allow Pike County's Judge of Probate to handle equity cases (such as property disputes or trusts) concurrently with the circuit court, but only if the judge is a licensed Alabama attorney. If approved, these cases would be treated identically to circuit court cases under Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure. The amendment directly affects Pike County residents filing such cases in probate court and requires the judge to meet the attorney licensing condition. This change would streamline case handling without altering the court's jurisdictional boundaries.
HB 506 adjusts the annual compensation for Montgomery County's judge of probate. It sets the base salary at $88,000 (effective October 1, 1996, per the bill text), with future increases tied to county employee raises - capped at $3,000 annually. The bill also offers an alternative: judges with at least six years of service may receive a salary matching a circuit judge's pay for their experience level. This directly affects Montgomery County probate judges and county budgeting for their salaries.
This bill establishes a legal defense for defendants in civil lawsuits seeking damages for personal injury, wrongful death, or property damage. It applies when the plaintiff was willfully obstructing traffic - such as standing on a road, blocking vehicle movement, or endangering safety - on public streets, highways, bridges, or roads. If proven, this defense could prevent the plaintiff from recovering damages for injuries sustained during the obstruction. The bill does not change traffic laws but modifies civil court procedures for such cases.
HB 495 modifies Alabama's school grading system by excluding the academic performance of students who transfer from a school that received an "F" grade for the first three years they attend their new school. This applies specifically to students moving from failing schools to other public schools in Alabama. Under the bill, the new school's A-F grade won't factor in these students' past test scores or grades during their initial three years of enrollment. The provision takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
SB 321 reclassifies psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp (including Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10 THC) as Schedule I controlled substances, effectively banning them under state law. This directly affects consumers who use these products and businesses selling consumable hemp products containing psychoactive compounds. The bill repeals existing laws allowing the sale of such products to adults over 21 and adds criminal penalties: possession for personal use becomes a Class A misdemeanor, while other possession carries felony charges. These changes align penalties with those for marijuana possession. The bill is pending committee review in Alabama's Senate Healthcare Committee.
HB 505 creates a new right for both criminal defendants with mental illness and Alabama's Department of Mental Health to appeal court orders that commit defendants to mental health custody or modify their conditional release terms. The bill specifically allows appeals of these orders to the Court of Criminal Appeals, which previously lacked jurisdiction for such cases. This change applies to existing procedures for defendants found to pose a "real and present threat of substantial harm" due to mental illness, as determined under current law. The bill does not alter the standards for commitment or release but adds a formal appellate process for these specific court decisions.
HJR 14 is a ceremonial resolution mourning the death and celebrating the life of Ella Cobbs Cook, a Brown University student from Birmingham, Alabama, who died on December 13, 2025. The resolution honors her as a devoted student, active church member, and caring individual who prioritized others through her faith, family, and community involvement. It was adopted by the Alabama legislature with a voice vote on January 22, 2026, expressing sympathy to her family and noting her legacy. This resolution has no policy impact or direct effect on any individuals or groups beyond the ceremonial tribute.
HB 234 allows Jefferson County Sheriff to appoint special reserve deputies during "emergency writ conditions" (when more property seizure writs are issued than the sheriff can execute promptly). These deputies, who must be Alabama-certified peace officers not currently employed by the sheriff's department and trained within the last three years, execute property seizure writs and return them to clerks. Petitioners pay a $250 fee directly to the deputy (not the county) for this service, while the sheriff and county cannot collect fees for these actions. The bill establishes training requirements for deputies and grants them legal protections similar to regular deputies.
SB 213 proposes a constitutional amendment for Lamar County, Alabama, allowing residents aged 65 or older who own a primary residence there to freeze their property tax amount. To qualify, individuals must have owned and lived in the home as their main residence for at least five years before claiming the exemption, which locks the tax value at the year before claiming (starting October 1, 2027). The exemption continues as long as the property remains their primary residence, but does not affect homestead exemptions, millage rate changes, or taxes on future property additions. Claimants must submit written requests to Lamar County’s Revenue Commissioner between October 1 and December 31 annually.
