This is a ceremonial resolution (HJR 149) congratulating Coach Ben Harris on his 2025 induction into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame. It formally recognizes his coaching achievements, including four Alabama state championships at Blount High School and his induction into multiple Alabama sports halls of fame. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is a symbolic gesture of legislative praise. It directly honors Coach Harris for his career impact on high school sports in Alabama.
HJR 152 is a ceremonial resolution commending Dr. Shannen Dee Williams for her professional achievements in African American history, specifically focusing on women and religion. It recognizes her academic work as an Associate Professor of History at the University of Dayton, her book *Subversive Habits* (which won multiple awards), and her contributions to Black Catholic history. The resolution does not create any new laws or policies - it is solely a formal expression of legislative praise. It directly affects no individuals or groups beyond honoring Dr. Williams' scholarly impact.
SB 137 allows privately owned sewer and wastewater systems that are under common ownership with systems already regulated by Alabama's Public Service Commission (PSC) to elect to join the PSC's regulatory jurisdiction. This directly affects affiliated private systems and their customers, as it requires the PSC to combine their capital and operating costs for setting a single, unified rate structure for all customers. The bill includes exceptions for counties with local constitutional amendments regulating wastewater utilities and preserves existing authority like Jefferson County's Board of Health. The law takes effect October 1, 2025, and applies only to systems not prohibited by local constitutional amendments.
SB 198 creates a dedicated Legal Services Office and Legal Assistance Program for the Alabama National Guard, directly serving Guard members and leadership. It establishes specific roles like state staff judge advocates to provide legal advice on military justice, personnel matters, contracts, and property issues. The bill also authorizes judge advocates and paralegals to perform notary services under defined circumstances. These provisions standardize legal support within the Guard, ensuring consistent access to legal counsel for both personnel and command.
This bill defines "firearm hold agreements" as private arrangements where a licensed gun store (federal firearms licensee) holds a customer's legally owned firearm for a set period and returns it later. It grants civil immunity to these licensees, protecting them from lawsuits if they return the firearm as agreed under the contract. The immunity does not apply if the licensee acted unlawfully, and the bill explicitly excludes transfers violating Alabama's existing gun laws. The law, named the Houston/Hunter Act, takes effect June 1, 2025.
HB 210 increases Calhoun County's coroner compensation. Starting June 1, 2025, the coroner receives an annual expense allowance of $20,000 (replacing the prior $5,000). On January 18, 2027, the coroner's base salary increases by $54,750 per year, ending the expense allowance. The bill also allows hiring up to two assistant coroners at $6,100 annually each and aligns the coroner's pay adjustments with county employee raises. It repeals the previous compensation law (Section 45-8-60) and takes effect June 1, 2025.
HB 213 authorizes Calhoun County to increase compensation for its board of registrars, who manage voter registration and election records. The bill amends Alabama law to allow the county commission to pay each registrar an additional $15 per day for board meetings, with the option to raise this amount via county resolution. This change would apply to Calhoun County registrars starting October 1, 2025, and temporary increases would be paid as expense allowances until the next election term. The bill directly affects Calhoun County's local election administration staff and their pay structure.
SB 127 (Calhoun County, authorizes the county commission to increase compensation of the board of registrars) amends Alabama Code §45-8-110 to establish a base daily compensation of $15 for Calhoun County board of registrars members, in addition to existing pay. It authorizes the Calhoun County Commission to further increase this rate via resolution, with any increase subject to constitutional limits. If a pay hike violates the Alabama Constitution, it would initially be paid as an expense allowance until the next term, at which point it would become part of regular compensation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.
HB 87 increases compensation for Marengo County's coroner and deputy coroner. Effective June 1, 2025, the coroner's monthly expense allowance rises from $400 to $1,000, and both positions receive a mileage rate of $0.22 per mile. The bill authorizes Marengo County Commission to set the deputy coroner's expense allowance and adjust both allowances annually starting October 1, 2026. These allowances replace any general law provisions for such expenses. The bill applies solely to Marengo County's coroner and deputy coroner positions.
HB 101 authorizes the Mobile County Sheriff's Office to use credit or debit cards for purchasing physical goods or approved services, directly affecting the sheriff's office operations. It requires the sheriff to establish written policies including spending limits per transaction and monthly, secure access controls, detailed record-keeping, and monthly bill reviews to prevent unauthorized charges. The bill mandates full monthly payment to avoid fees and specifies that any rewards from card use must be deposited into the sheriff's discretionary fund. It explicitly prohibits overspending beyond legally appropriated funds or creating debt for the county commission.
HB 193 alters the boundary lines of Childersburg and Bon Air in Talladega County, removing a 26.38-acre parcel of property from Bon Air's corporate limits and adding it to Childersburg. The affected property, located in specific sections of Talladega County, will now fall under Childersburg's jurisdiction. This boundary adjustment, effective October 1, 2025, directly impacts residents and property owners on that parcel. The bill is procedural, focusing solely on geographic jurisdiction without introducing new policies or taxes.
SB 162 amends Alabama law to change how Marshall County distributes Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) payments that replace property taxes. It directs 25% of these funds to local school systems (Arab, Guntersville, Albertville, and Boaz) based on student enrollment, and allocates specific dollar amounts to key local services: $247,000 for economic development, $50,000 for mental health services, $25,000 for the arts council, $30,000 for school resource officers, and smaller amounts for ambulance services, domestic violence programs, and community college. The bill ensures these funds are distributed according to a detailed spending plan approved by the county legislative delegation. It takes effect June 1, 2025.
