Budget & Taxes

signed · Alabama · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 35: Vessel Registration; amends boater registration fees and their distribution

SB 35 consolidates Alabama's current vessel registration fees (a $5 fixed fee plus a length-based fee) into a single annual fee structure. It directly affects all boat owners in Alabama who register their vessels, as the bill replaces the previous two-fee system with one unified fee. The key mechanism specifies that $5 from each registration fee goes to the State Reservoir Management Grant Fund, while the remainder (excluding the $2 processing fee) funds the State Water Safety Fund for administrative costs. The bill also updates code language for clarity but does not change the staggered registration system or vessel classification rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly allocates $5 per registration to Reservoir Management Fund and remaining fees to Water Safety Fund, directly funding specific state programs through fee structure changes.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing

signed · Alabama · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 315: Authorize the governing body of a Class 1 municipality to enact and enforce vacant property registration ordinances.

HB 315 authorizes Alabama's Class 1 municipalities (like Birmingham) to require property owners to register vacant residential or commercial buildings within 30 days of vacancy or ownership change. Owners must pay an initial registration fee and annual supplemental fees, while municipalities must establish a database and enforce maintenance standards to address blight, safety risks, and public costs associated with vacant properties. The bill aims to help cities identify vacant properties, reduce neighborhood deterioration, and offset expenses like inspections and nuisance abatement. This legislation is currently pending in the House Committee on Jefferson County Legislation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes municipal registration fees and annual supplemental fees for vacant properties, creating new local revenue to fund blight mitigation and enforcement programs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill addresses blight from vacant properties by requiring registration/fees and enforcing maintenance, directly targeting housing quality and public costs related to housing stability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Fees & Licensing Community Development

signed · Alabama · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 117: County commission procurement; procurement program allowed to apply to purchase of services, county commission allowed to consider administrative savings

HB 117 allows Alabama county commissions to expand their procurement programs to include purchases of services (like consulting or maintenance) in addition to physical goods. It also permits counties to consider "administrative savings" (reduced paperwork and management costs) alongside traditional cost savings when evaluating these programs. The bill gives county commissions flexibility to designate someone other than the chief administrative officer to oversee procurement operations. These changes aim to streamline purchasing processes while maintaining oversight requirements for accountability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows counties to prioritize administrative savings, promoting fiscal responsibility in procurement operations.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending Procurement

in committee · Alabama · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 186: Motor vehicles, distinctive license plates, issuance of "Invisible Disability" plates, authorized

SB 186 authorizes Alabama to issue distinctive "Invisible Disability" license plates to residents with specific invisible disabilities (like autism, PTSD, diabetes, or visual impairments) and their primary caregivers. To qualify, applicants must provide physician documentation, pay a $40 annual fee (in addition to standard registration fees), and meet other standard licensing requirements. The plates are valid for five years, and the $40 fee's proceeds (minus costs) fund Kulturecity, Inc.'s work on sensory accessibility for people with invisible disabilities. This bill creates a new license plate program with defined eligibility and funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes $40 annual fee (funding Kulturecity, Inc.) which allocates tax revenue to support disability services, aligning with fiscal support for public programs.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 229: Coalition against domestic violence, appropriation, operations plan and audited financial statement required, quarterly and end-of-year reports required

HB 229 appropriates $169,633 from Alabama’s State General Fund to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence for fiscal year 2027. The bill requires the Coalition to submit an operations plan and an audited financial report from fiscal year 2025 before receiving funds, along with quarterly updates on spending and progress and an annual performance report detailing services provided and costs. These reports must be submitted to the Director of Finance and forwarded to the Legislative Council. The funding is tied directly to accountability measures, ensuring transparency in how the money is used to support domestic violence services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $169,633 from State General Fund to fund Coalition Against Domestic Violence, supporting essential public service program through direct budget allocation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

Track

signed · Alabama · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 145: Hospitals, private hospital assessment and Medicaid funding program sunset clause removed.

SB 145 removes the expiration date for a 6% tax that privately operated hospitals in Alabama pay on net patient revenue. This tax currently funds Medicaid payments to hospitals and was scheduled to end on September 30, 2028. The bill makes the tax permanent, ensuring ongoing funding for Medicaid hospital payments without a set termination date. It directly affects private hospitals, which will continue paying this assessment to support Medicaid program financing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRemoves sunset clause for 6% hospital tax, ensuring permanent Medicaid funding via ongoing assessment on private hospitals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves sunset clause for hospital tax funding Medicaid payments, ensuring permanent support for Medicaid hospital financing and preventing funding cuts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid

passed · Alabama · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 123: Taxation; Cook Museum of Natural Science and the McWane Science Center, exempt from sales and use taxes

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts educational museums from sales tax, providing direct tax relief per bill summary and subject classification.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax Tax Incentives

Track

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 217: Fiscal Year 2026, General Fund supplemental appropriations

HB 217 provides supplemental funding for Alabama's fiscal year 2026 budget, allocating $114.6 million across multiple state agencies and funds. Key provisions include $50 million from the Strategic Energy Infrastructure Development Fund to the State Industrial Development Authority, $34 million from American Rescue Plan funds to the Department of Finance, and $35.1 million from the Legislative Council Fund for construction of a new State House. The bill also allocates funds to Alabama Medicaid, the Unified Judicial System for court operations, and the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. These appropriations supplement existing budgets and are specifically designated for the 2026 fiscal year ending September 30. The bill does not create new policies but reallocates existing funds from various state and federal sources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $114.6M for state agencies including Medicaid, funding essential programs per appropriations bill.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill allocates $50M from Strategic Energy Infrastructure Development Fund to State Industrial Development Authority, directly funding energy infrastructure projects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

Track

signed · Alabama · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 238: Appropriations from Education Trust Fund for the support, maintenance, and development of public education for fiscal year ending September 30, 2027

HB 238 appropriates funds from Alabama's Education Trust Fund for public education support, maintenance, and development during fiscal year 2027 (ending September 30, 2027). It allocates specific amounts for programs like charter school startup grants ($31.5 million), arts education ($9.6 million), and school infrastructure debt service, with funding sources specified as Education Trust Fund contributions and other federal/local funds. The bill directs these funds to state education programs under existing budget laws, requiring accountability for efficient fund use. It does not create new programs but authorizes spending for current educational operations and capital projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $31.5M for charter schools and $9.6M for arts education from Education Trust Fund, directly funding public education programs per bill's specific appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $31.5M for charter startups, $9.6M for arts education, and infrastructure funding from Education Trust Fund to support public education programs per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Debt & Bonds State Budget School Choice School Funding

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 231: Emergency medical transport providers assessment, sunset clause removed

HB 231 removes the expiration date for a quarterly assessment paid by emergency medical transport providers in Alabama. Currently, this assessment (based on providers' revenue from emergency transports) funds Medicaid enhancements for emergency services and ends on July 1, 2028. The bill makes this assessment permanent, requiring providers to continue paying it indefinitely. It directly affects all emergency medical transport providers operating in Alabama who currently pay this fee. The key mechanism is the permanent quarterly calculation tied to providers' prior fiscal quarter revenue, without a set end date.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMakes assessment permanent to fund Medicaid emergency services, sustaining revenue for essential programs without tax increases on general population.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill makes assessment permanent to fund Medicaid emergency services enhancements, ensuring ongoing healthcare funding for emergency medical transport providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

Track