Healthcare

This bill requires Alabama's Department of Human Resources to request a federal waiver from the USDA to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to purchase soda, energy drinks, candy, and prepared desserts. If approved, the state would ban SNAP recipients from buying these items with their benefits starting October 1, 2026. The department must annually reapply for the waiver if initially denied, until approval is granted. This directly affects Alabama SNAP recipients by potentially restricting their food purchasing options and places responsibility on the state agency to pursue the federal waiver.

SB 19 requires Alabama health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screening with no deductibles or copays for two groups: all men over 50 and men at high risk (defined as African American men or those with a father, brother, or son diagnosed with prostate cancer or related risk factors). It expands existing law, which previously only mandated free screening for men over 50, to include high-risk younger men starting at age 40. The bill applies to all health insurance plans in Alabama and takes effect October 1, 2026. This policy change directly affects insurers (mandating coverage without cost-sharing) and beneficiaries (eliminating out-of-pocket costs for specified screenings).

SB 3 requires Alabama public K-12 schools to teach only abstinence-focused sex education, banning any instruction about contraception or abortion referrals. Parents must receive notice and can opt their children out of sex education classes. The bill mandates specific content, including pregnancy costs, abortion laws, adoption processes, and parenting responsibilities, while prohibiting demonstrations of contraceptive use or sexually explicit materials. School boards cannot partner with organizations that advocate for abortion or non-abstinence approaches, and the Attorney General is authorized to enforce these requirements.

HB 12 prohibits employers, public accommodations, hospitals, health insurers, and licensing boards from discriminating against individuals who refuse certain vaccines, drugs, or facial coverings for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. It allows affected individuals to seek court injunctions and damages, while authorizing Alabama’s Attorney General to enforce the law or defend entities facing federal penalties related to compliance. The bill specifically exempts surgical masks during medical procedures and covers immunization status in healthcare and employment contexts. It directly affects workers, patients, and applicants who face refusal-based discrimination, with key provisions applying to hiring, services, medical care, and licensing decisions. The law creates a legal pathway for private lawsuits and state enforcement without requiring security deposits for filing claims.

HB 15 would exempt eyeglasses and contact lenses from Alabama's sales and use tax. Currently, these items are taxed under state law, but the bill would remove that tax obligation. This change would directly affect consumers purchasing optical aids and retailers selling them, as they would no longer pay or collect tax on these items. The bill amends Alabama Code Section 40-23-1 to add eyeglasses and contact lenses to the list of tax-exempt products.

HB 40 requires Alabama health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screening without deductibles, copayments, or other out-of-pocket costs for two groups: men over 50 and men at high risk for prostate cancer. High-risk men are defined as African American men or those with a father, brother, or son who had prostate cancer (diagnosed, developed, or died from it), or who carry certain genetic markers. The bill amends Alabama law to expand existing coverage requirements, ensuring these screenings are fully covered at no cost to patients. This directly affects insured men in Alabama who fall into these categories, removing financial barriers to early detection. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026.