SB 245, the Health Care Sharing Ministries Tax Parity Act, allows members of health care sharing ministries to deduct their contributions toward qualified health care expenses from their Alabama state income tax, starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects individuals who are members of these ministries, treating their contributions similarly to health insurance premiums and health savings account expenses for tax deduction purposes. The bill requires taxpayers to claim the deduction on their state tax return and provides that contributions received for medical expenses (without a prior deduction) are not taxable income. This legislation aims to create tax parity between health care sharing ministries and traditional health insurance for Alabama taxpayers.
HB 375 requires Alabama's Department of Human Resources (DHR) to create a dementia training program for staff and contractors who investigate adult protective services cases. Specifically, it mandates that employees or contractors handling these cases complete a two-hour initial training on identifying dementia, safety risks, and communication strategies upon hiring, plus two hours of continuing education every two years. The training must cover Alzheimer's disease, common safety concerns like wandering or falls, and best practices for supporting individuals with dementia. This law applies directly to DHR personnel and contractors working in adult protective services and takes effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 445 amends Alabama's tax code to exclude "difficulty of care payments" from taxable gross income. Specifically, it adds a new exemption for payments received by individual care providers under Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver programs. This change directly affects care providers who receive these payments for services to Medicaid participants. The bill modifies Section 40-18-14 of the Alabama Code to ensure these payments are not counted toward an individual's state income tax calculation, aligning with federal tax treatment under 26 U.S.C. § 131.
HB 478, the Restroom Access Act, requires Alabama retail stores with employee restrooms to allow customers with specific medical conditions (like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or ostomy devices) to use those facilities under strict conditions. To access an employee restroom, customers must provide medical evidence (such as a doctor's note or Crohn's & Colitis Foundation ID) and the store must confirm it lacks a public restroom, has no health/safety risks, and has three or more employees present. Retailers aren't required to modify facilities or provide greater care than they would to regular customers. Violating the law is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
This resolution urges the Alabama House of Representatives to address food insecurity by expanding SNAP eligibility and supporting Black farmers. It specifically requests the legislature raise SNAP income thresholds, fund nutrition incentive programs like Double Bucks, and establish a Food Security & Equity Task Force. The resolution cites data showing over 2.3 million Alabamians faced food insecurity in 2021, disproportionately impacting Black, rural, and low-income households. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create law but formally requests these policy changes to improve food access and equity.
HB 400 prohibits insurance companies from allowing ambulance providers to bill patients for the difference between the insurance payment and the provider's charge (balance billing) for covered emergency ambulance services. It sets minimum reimbursement rates: 200% of Medicare's ambulance fee schedule for in-network providers (covering transport and "treat in place" services) and 180% for out-of-network providers, effective 2026-2027. Payment at these rates is defined as "payment in full," meaning providers cannot seek additional payment from patients beyond their standard cost-sharing amounts (like deductibles). This directly affects ambulance providers (both in-network and out-of-network) and patients receiving emergency ambulance care in Alabama.
SB 332 would add Parkinson's disease to Alabama's list of occupational diseases eligible for disability and death benefits for firefighters. It requires firefighters to demonstrate exposure to a known toxin linked to Parkinson's during their service to qualify for benefits, creating a presumption that the disease is work-related in such cases. This change directly affects Alabama firefighters who develop Parkinson's disease while serving, allowing them to seek compensation similar to other covered occupational illnesses. The bill updates existing statutes to include this provision while removing redundant language.
HB 449 establishes Alabama's state lottery system by creating the Alabama Lottery Corporation to operate and regulate lottery games. It sets up the Alabama Lottery Trust Fund, directing revenue to five specific uses: problem gambling treatment, college scholarships for public two-year and four-year institutions, cost-of-living raises for education employees, hospital operation grants, and tax credits for eligible residents. The bill also creates a Board of Directors to oversee the corporation, imposes advertising restrictions to limit appeals to minors, and increases criminal penalties for violations like selling tickets to minors or counterfeiting. This bill directly affects all Alabama residents through lottery participation and the allocation of lottery revenue to state programs.
HB 332 requires Alabama's Department of Human Resources to create a mandatory anaphylaxis response policy by August 1, 2027. Licensed day care centers must implement this policy starting January 1, 2028, and notify parents in writing about the policy annually. The bill also mandates that all day care employees complete anaphylaxis training every two years and maintain certification. This policy includes emergency protocols for severe allergic reactions, individualized care plans for children with allergies, and strategies to reduce allergen exposure. It directly affects all licensed day care centers and their staff in Alabama.
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HR 58 is a state-level resolution passed by the Alabama House of Representatives urging the U.S. Congress to enact the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102/S.1032). It does not change federal law itself but advocates for eliminating the current dollar-for-dollar offset that reduces veterans' retirement pay when they receive VA disability compensation, directly affecting approximately 50,000 veterans with disabilities who served fewer than 20 years. The resolution highlights that this policy causes an average monthly loss of $1,200 in benefits for affected veterans, many of whom sustained service-related injuries. It seeks to ensure these veterans receive both full retirement pay and disability compensation without reduction.
