Labor & Employment in Alabama

in committee · Alabama · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SB 327: Employee drug testing; employee notice requirements revised

SB 327 requires all Alabama employers with drug or alcohol testing policies (including those previously covered under workers' compensation law) to provide employees with verbal and written notice of the policy at hiring and post it prominently. Employers must also give at least 10 days' notice before implementing policy changes, using methods like written copies, email, or posted notices. The bill mandates that notices include details about testing types, consequences of positive results, and information about employee assistance programs. Additionally, employers must encourage employees who test positive to seek rehabilitation before taking disciplinary action.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · Alabama · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 319: Shelby County; City of Helena, civil service system established, board, director, policies, and appeals created

SB 319 establishes a civil service system for permanent city jobs in Helena, Shelby County, replacing the 1992 civil service law. It creates a Personnel Board (with employee-elected and appointed members), appoints a director to manage personnel, and sets standardized rules for hiring, promotions, and appeals for city employees. The bill defines key terms like "regular position" and "eligible register" to ensure consistent application of hiring processes, including open-competitive recruitment and merit-based advancement. This directly affects Helena city employees, hiring managers, and applicants for city jobs.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

signed · Alabama · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 252: Governor's Mansion Authority employees further provided for

SB 252, known as the Sarah Caldwell Crosby Act, clarifies that employees of Alabama's Governor's Mansion Authority are part of the unclassified service under the state's Merit System Act. This change affects how these employees are managed and their eligibility for benefits, aligning them with standard unclassified state staff. The bill also requires that any employee working for the authority as of its effective date receives payment for their accumulated leave upon separation from the job. This codifies an existing practice and ensures a specific benefit for current employees without altering future hiring rules.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees

in committee · Alabama · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 291: Tax incentives; reimbursement for violation of labor and trafficking laws provided for

SB 291 would prevent businesses that violate human trafficking or federal child labor laws from keeping economic tax incentives under Alabama's Jobs Act. If an entity violates these laws, it must reimburse the state and local governments for all tax incentives, grants, or abatements received. The bill also requires the Secretary of Commerce to verify applicants comply with these labor laws before approving incentives. These changes update Alabama law to close a loophole allowing violators to retain tax benefits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Child Labor Labor Standards Tags Economic Development

in committee · Alabama · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 469: Municipal firefighters' bill of rights; rights and procedures for firefighters' personnel issues established

HB 469 creates the Municipal Firefighters' Bill of Rights for municipal firefighters in Alabama, directly affecting firefighters facing investigations or disciplinary actions. It establishes minimum standards for investigations leading to termination, demotion, or loss of pay/status, requiring written notification of pending actions, recording of interrogations, and allowing firefighters to have a witness present. The bill prohibits requiring firefighters to disclose personal financial details (like income, assets, or debts) for promotions or assignments and protects off-duty political activity. It also explicitly states firefighters cannot be penalized for exercising these rights, with the law taking effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

signed · Alabama · House Mar 13, 2026

HB 493: Shelby County; City of Helena, civil service system established, board, director, policies, and appeals created

HB 493 establishes a formal civil service system for employees in the City of Helena, Alabama, replacing the previous system under Act 92-201. It creates a personnel board (with employee-elected and city-appointed members), appoints a director to manage personnel matters, and sets up clear processes for hiring, promotions, and appeals through defined "reemployment lists" and "eligible registers." The bill directly affects Helena city employees and hiring decisions, requiring all regular positions (full-time roles lasting over six months) to follow standardized classification, testing, and compensation rules. Key provisions include prohibiting city employees from serving on the board, mandating public hearings for appeals, and defining terms like "classified service" to ensure transparent, merit-based employment practices.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Public Employees Workforce Development

signed · Alabama · House Apr 1, 2026

HJR 189: Career and Technical Education, resolution of support for additional funding

This resolution (HJR 189) is a non-binding legislative expression of support for increased funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Alabama. It urges the Alabama Legislature to appropriate an additional $150 million in the 2026 session to expand CTE programs, building on prior funding of $100 million allocated for regional career technology centers. The resolution highlights that 34% of Alabama jobs by 2031 will require post-high school education below a bachelor’s degree, and CTE prepares students for key industries like bioscience and advanced materials. It directly affects Alabama’s public school districts and students participating in CTE programs by advocating for future state funding to support infrastructure and training. As a resolution, it does not allocate funds but formally recommends this action to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education

signed · Alabama · House Apr 6, 2026

HB 466: Firefighters; to include Parkinson's Disease in occupational diseases to be compensated for death and disability

HB 466 adds Parkinson's disease to the list of occupational diseases eligible for compensation for Alabama firefighters who develop it during service. To qualify, firefighters must prove they were exposed to a known toxin linked to Parkinson's while employed, after which the disease is presumed work-related. The bill updates existing law (Sections 11-43-144, 36-30-40, and 36-30-41 of the Alabama Code) to include this requirement for both city and state firefighters. It removes outdated language while ensuring benefits for Parkinson's-related disability or death, aligning with similar provisions for cancer, HIV, and other conditions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

signed · Alabama · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 132: Crimes and offenses; assault in the second degree, revised

HB 132 revises Alabama's assault in the second degree law to expand protections for specific professionals during work. It adds new circumstances where assaulting peace officers (including off-duty officers in approved uniform), teachers, healthcare workers (including home health care providers), social workers, letter carriers, or children in schools during their duties constitutes second-degree assault. The bill specifies that these protections apply when the assault occurs while the victim is performing their job, with exceptions for assaults by impaired patients on healthcare workers. Assault in the second degree remains classified as a Class C felony under this revision.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

signed · Alabama · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 239: FY27 2% Teacher Pay Raise and Retiree Longevity Bonus

HB 239 would increase salaries for Alabama public education employees by 2% starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It applies to K-12 teachers, support staff (including bus drivers), and employees at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), as well as two-year postsecondary education staff. The bill requires all affected employees to receive this automatic increase regardless of experience level, with local salary schedules adjusted to reflect the change. The pay increase is mandated to be applied in addition to any existing step increases or local adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

All labor & employment bills