Veterans (Military Families)

This bill formally commends Brittney Rabens for being named the 2026 Armed Forces Insurance Maxwell Air Force Base Military Spouse of the Year. It highlights her extensive work supporting military families through roles such as the Alabama Military Spouse Advisory Council representative and a Key Support Liaison Mentor at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base. The resolution recognizes her leadership in volunteer programs like Operation Cookie Drop and the Volunteer Crossing Guard Program, as well as her dedication during her husband's multiple deployments. Ultimately, the legislation serves as an official honor from the Alabama Legislature acknowledging her contributions to the military community.

HB 307 adds hiring preferences for military spouses in Alabama state employment by granting them five additional points on employment test scores. Specifically, spouses of active duty service members and spouses of veterans (honorably discharged) each receive five points, while surviving spouses of service members who died in action or spouses of veterans with service-connected disabilities receive ten points. The bill also allows Alabama counties, municipalities, and private employers to voluntarily adopt similar hiring preferences for military spouses and veterans. These changes apply to employment tests and promotions within the state’s classified service, aiming to support military-connected individuals in job applications.

SB 55 expands hiring preferences for military spouses in Alabama state employment. It adds spouses of active-duty service members (not just veterans) to receive five extra points on state job application tests, matching the existing preference for spouses of veterans. The bill also allows local governments and private employers to voluntarily offer similar hiring and promotion preferences to veterans and their spouses. This change updates Alabama's employment code to include active-duty spouses while making the policy available beyond state jobs.