Rep. Mack Butler

Maddy summaryHB 330 repeals an existing Alabama law (Section 45-28-71) that provided a specific alternative process for filling vacancies in Etowah County offices. This bill directly affects Etowah County, as it removes the option to use this alternative method when a vacancy occurs more than one year before a term ends. The key provision is the simple repeal of the existing section, meaning vacancies will now follow standard vacancy procedures instead of the county's previous alternative method. This is a procedural change with no new policy requirements or direct impact on residents beyond standard office filling.

Maddy summaryHB 80 modifies how eviction notices must be delivered to tenants. It allows notices to be given to any adult resident ("sui juris") living on the property instead of requiring personal service to the defendant. This change directly affects tenants facing eviction and law enforcement officers serving eviction notices. The bill focuses on procedural changes to the notice delivery process under existing eviction law. It is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 474 prohibits Alabama's Teachers' and Employees' Retirement Systems from investing in securities tied to Chinese military-linked companies or their affiliates, as defined by federal designations (including Executive Orders 13959 and 14032). The law requires the State Auditor to maintain a list of restricted entities and mandates retirement systems to divest from these holdings by January 2027. It applies to all retirement fund investments, including derivatives and related financial products, aligning with U.S. national security restrictions on such investments. The bill directly affects Alabama's public employee and teacher pension funds.

Maddy summaryHB 25 prohibits releasing chemicals or substances into the air to alter weather conditions (like temperature or sunlight intensity) within Alabama. Violators face a Class B misdemeanor charge and fines up to $100,000 per offense. The bill creates the Alabama Air Pollution Control Fund, funded entirely by these fines, to support air pollution reduction efforts. It requires the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to administer the fund and establish a public online reporting system for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 89 sets fixed qualification fees for municipal elections in Alabama's Class 4 municipalities: $500 for mayoral candidates and $250 for council or school board candidates. It changes the exemption process for low-income candidates by requiring them to submit proof of income below 130% of the federal poverty level, instead of just a signed statement from three voters. This bill directly affects candidates running for local office in these municipalities, altering both the fee structure and the documentation needed to qualify for fee waivers.

Maddy summaryHB 22 removes a requirement that prevented Class IV municipalities in Alabama from hiring the same certified public accountant to conduct annual audits for more than three consecutive years. The bill amends Alabama Code Section 11-43B-9 to eliminate this restriction, allowing these municipalities to retain the same auditor indefinitely if they choose. Class IV municipalities, which are a specific classification of smaller local governments (typically with populations under 10,000), are directly affected by this change. The bill does not alter other audit requirements, such as the need for a qualified accountant or the publication of audit summaries in local newspapers. It is pending committee review and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 314 amends Alabama's vehicle code to exempt county and municipal prosecutors from state window tint restrictions on their personal vehicles. Currently, active and retired law enforcement officers are already exempt, but this bill adds prosecutors to that list. The law requires these exempt individuals to carry official identification while driving their personal vehicles, mirroring the existing requirement for law enforcement. The bill does not change the tint percentage limits (32% light transmission for rear/side windows) or apply to government fleet vehicles.

Maddy summaryHB 24 would expand vaccine exemption options for students in Alabama. For K-12 public schools, it allows parents to exempt children from vaccine requirements using a simple written statement (without needing to explain or get approval). For public colleges and universities, it requires these institutions to offer both religious exemptions (via a student's written statement about religious beliefs) and medical exemptions (via a doctor's certification) for mandatory vaccines or disease testing. The bill, currently pending committee review, would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 23 prohibits public preK-12 teachers and staff from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation in classrooms for all grade levels (expanding current K-5 restrictions to all grades). It bans displaying LGBTQ+ flags or symbols on school property and requires staff to use pronouns matching a student's biological sex at birth. The bill directly affects all Alabama public school students, teachers, and staff in preK-12 settings. If enacted, it would take effect July 1, 2026, with the State Board of Education tasked with implementing enforcement rules.

Maddy summaryThis Alabama joint resolution urges state representatives to encourage the U.S. government to stop funding the World Health Organization and to reject new international health regulations. The bill argues that the organization is corrupt and unaccountable, citing past scandals and its leadership selection process as reasons for disassociation. It specifically calls for the cessation of taxpayer subsidies and the refusal to sign any treaties that would expand the WHO's authority over national sovereignty. The resolution does not have the power to directly cut federal funds but serves as a formal statement of the Alabama Legislature's position on the issue.