Rep. Mark Gidley

Maddy summaryThis bill recommends that Alabama state government entities avoid using the term "West Bank" and instead use "Judea and Samaria" in official materials. It is a non-binding resolution that encourages state agencies to adopt this terminology based on historical and religious arguments presented in the bill text. The measure does not impose legal requirements or penalties but serves as a formal recommendation to align state language with the bill's stated view of the region's historical names.

Maddy summaryHB 8 allows local school boards and public charter school governing bodies to vote on whether to permit volunteer campus chaplains in Alabama public K-12 schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. If approved, schools may offer chaplain services at a teacher's request, but volunteers must complete recognized training and pass a background check. The bill prohibits individuals convicted of sex offenses requiring registration from serving as chaplains. This policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all public K-12 schools and charter schools in Alabama.

Maddy summaryThis bill formally commends Ms. Ansley Lyons of Jacksonville, Alabama, for her significant contributions to addressing food insecurity in her community. The resolution highlights her leadership in creating and stocking Little Free Food Pantries, her weekly volunteering at the Jacksonville Christian Outreach Center, and her academic achievements as a student at Jacksonville State University. The measure serves as an official recognition of her service rather than establishing new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryHB 425 exempts Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. from paying state sales and use taxes for three years, from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029. It also allows local counties and municipalities to optionally grant the same exemption for local sales and use taxes if they approve it under existing rules. The bill directly affects only this specific nonprofit organization, providing targeted tax relief for a limited period. This is a narrow, entity-specific exemption rather than a broad tax policy change. The exemption would take effect on September 1, 2026, and expires after the three-year period.

Maddy summaryHB 105 updates Alabama laws against child enticement and electronic solicitation. It expands the definition of "enticing" to include "grooming" (building emotional connections through manipulation, gift-giving, or online interactions) when targeting children under 16 for sexual acts, genital mutilation, or assault. The bill also broadens electronic solicitation to cover attempts to direct children into sexual acts or genital mutilation via digital means, and clarifies jurisdiction for such crimes to include any county where images were received or parties resided. These changes apply to individuals who target children under 16 or those believed to be that age.

Maddy summaryHB 216 would require Alabama public schools to display the Ten Commandments alongside a context statement in history classrooms (grades 5-12) and common areas of schools serving grades 5 and above, but only if donated displays or funds are available. The bill mandates the State Department of Education to identify free resources to help schools comply with this requirement. It does not create a state-funded mandate and is currently pending committee review in the Alabama House of Representatives as of January 2026. The legislation cites historical references to religious elements in founding documents as justification, but the policy focuses solely on display requirements subject to donations.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution, not a law. It designates September 1-30 each year as a "time of prayer and fasting" in Alabama, calling on Alabamians to voluntarily observe this period. The resolution asks for divine blessings to address issues like corruption, violence, addiction, and family challenges, while referencing religious principles. It does not create new legal requirements or directly affect any individuals or groups, as it is a formal legislative expression of intent. The resolution is non-binding and serves only to recognize a period for voluntary community prayer and reflection.

Maddy summaryHJR 26 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing McKenzie Fuller as Miss Jacksonville State University 2025. It commends her for achievements including leading the "Reading Rockets" literacy initiative (which collected 2,500 books and visited 43 classrooms), hosting a "Girls in STEAM" event, and representing the university at the Miss Alabama Competition. The resolution formally honors her service to literacy, education, and youth empowerment in Alabama. As a non-binding resolution, it has no policy impact and solely serves to publicly acknowledge her contributions.

Maddy summaryHB 9 prevents individuals convicted of elder abuse or financial exploitation from benefiting from the victim's estate or contracts. Specifically, if convicted, the abuser cannot inherit through a will, receive property from joint accounts, or claim life insurance or other beneficiary benefits tied to the victim. The bill amends Alabama law to apply these restrictions automatically upon conviction for elder abuse/neglect (first/second degree) or financial exploitation of elderly persons. It ensures assets pass as if the abuser predeceased the victim, directly protecting vulnerable seniors from financial exploitation by caregivers or family members.

Maddy summaryHB 118 prohibits the manufacture, distribution, mailing, transport, or prescription of abortion-inducing drugs in Alabama, with narrow exceptions for non-abortion purposes or specific medical emergencies (like ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage-related care). It creates a private lawsuit mechanism ("qui tam") allowing individuals to sue violators for $100,000 plus fees, but explicitly blocks lawsuits against hospitals, healthcare providers, delivery services (like Uber), internet companies, and women using the drugs for abortion. The bill exempts certain entities, including hospitals, transportation network companies, and out-of-state pharmacies, from being sued under this provision. This bill directly affects pharmacies, healthcare providers, and drug distributors within Alabama, while maintaining Alabama’s existing near-total abortion ban.