Rep. Mike Shaw

Maddy summaryHB 283, known as the "Alabama Personal Data Protection Act," grants consumers new rights over their personal data collected online. It allows consumers to confirm if their data is being processed by an entity, correct inaccuracies, request deletion, obtain a copy of their data, and opt out of its processing. The bill requires entities that control personal data ("controllers") to establish secure methods for consumers to exercise these rights and also regulates the manner in which both personal and deidentified data can be processed.

Maddy summaryHB 587 establishes specific qualifications for information technology (IT) auditors. This bill directly affects independent IT auditors hired by state-chartered financial institutions or their subcontractors to perform IT audits required by state or federal regulators. To qualify, these auditors must be independent third parties, hold professional certifications like CISA or CISSP, and have at least five years of experience in an IT-related field or a financial institution. They must also hold a certification specified by the Alabama Credit Union Administration or the State Banking Department. These requirements do not apply to IT audits performed internally or by state or federal government agencies, and the bill is set to become effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 569 requires pet boarding facilities (housing 100+ dogs/cats) and grooming facilities (with 20+ annual employees) to have a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician present during all business hours. It directly affects these specific pet care businesses in Alabama, mandating on-site veterinary oversight for animal care. Violations would result in a minimum $500 civil penalty enforced by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 481 exempts local school boards and specific public procurement units from competitive bidding requirements when purchasing certain materials and equipment for public works projects. The bill amends Alabama law to remove the need for sealed bids and advertising for these specific purchases, while maintaining other requirements like design standards, code compliance, and vendor approval processes. This directly affects school districts and designated procurement units in their routine procurement of items like building materials or equipment. The change streamlines purchasing for these entities but does not exempt projects from broader public works regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 484 requires Alabama state agencies to publish all public expenditures over $1,000 (such as vendor payments) on a secure public digital ledger (blockchain) starting October 1, 2030. It directly affects state agencies and vendors receiving state funds exceeding $1,000. The bill mandates a strategic implementation plan by the Department of Finance by September 2027, including recommendations for required legislation or funding. The Comptroller may contract with external entities to develop the system, though the bill does not require exclusive use of blockchain technology for tracking expenditures. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025, but implementation is delayed until 2030.

Maddy summaryHB 482 allows Alabama's State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of certain state funds in digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, or exchange-traded products (ETPs). It requires these assets to either be ETPs or have a minimum $750 billion market cap, and mandates strict security through "secure custody solutions" that keep private keys exclusively controlled by the state in encrypted, geographically diversified facilities. The bill prohibits the Treasurer from investing more than 10% of any fund's balance in digital assets and restricts loans of these assets unless financial risk is assessed. It becomes effective October 1, 2025, after legislative committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 398 authorizes Jefferson County and its municipalities to add up to $20 to residential building permits (covering permits for home construction, remodeling, or related trades). The funds collected will be directed exclusively to the Central Alabama Homebuilding Academy to train individuals in 14 specific construction trades, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, roofing, and HVAC. County and city governments must approve the academy’s annual budget before distributing funds, and the academy must provide annual reports on program activities and finances. This bill directly affects homebuilders paying permits and benefits the academy’s training programs, with funds flowing to the academy starting June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 80) honors the longstanding relationship between Alabama and Japan, specifically recognizing the partnership on March 4, 2025. It highlights Alabama-Japan economic ties, including $2 billion in annual trade, over $20 billion in Japanese investment creating 20,000 jobs, and cultural exchanges like sister cities and the Japanese Garden in Birmingham. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it simply acknowledges these existing connections through a formal statement by the Alabama House of Representatives.

Maddy summaryHB 217 amends Alabama's tax code to exclude "difficulty of care payments" received by individual care providers under Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver programs from state gross income calculations. This change specifically affects care providers (such as home health aides) who receive these payments through Medicaid waiver programs. The bill adds a new exemption to Section 40-18-14 of Alabama's tax code, aligning with federal tax treatment under 26 U.S.C. § 131. As a result, these payments will no longer be included when calculating an individual's Alabama state income tax liability.

Maddy summaryHB 208 expands the duties of Alabama's Secretary of Information Technology to include establishing cybersecurity governance for all state agencies and creating a new Technology Quality Assurance Board. The bill requires the Secretary to adopt rules for cybersecurity standards and oversee the board, which must enforce ethical guidelines, security controls, and compliance mechanisms for state agency use of technologies like AI. This directly affects all Alabama state agencies by mandating new cybersecurity protocols and oversight for technology procurement and development. The bill also updates the Secretary's existing responsibilities to include cybersecurity governance in strategic planning and project approvals. The legislation is pending committee review and would take effect October 1, 2025, if enacted.