Maddy summaryHB 553 amends Alabama law to explicitly allow certified registered nurse practitioners (NRPs) and certified nurse midwives to sign physical examination forms for K-12 student athletes, treating their signature as equivalent to a physician's. This directly affects student athletes in Alabama public and private schools requiring physicals for athletic participation. The bill updates Section 34-21-93.1 of the Alabama Code to add "physicals to verify eligibility for students to participate in K-12 school athletic activities" to the list of documents where an NRP’s endorsement satisfies physician signature requirements. It does not expand NRPs’ scope of practice or alter physician responsibilities, as clarified in the bill text. The change aims to streamline athletic eligibility processes without changing existing legal standards.
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Maddy summaryHJR 97 extends the deadline for the Chronic Weight Management and Type 2 Diabetes Task Force to submit its final report. The bill changes the submission date from the 2025 legislative session to the fifteenth day of the 2026 Regular Session, giving the task force an additional year. This task force, established by Act 2023-260, studies health implications related to chronic weight management and type 2 diabetes. The extension directly affects the task force members and the legislature, which will receive the report after the new deadline. The bill does not create new policy but adjusts the timeline for an existing legislative study.
Maddy summaryHB 478 requires health insurers to pay out-of-network ambulance providers at a minimum of 185% of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rate for the same service in the same area, preventing providers from charging patients the difference after insurance payment (balance billing). Insurers must pay claims within 30 days of receiving a complete claim and cannot require prior authorization for emergency ambulance services. The bill also prohibits insurers from reducing in-network rates after October 1, 2025, and mandates a two-year study by the Alabama Department of Public Health on whether the law improves ambulance response times and rural service availability. This directly affects insurers, ambulance providers, and Alabama residents covered by health insurance plans who use emergency ambulance services.
Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a bill) expressing Alabama's support for replacing the 117th Air Refueling Wing's aging KC-135 aircraft with newer KC-46A Pegasus aircraft at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base in Birmingham. It does not change laws or allocate funds but formally urges federal officials like the Air Force Secretary to prioritize this aircraft upgrade. The resolution highlights the modernization's benefits for military readiness, national security, and local jobs in Birmingham. It directly affects the 117th Air Refueling Wing and Alabama's military infrastructure.
Maddy summaryHB 29 changes unemployment benefit requirements by increasing the number of potential employers job seekers must contact weekly, based on their county's population size. Unemployed individuals in counties with fewer than 20,000 residents must contact at least three employers per week, while those in larger counties (20,000+ residents) must contact at least five employers per week. This replaces current job search standards to require more frequent employer outreach. The bill directly affects people claiming unemployment benefits who must document these contacts to maintain eligibility. It is currently pending in the House Committee on State Government.
Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring James T. Cullins, a 95-year-old U.S. Army veteran, on his birthday. It recognizes his military service (including the Berlin Airlift and Korean War), post-military ministry work, community contributions (like helping establish Hillabee Towers), and service in the Alabama Legislature. The resolution formally celebrates his life and legacy without creating any new laws or altering policies. It is purely symbolic, offering tribute and best wishes with no direct effect on constituents or legislation.
Maddy summaryHB 175 allocates $450,000 from Alabama's Education Trust Fund to Southern Preparatory Academy in Camp Hill for its educational program during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The bill directly affects the school by providing funding for operations and maintenance, subject to specific reporting requirements. Key provisions require the academy to submit an operations plan with performance goals, an audited 2024 financial statement, and quarterly expenditure reports before funds are released. It also mandates an end-of-year performance report detailing accomplishments, costs, and program effectiveness to Alabama's Director of Finance. The funding becomes effective October 1, 2025, and must comply with state budget laws.
Maddy summaryHB 28 would amend Alabama law to include coroners, deputy coroners, medicolegal death investigators, and medical examiners as "first responders" for state death benefits. This means that if a member of these professions dies while performing their duties (such as investigating a death or responding to an emergency), their beneficiaries - like spouses or children - would become eligible for the same state death benefits currently provided to firefighters and police officers. The bill updates the legal definition of "first responder" in Alabama Code §36-30-1(8) to explicitly cover these roles, extending existing death benefit protections to them. This policy change directly affects the families of these professionals who lose their lives in the line of duty.
Maddy summaryHB 154 revises Alabama's State Board of Veterans Affairs structure and Commissioner appointment. It changes the Governor from the Board to appoint the Commissioner (who would serve "at the Governor's pleasure"), eliminating the Board's prior role in selecting the Commissioner. The bill also revises the Board's membership to be appointed by the Governor, House Speaker, and Senate President Pro Tempore - requiring appointments to reflect Alabama's entire veteran community across demographics and service eras. Finally, it redefines the Board as purely advisory, transferring its former duties (like setting department policy, approving contracts, and selecting senior staff) to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires public and nonpublic schools in Alabama to create and follow a written plan for responding to sudden cardiac arrest emergencies. The plan must include guidelines for placing automated external defibrillators, establishing emergency response teams, and ensuring staff receive regular training in CPR and AED use. Additionally, schools must practice these emergency procedures through drills and review their plans annually to ensure they remain effective. The legislation also mandates that schools coordinate with local emergency services to integrate their response plans into broader community medical protocols.