Sen. Keith Kelley

Maddy summarySenate Bill 166 requires all public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher education to display the Ten Commandments in a common area, such as an entryway or library, by January 1, 2026. The bill specifies the exact text of the Ten Commandments to be used, along with a required context statement about their historical significance in American public education. Schools are not mandated to use their own funds for the display and may accept donations, with the State Department of Education tasked to publicize free resources. This legislation directly affects public educational institutions and their students across the state.

Maddy summarySB 128 proposes changes to the compensation for the Sheriff of Calhoun County. Beginning June 1, 2025, the Sheriff would receive an additional annual expense allowance of $13,966. Subsequently, starting January 18, 2027, the Sheriff's base annual salary would be set at $114,290. This new salary would replace all other previous expense allowances or forms of compensation for the position.

Maddy summarySB 181 proposes that Alabama join the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists to practice in other states that are also part of the compact. This bill aims to improve patient access to respiratory therapy services and streamline the licensing process for therapists who wish to work in multiple member states. It establishes a "compact privilege" for therapists based on their home state license and creates a commission to manage the compact, including overseeing disciplinary actions and joint investigations. The compact is designed to support workforce mobility and assist active military members and their spouses.

Maddy summarySB 91 aims to regulate the construction of tall structures near military installations. It revises the definition of a "military installation" to include Department of Defense land areas over 500 acres and defines "tall structures" as those exceeding 200 feet, with specific exclusions. The bill requires local government approval before constructing such tall structures near these military bases. It also authorizes local governments to seek legal action to stop construction that violates these new requirements.

Maddy summarySB 41 authorizes Calhoun County and its municipalities to regulate halfway houses, substance abuse rehab centers, sober living facilities, and similar housing for individuals under court order or supervision by the Calhoun County Community Punishment and Corrections Authority. The bill allows local governments to set rules for permits, facility size, location (including distance from schools), tenant limits per room, and impose daily civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation after a hearing. It also prohibits registered sex offenders from residing in facilities housing court-ordered residents. The law takes effect June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "firearm hold agreements" as private arrangements where a licensed gun store (federal firearms licensee) holds a customer's legally owned firearm for a set period and returns it later. It grants civil immunity to these licensees, protecting them from lawsuits if they return the firearm as agreed under the contract. The immunity does not apply if the licensee acted unlawfully, and the bill explicitly excludes transfers violating Alabama's existing gun laws. The law, named the Houston/Hunter Act, takes effect June 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 127 (Calhoun County, authorizes the county commission to increase compensation of the board of registrars) amends Alabama Code §45-8-110 to establish a base daily compensation of $15 for Calhoun County board of registrars members, in addition to existing pay. It authorizes the Calhoun County Commission to further increase this rate via resolution, with any increase subject to constitutional limits. If a pay hike violates the Alabama Constitution, it would initially be paid as an expense allowance until the next term, at which point it would become part of regular compensation. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 66 establishes a new crime in Alabama for "presentment of a forged instrument," specifically making it illegal to knowingly present a forged document or a document falsely tied to another person to state or local government employees with intent to defraud. The bill defines two scenarios: (1) presenting a forged instrument to government staff, or (2) presenting a document falsely identifying another individual, both with fraudulent intent. Violations are classified as a Class D felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects individuals attempting to commit fraud using fake documents when interacting with government offices, such as at DMVs or tax offices. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 39 requires members of certain occupational licensing boards in Alabama to complete mandatory training. This applies specifically to board members serving on state occupational licensing boards, excluding cabinet members and statewide elected officials. The bill amends Alabama Code to clarify that training is required for these board members but explicitly states that cabinet members and statewide elected officials are not included in this requirement. The legislation focuses on establishing a clear training obligation for designated board members without altering the substance of licensing regulations.

Maddy summarySB 172 establishes "aggressive driving" as a criminal offense in Alabama, directly affecting drivers who intentionally operate a vehicle to annoy, harass, intimidate, injure, or obstruct others. It defines specific prohibited actions, such as tailgating, illegal passing, reckless driving, throwing objects, or brandishing a firearm while driving. Violators face penalties: a Class A misdemeanor (including a minimum 30-day license suspension) for a first offense, and a Class D felony (with a minimum one-year license revocation) for repeat offenses within 10 years. The law amends existing traffic codes by adding these offenses to the criminal penalty structure, effective October 1, 2025.