Sen. April Weaver

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits LP-Gas permittees from filling or storing cylinders for retail sale within 3,000 feet of schools, churches, hospitals, athletic fields, or other public gathering places. It directly affects businesses operating bulk LP-Gas facilities that distribute cylinders to retailers. The key provision creates a mandatory buffer zone around these locations, with an exception for retail facilities offering cylinder exchange programs. The law, set to take effect October 1, 2026, aims to enhance safety near high-occupancy areas by restricting LP-Gas storage and handling.

Maddy summarySB 17 amends Alabama law to make rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual torture capital offenses when the victim is under 12 years old. It also requires that individuals convicted of these crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The bill directly affects perpetrators of these specific sexual offenses against children under 12, altering their sentencing from Class A felonies to capital offenses. These changes would apply to cases involving victims younger than 12, as specified in the proposed amendments to Alabama's criminal code. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summarySB 76 creates an exemption from jury duty for nursing mothers. The bill allows a prospective juror to be excused from service if they provide a statement confirming they are a nursing mother. This change directly affects nursing mothers called for jury duty, offering them a specific reason for exemption.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 108 establishes new criminal offenses in Alabama related to mail. It defines "mail theft" as taking mail addressed to another person from their mailbox or premises without consent, with the intent to deprive them of it. The bill also creates the crime of "receiving stolen mail," which involves intentionally possessing or disposing of stolen mail knowing or having reason to believe it was stolen. Penalties for these crimes range from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class B felony, with severity increasing based on the number of addresses affected and if the intent was to use sensitive personal information to defraud the addressee. This act provides specific legal consequences for these actions, becoming effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 77 would require money transmission businesses to collect a fee on outgoing international electronic wire transfers, specifically $7.50 plus 1.5% of amounts over $500. These collected fees would be deposited into a newly created Sheriffs' Immigration Enforcement and Detainer Fund, which would help county sheriffs cover costs related to enforcing immigration laws and housing violators. The bill also authorizes an income tax credit for taxpayers, allowing them to claim the full amount of these international wire transfer fees paid, up to $5,000. The Alabama Securities Commission and the Alabama Department of Revenue would administer these provisions, with the Department of Revenue responsible for notifying customers about the tax credit.

Maddy summarySB 273 would reclassify psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp, such as Delta-8 and Delta-9 THC, as Schedule I controlled substances, making their sale illegal. The bill restricts the sale of nonpsychoactive consumable hemp products, like CBD edibles and topicals, exclusively to licensed pharmacies certified by the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy, starting January 1, 2026. These products would be required to undergo laboratory testing and must be made from hemp cultivated within the state. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture and Industries would establish a seed-to-sale tracking program for hemp and these consumable products.

Maddy summarySB 270 modifies the collection of certain county sales and use taxes. Specifically, if a portion of a county sales and use tax is distributed to a county board of education for capital projects, that particular portion of the tax may only be levied in the geographical areas served by that county board of education. This change affects counties, county boards of education, and taxpayers in areas where such taxes are collected. The bill is slated to become effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 243 aims to modernize Alabama's economic development laws by updating outdated references. It removes mentions of the "Accelerate Alabama Strategic Economic Development Plan" from statutes governing research and development corridors, grants, and various tax abatements and incentives, aligning them with the Alabama Jobs Act. Additionally, the bill updates the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes, used to classify businesses for economic development purposes, from the 2012 version to the latest 2022 version. These changes affect businesses and state agencies involved in economic development programs.

Maddy summarySB 261 revises the salary for the judge of probate in Bibb County, but only if that judge is a licensed attorney. The bill sets their salary at 80 percent of the initial state base salary for a state district court judge at the time they assume office. Additionally, the probate judge will receive future salary increases, including step and cost-of-living adjustments, in the same manner as a district judge with comparable years of service. This new salary structure replaces any other compensation for the position and is effective retroactively to January 1, 2021.

Maddy summarySB 320 prohibits permittees of Alabama's Liquefied Petroleum Gas Board from filling or storing LP-Gas cylinders for retail sale within 3,000 feet of schools, churches, hospitals, athletic fields, or other public gathering places. This directly affects gas suppliers and retailers holding permits under Alabama's LP-Gas regulations. The key provision establishes a 3,000-foot buffer zone around these locations to limit cylinder storage and filling operations. The law will take effect on October 1, 2025, and is intended to enhance consumer safety near high-occupancy areas.