Sen. Rob Stewart

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 114 formally commends United States Army Reserve Retired Brigadier General Vandiver H. Carter for being selected as the 2026 Marion Military Institute Alumnus of the Year. The resolution highlights his 15 years of service on the MMI Board of Trustees and his extensive 37-year military career, which included leadership roles in the Alabama Army National Guard. This legislative measure serves as an official tribute to his contributions to the institution and the military, with no changes to laws or funding.

Maddy summarySB 176 allows circuit clerks in Alabama to participate in both a supernumerary program and the Employees' Retirement System, provided they qualify for each based on separate years of service. Currently, state law prevents circuit clerks from using the same service years for both programs. The bill adds a new section to Alabama law clarifying that clerks who independently qualify for both programs through distinct service periods may enroll in both. This change would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed. The bill directly affects Alabama circuit clerks who meet the separate service-year requirement for both retirement options.

Maddy summarySB 301 establishes a new voting center in Perry County at the National Guard Armory (620 Magnolia Street, Marion, AL 36756) to serve voters in Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. The bill creates a physical location for voting operations, effective immediately upon enactment. This procedural bill directly affects Perry County residents in those four districts by providing a new facility for in-person voting.

Maddy summarySJR 64 is a commemorative resolution honoring the life and legacy of Jo Ann Blackmon Bland, a Selma, Alabama civil rights activist who died on February 19, 2026. The resolution recognizes her childhood involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, her participation in Bloody Sunday (1965), her role in founding the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, and her community work. It expresses the legislature's "overwhelming sense of loss" while celebrating her contributions to justice, education, and preserving civil rights history. The resolution does not create any new laws or policies - it is purely a ceremonial tribute to her life and work.

Maddy summarySB 122 extends the operation of Alabama's State Board of Registration for Foresters until October 1, 2030, under the state's Sunset Law. This procedural bill does not change the Board's current functions or regulations but ensures its continued existence without modification. The Board, which oversees forestry licensing under Alabama Code sections 34-12-1 to 34-12-37, will maintain its existing authority until the specified date. The bill preserves the Board's current legal framework and requires no new policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 126 extends the operation of the Alabama Private Investigation Board until October 1, 2028, by continuing its existence under the state's Sunset Law. This bill directly affects licensed private investigators in Alabama, as the board oversees their licensing and regulation under existing law (Code Sections 34-25B-1 to 34-25B-54). The key mechanism is a simple extension of the board’s current authority, preserving all existing licensing rules without changes to requirements or oversight. As a procedural continuation bill, it does not alter the board’s functions or create new regulations.

Maddy summarySB 327 requires all Alabama employers with drug or alcohol testing policies (including those previously covered under workers' compensation law) to provide employees with verbal and written notice of the policy at hiring and post it prominently. Employers must also give at least 10 days' notice before implementing policy changes, using methods like written copies, email, or posted notices. The bill mandates that notices include details about testing types, consequences of positive results, and information about employee assistance programs. Additionally, employers must encourage employees who test positive to seek rehabilitation before taking disciplinary action.

Maddy summarySB 290 revises Alabama's voting rights restoration process by automatically restoring voting rights for most individuals with felony convictions (excluding murder, rape, or other serious offenses) upon completion of their sentence, eliminating the need for a separate application. It removes barriers to absentee voting, adds an advance voting period before elections with specified hours and dates, and establishes the Alabama Voting Rights Commission to review election actions that could discriminate against protected voter groups. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to maintain a statewide election database and publicize election-related information. These changes directly affect formerly incarcerated voters, election administrators, and protected voter classes.

Maddy summarySB 131 would limit a loophole allowing developers to transfer property to immediate family members to temporarily avoid county subdivision regulations. It requires that if such land is sold to non-family members within 24 months of the initial family transfer, it must comply with all applicable county subdivision rules. This directly affects developers and property owners who might use family transfers to bypass standard development oversight. The bill aims to prevent short-term workarounds to subdivision requirements.

Maddy summarySB 232 authorizes Alabama volunteer fire departments and certified volunteer rescue squads to deposit, invest, or manage their funds in federally insured financial institutions (like FDIC-insured banks or credit unions). It directly affects these volunteer organizations by allowing them to safely hold public funds in regulated accounts, rather than keeping cash on hand. The bill requires funds to remain separate from private money, mandates compliance with all security and reporting laws, and specifies that county commissions are not liable for these financial activities. This change aims to improve financial management for departments serving communities while maintaining accountability.