Sen. Chris Elliott

Maddy summarySB 110 allows certified nurse practitioners and nurse midwives to endorse physical examination forms for K-12 student athletic participation, treating these endorsements as equivalent to physician signatures. Public schools must accept these nurse-endorsed forms for athletic eligibility, and schools cannot join athletic associations that refuse to accept them. The bill amends Alabama law to specifically include school sports physicals under existing nurse practitioner endorsement rules, ensuring consistency with other medical forms. This directly affects public K-12 schools, athletic associations, and certified nursing professionals providing student health services.

Maddy summarySB 27 changes the composition of Alabama's Department of Archives and History Board of Trustees from 12 to 17 members. It revises how members are appointed, creating 16 specific seats (including 7 district-based seats and 9 at-large seats) with detailed appointment rules for each seat's term start dates and appointing authorities (Governor, House Speaker, or Senate President). The bill also includes a retroactive effect, meaning the new structure applies as if it had been in place since January 1, 2025. This procedural change affects the board members who govern the state's historical archives and records.

Maddy summarySB 5 modifies the process for filling vacancies on the board of trustees for the Department of Archives and History. The bill stipulates that while the board will continue to fill all vacancies, the names of successor members must be communicated to the state Senate for confirmation. If the Senate rejects a proposed trustee, the board is required to promptly fill the vacancy with a different individual. The bill also includes minor renumbering of subsections within the relevant statute.

Maddy summarySB 265 establishes the Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Program Act, creating a legal framework for businesses that connect vehicle owners with individuals who want to rent their personal cars for a fee. The bill defines terms like "shared vehicle owner" and "shared vehicle driver," and sets requirements for the operation of these peer-to-peer car sharing programs. A key provision mandates that these programs assume liability for bodily injury or property damage to third parties during the car sharing period, requiring specific motor vehicle liability insurance coverage. This insurance must recognize or not exclude the use of vehicles through these programs and can be purchased by the owner, driver, or program. The legislation also provides for the taxation of peer-to-peer car sharing programs under certain conditions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 121 updates the advertising requirements for competitive bids on public works contracts exceeding $100,000. Currently, state and local government agencies must advertise these contracts in newspapers. This bill expands the options for providing public notice, allowing agencies to also publish invitations to bid on a digital platform maintained by the Department of Finance for a specified period. It also allows for notice via procedures approved by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and outlines conditions for satisfying publication requirements if a chosen method fails through no fault of the agency.

Maddy summarySB 12 prohibits state and local government agencies from requiring a business to obtain a license or permit from *another* separate agency as a condition for issuing their own license or permit. This means agencies cannot make their permit issuance dependent on a business first securing a different permit from a different governmental body. The bill applies to licenses and permits necessary to operate a business, but it does not include certifications from occupational licensing boards. It aims to streamline the process for businesses seeking operational permits by clarifying agency coordination requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing law regarding county and municipal library boards in Alabama. It clarifies that members of these local and joint library boards serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and can be removed by a two-thirds vote of that authority. The bill also requires local library boards to submit annual reports to the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate, detailing board membership and any actions taken regarding the review or removal of collection items. Additionally, it mandates that appointing authorities ensure diversity among board members.

Maddy summarySB 29 requires state and local governmental bodies to act on applications for licenses, permits, and certifications within specific timeframes, directly affecting individuals and businesses seeking these approvals. If an application is incomplete, the agency must notify the applicant of deficiencies within 15 days. Once a completed application is received, the governmental body must approve or deny it within 45 days. If the agency fails to take action within this 45-day period, the application is automatically deemed approved, unless the applicant waives this timeframe.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Occupational and Professional Licensing within the Alabama Department of Workforce to centralize leadership, support, and oversight for specific professional and occupational licensing boards. Effective October 1, 2026, it transfers 20 boards, such as those for athletic trainers, auctioneers, and marriage and family therapists, under this new office. The office will appoint an executive director and staff, including investigators, and aims to standardize provisions related to licensing, fees, and funding for these boards. The bill also transfers the Sickle Cell Oversight and Regulatory Commission to the Department of Public Health and the Alabama Drycleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Advisory Board to the Department of Environmental Management.

Maddy summarySB 214 proposes to extend the minimum validity period for all motor vehicle license plate designs. This bill would amend current law to increase the minimum validity period from five years to ten years. This change would affect all vehicle owners in the state by potentially reducing how often license plates are reissued. The Commissioner of Revenue, with legislative oversight committee approval, could still authorize designs to be valid for more than ten years, and existing permanent license plate designs would not be impacted.