Sen. Vivian Figures

Maddy summarySB 107 increases fees and adds reporting requirements for Alabama funeral service businesses. It authorizes a $30 administrative fee per funeral arranged (effective 2026), raises application/renewal fees for funeral establishment licenses from $198/$99 to $500 each, and requires annual reporting of preneed contract activities. Certificate holders must file annual statements on preneed sales and trust activities, with the board allowed to request additional reports. These changes directly affect funeral homes, funeral directors, and preneed sales agents by increasing costs and mandating more frequent compliance reporting. The bill focuses on regulatory oversight and funding for the Alabama Board of Funeral Services.

Maddy summarySB 166 requires political action committees, principal campaign committees, and municipal candidates in Alabama to preserve all campaign records - including contribution details, expenditures, bank accounts, and filed reports - for four years after submitting their reports. This extends the current two-year retention period to align with the four-year window for prosecuting violations of campaign finance laws. The bill applies directly to entities already mandated to file campaign disclosures under Alabama’s Fair Campaign Practices Act. It mandates record preservation without creating new reporting requirements, focusing solely on retention duration.

Maddy summarySB 300 amends Alabama's license plate law to update design requirements for the "Helping Schools" distinctive plates and provide a free replacement for eligible owners. It specifies that the Department of Revenue must follow new design rules when creating these plates, which currently feature a white background with red "Helping Schools" text and a red apple, green book, and yellow ruler. Eligible individuals include those who purchased or renewed their "Helping Schools" plates between March 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026, who will receive a new plate meeting the updated design at no cost during the 2027 registration year. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027, and does not change the $20 annual fee for the plate program.

Maddy summarySB 203 strengthens protections for children and vulnerable individuals in Alabama by increasing penalties for certain sex crimes involving minors. It raises the age threshold for child victims in offenses like indecent exposure (making it a Class C felony if the victim is under 12) and expands the crime of transmitting obscene material to children to cover all electronic devices, removing the defense that undercover officers were posing as children. The bill also creates a new crime - *inpatient custodial sexual misconduct* - prohibiting sexual conduct between facility employees (in drug rehab or mental health centers) and patients, with consent explicitly not serving as a defense. These changes directly affect children under 12, patients in treatment facilities, and individuals accused of these specific offenses.

Maddy summarySB 333 amends the powers of industrial development boards in Class 2 municipalities. It specifically revises Section 11-54-4 of the state code, which governs these boards' authority. The bill directly affects industrial development boards operating within designated Class 2 municipalities. The summary is limited to the bill's stated purpose of modifying existing board powers, as the provided context does not specify the exact nature of the amendment or its concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an 8% local privilege tax on net gambling revenue from historical horse racing activities in Mobile County. The tax applies specifically to computerized machines operated by licensed historical horse racing operators and is collected by the Mobile County Racing Commission. Net gambling revenue is defined as total wagering amounts minus free bets, promotional credits, federal excise taxes, voided wagers, and prize payouts. The legislation clarifies that this new tax replaces any other local taxes on historical horse racing but does not affect existing taxes on live greyhound or thoroughbred racing. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, and does not expand any current gambling activities beyond what is already permitted.

Maddy summarySB 315 provides a 2% cost-of-living benefit increase for certain Alabama retirees and beneficiaries of the Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems, effective October 1, 2026. It applies to retirees who retired before October 1, 2025, and are currently receiving benefits, with a minimum $15 monthly increase. The increase requires annual legislative appropriation and depends on employer participation for specific retirement plans; beneficiaries of deceased retirees also qualify under the same terms. Retirees receiving Medicaid benefits may be excluded if the increase would impair their Medicaid eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis is a commemorative resolution (SJR 10) honoring Claudette Colvin, a Montgomery, Alabama, civil rights activist. It formally records the Alabama legislature's mourning of her death while celebrating her life and legacy, particularly her 1955 refusal to give up her bus seat - nine months before Rosa Parks' similar act - which led to the landmark *Browder v. Gayle* Supreme Court case ending bus segregation. The resolution highlights her later recognition, including a 2021 expungement of her juvenile arrest record, and her ongoing impact through her foundation and family. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any rights or obligations.

Maddy summarySB 191 requires the Alabama Medicaid Agency to cover screening for postpartum depression and prohibits step therapy protocols for related prescription drugs for Medicaid patients. It also mandates the Alabama Department of Public Health to develop and distribute educational materials on postpartum depression for healthcare professionals and new parents. Additionally, the bill requires physicians and other healthcare professionals to assess birth mothers for postpartum depression as part of postnatal or pediatric infant care. These provisions aim to increase access to screening, treatment, and education for postpartum depression.

Maddy summarySB 259 revises the structure and meeting procedures for the Board of Trustees of the University of South Alabama. The bill increases the number of at-large board members from both the United States and the state, while eliminating appointments based on specific state senatorial districts. Trustees currently holding seats from those districts may complete their terms, after which new appointments will follow the revised at-large structure. Additionally, it changes the requirement for the annual meeting from the first Monday in June to sometime during June, and reduces the notice period for special meetings from 10 days to at least 24 hours.