Sen. Matt Woods

Maddy summarySB 149 establishes a temporary teaching certificate for military veterans seeking to enter education. It directly affects veterans who qualify under this program but clarifies that time served under this temporary certificate won't count toward tenure or service status. The bill also prohibits individuals with this temporary certificate from later obtaining an emergency teaching certificate. These provisions create a specific pathway for veterans while defining the scope and limitations of their temporary certification.

Maddy summarySB 323 creates a formal right of appeal for both criminal defendants with mental illness and the Alabama Department of Mental Health regarding court orders committing defendants to mental health facilities or modifying conditional release terms. The bill amends Alabama code to grant the Court of Criminal Appeals exclusive jurisdiction to hear these appeals, replacing the previous lack of appellate review. It directly affects defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity or mental illness who are committed to state mental health facilities, as well as the Department of Mental Health. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and makes minor technical updates to existing legal language.

Maddy summarySB 213 proposes a constitutional amendment for Lamar County, Alabama, allowing residents aged 65 or older who own a primary residence there to freeze their property tax amount. To qualify, individuals must have owned and lived in the home as their main residence for at least five years before claiming the exemption, which locks the tax value at the year before claiming (starting October 1, 2027). The exemption continues as long as the property remains their primary residence, but does not affect homestead exemptions, millage rate changes, or taxes on future property additions. Claimants must submit written requests to Lamar County’s Revenue Commissioner between October 1 and December 31 annually.

Maddy summarySB 30, known as "Trey's Law," makes any agreement clause prohibiting disclosure of sexual abuse acts or related facts unenforceable. It directly affects survivors of sexual abuse and entities (like employers or organizations) that use nondisclosure agreements to silence victims. The bill voids such clauses in agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2026, but only for the sexual abuse disclosure terms - other parts of agreements, like compensation, remain enforceable. This policy change ensures survivors can speak freely about abuse without legal penalty, aligning with Alabama's public policy against shielding perpetrators.

Maddy summarySB 56 proposes a constitutional amendment for Walker County, Alabama, allowing residents aged 65 or older to claim a property tax exemption on their primary residence. To qualify, individuals must own a single-family home as their main home for at least five years and apply in writing between October 1 and December 31, 2027. The exemption freezes the property’s assessed value from the year before claiming it, though taxes may still rise if local millage rates increase. It does not affect eligibility for other exemptions like homestead benefits, and the exemption continues as long as the property remains the owner’s primary residence. The amendment requires voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summarySJR 17 is a resolution (not a law) proposing to name specific roads in Walker County, Alabama, as "Smith Lake Parkway." It requests the Alabama Department of Transportation name portions of State Routes 5, 69, 195, and 257, plus Industrial Parkway, from Interstate 22 to the Walker-Winston County line. The resolution encourages installing signage along this route to guide tourists to Smith Lake, a major tourism destination for boating and fishing. This is a non-binding request for the DOT to consider the naming designation, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summarySB 67 proposes a constitutional amendment to raise the maximum age for qualifying as Walker County's judge of probate from the current limit to 75 years old at the time of election or appointment. This change would directly affect candidates and appointees seeking the probate judge position in Walker County, Alabama. The amendment requires voter approval through a statewide election under Alabama's constitutional process. If approved, it would become part of Alabama's constitution, modifying the age requirement specifically for Walker County's probate court.

Maddy summarySB 29 revises qualifications for the Alabama State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and chiropractic licensure. It removes requirements that board members must have graduated from a chiropractic school requiring in-person attendance and eliminates the bachelor's degree and standardized test requirements for new license applicants. The bill also updates outdated code language to current style without changing substantive rules. These changes directly affect chiropractic board members and individuals seeking to practice chiropractic in Alabama.

Maddy summaryHB 266, known as the REACH Act, establishes a nontraditional high school diploma option for students aged 17 and older who have withdrawn from traditional high school. This program is administered through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. Students participating in this option become eligible for driver's licenses. A key provision ensures that students who enroll in this program within one year of withdrawing will not be counted as dropouts for their former high school's graduation rate calculations. The bill also facilitates data sharing on students who drop out between educational bodies.

Maddy summaryHB 84 modifies chiropractic licensing rules in two key ways: it removes a "limited license" option for practitioners and updates continuing education requirements. The bill specifically requires chiropractic students and educators in approved programs to work under the direct supervision of a licensed chiropractor during clinical training, prohibiting fee-for-service practice outside educational settings. This directly affects chiropractic students, educational programs, and instructors at chiropractic schools. The changes clarify supervision standards while updating administrative provisions for the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners.