What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 1-3, 2025

Yahoo

04-04-2025

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro (center, pointing) speaks to Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham (center, back turned) in the Alabama Senate chamber on April 1, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. Smitherman had suggested he was going to filibuster a noncontroversial calendar before saying "April Fools" to the chamber. Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, stands on the right; Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove stands on the left. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)
Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week.
House
HB 430, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, requires candidates for sheriff of Monroe County to be U.S. citizens and residents of the county over the age of 25 with at least three years of experience in law enforcement. The bill passed 17-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 431, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, increases the Monroe County sheriff's salary by $15,000 starting in 2027 and transitions current expense allowances into permanent compensation. The bill passed 18-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 452, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscambia, increases the Colbert County sheriff's total compensation to $96,000 effective Oct. 1. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 453, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscambia, creates a new pistol permit fee schedule in Colbert County: for those over the age of 60, $5 for a one-year permit and $25 for a five-year permit; for those under 60, $15 for a one-year permit and $75 for a five-year permit. The bill passed 15-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 455, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, authorizes the Clarke County Commission to cover operational expenses for the coroner's office, including vehicle mileage or providing a county vehicle. The bill passed 16-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 456, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, allows the Clarke County sheriff to charge fees for services like fingerprinting and ankle monitors; forbids other charges; establishes a new $50 court service fee and directs proceeds to law enforcement funds without reducing existing funding sources. The bill passed 19-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 457, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, increases the Clarke County sheriff's compensation by providing a $32,500 annual expense allowance, which later converts into a permanent salary increase at the start of the sheriff's term. The bill passed 18-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 458, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, provides Clarke County commissioners an $8,000 annual expense allowance, which will convert to a permanent $8,000 salary increase starting with the commissioners' next term. The bill passed 24-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 395, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, requires the Morgan County probate judge to be a licensed attorney and allows the judge to handle certain equity cases like a circuit court judge. The measure, a constitutional amendment, passed 68-1. It goes to the Senate.
SB 40, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, allows people experiencing suicidal thoughts to surrender a firearm to a licensed gun dealer. The bill passed with a House committee substitute 93-1. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence or conference committee.
HB 272, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, renames the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP) to the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program, and expands loan assistance eligibility to educators certified in high-need teaching fields and those working in schools with certified educator shortages. The bill passed 99-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 376 sponsored by Rep. Russell Besole, R-Alabaster, extends the minimum validity period of motor vehicle license plate designs in Alabama from five to ten years. The bill passed 100-3. It goes to the Senate.
HB 365, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, establishes the Alabama Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Council within the Department of Workforce to advise on improving STEM education, career awareness and workforce development. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
SB 137, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, allows certain privately owned sewer or wastewater systems not regulated by the Public Service Commission to voluntarily consolidate and come under the commission's jurisdiction. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 1, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, amends Alabama's seafood dealer licensure requirements; increases fees, sets penalties for violations and designates a portion of proceeds to promote Alabama's seafood products. The bill passed 95-0. It goes to the Senate.
SB 60, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, authorizes the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority to issue bonds up to $1.285 billion for the construction, renovation, and modernization of prison facilities. The bill passed 74-16. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 353, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, adjusts the salary structure for judges and district attorneys to reflect cost-of-living adjustments, modifies salary increases for district attorneys and removes restrictions on salary changes for district attorneys in certain circumstances. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 354, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, outlaws salary cuts for district attorneys during their term of office. The measure, a constitutional amendment, passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 288, sponsored by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, establishes a loan assistance program under the Alabama Commission on Higher Education for licensed athletic trainers, offering financial support to those working at qualifying institutions in exchange for providing athletic training services, with eligibility based on federal student loan debt and employment criteria. The bill passed 67-29. It goes to the Senate.
HB 271, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, lowers the age of an adult learner from 25 to 22 for the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 332, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, requires high school students to take a computer science course to graduate. The bill passed 99-1. It goes to the Senate.
HB 324, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, R-Greenville, modifies the start of the term for sheriffs and county commissioners, ensuring that a sheriff's term begins at noon on the first Monday after the second Tuesday of January following their election. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
SB 86, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, establishes portable benefit accounts for independent contractors; allows contributions to these accounts for benefits like health insurance or retirement, and provides tax deductions for both contractors and hiring parties who contribute to these accounts. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 104, sponsored by Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, expands the membership of the Alabama Job Creation and Military Stability Commission to include the chairs of the Alabama House and Senate military affairs committees. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 130, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, establishes that refined gold and silver, when stamped with weight and purity, may be accepted as legal tender in Alabama. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 366, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rhem, R-Dothan, authorizes emergency medical services personnel to provide care and transport injured police dogs to veterinary facilities, granting them immunity from civil or criminal liability for care provided in good faith. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
SB 96, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnely, R-Enterprise, allows vehicle owners to apply for a salvage certificate of title if their vehicle is declared a total loss in any state. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
Senate
SB 40, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, would provide liability protection for Federal Firearms License dealers who choose to participate in the Safer Together Program, where they may accept surrendered firearms from community members. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 41, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, allows the Calhoun County Commission and municipalities in the county to regulate halfway houses and other similar facilities. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 222, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, allows medical clinic boards that lease property to a health care provider that has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to readjust their own debt under federal bankruptcy law. The Senate concurred with House changes. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 235, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, transfers financial responsibility for the Etowah County Mega Sports Complex Authority to the government of Rainbow City and establishes conditions for the dissolution of the authority currently overseeing the complex. It passed 30-0. The bill goes to the House.
HB 223, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, authorizes the St. Clair County Commission to pay county officials' cost of living adjustment. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 221, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, changes the salary of the St. Clair County revenue commissioner to be the same as the county's probate judge starting in 2027. It passed 31-0. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 220, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, allows the St. Clair County sheriff to create guidelines for using an office credit or debit card. It passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 254, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, allows the St. Clair County Mental Health Officer to commit individuals under certain circumstances. It passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 294, sponsored by Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, allows the Etowah County Drug Enforcement Unit to auction, sell and destroy abandoned, stolen and unclaimed property obtained by the unit. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 234, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, would establish a process for permitting, inspecting, and operating off-road vehicle parks in Cherokee County and provide fines for violations. It passed 29-0 and goes to the House.
SB 238, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, would make speeding tickets from traffic cameras a civil violation in the town of Kinston in Coffee County. It passed 30-0. It goes to the House.
SB 239, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, would allow any municipality in Coffee County to contract with the Sheriff of Coffee County for police services. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House.
SB 240, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, would require elected or appointed probate judges in Coffee County to be attorneys licensed in Alabama. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House.
HB 369, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, allows the revenue commissioner of Elmore County to levy a sales and use tax to fund local infrastructure projects and economic development. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 371, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, levies a $25 annual motor vehicle registration fee in Elmore County to be allocated to infrastructure and economic development. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 417, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, alters the boundaries and corporate limits of the city of Eclectic in Elmore County. It passed 31-0. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 261, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Alabaster, would revise the salary of the Bibb County probate judge if the judge is a licensed attorney in the state. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House.
HB 378, sponsored by Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, would allow the Pickens County Commission to levy a $10 vehicle registration fee to fund ambulance services. It passed 30-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 314, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, would allow the Houston County sheriff to create guidelines for using an office credit or debit card. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 313, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, would set the salary for the Houston County coroner at $22,000 and the sheriff's salary at $150,000 effective June 1 and allow both to receive cost-of-living adjustments extended to other county employees. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
SB 110, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, would limit the number of trucks that can be pulled over to five at roadside weigh stations. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to the House.
HB 124, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, extends the Alabama Board of Optometry to Oct. 1, 2029. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 125, sponsored by Rep. Margie Wilcox, R-Mobile, extends the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners to Oct. 1, 2027. The bill passed 32-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
HB 128, sponsored by Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, extends the Board of Nursing to Oct. 1, 2029. The bill passed 32-0. It goes back to the House for concurrence with Senate changes or a conference committee.
HB 123, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, extends the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy to Oct. 1, 2026, and changes the appointment of board members and the board's sanctioning powers. The bill passed 31-0 and will go back to the House for concurrence or a conference committee.
HB 112, sponsored by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, extends the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Board to Oct. 1, 2029. It passed 31-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.
House
HB 186, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, establishes a $3.7 billion General Fund budget for 2026. The bill passed 95-3. It goes to the Senate.
HB 185, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, appropriates $123 million in supplemental funds for the 2025 General Fund budget. The bill passed 98-2. It goes to the Senate.
HB 184, sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, appropriates $169,000 from the State General Fund to the Coalition Against Domestic Violence for 2026. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 183, sponsored by Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, appropriates $36.6 million from the Children First Trust Fund for various entities, including the Alabama Medicaid Agency, the Department of Human Resources and the Department of Public Health for 2026. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 181, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscambia, authorizes the Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority to issue bonds up to $50 million for construction, renovation, and improvement projects related to public office buildings. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 312, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, extends Alabama's Hospital Provider Privilege Tax through fiscal year 2028, ensuring continued funding for Medicaid services. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R-Helena, requires local school boards to adopt a policy banning cell phones from bell-to-bell. The bill passed 79-15. It goes to the Senate.
Senate
SB 85, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would expand the pool of people who can claim a religious exemption from vaccines from parents of K-12 students to college students and allow them to do so without explanation. The bill passed 26-5. It goes to the House.
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