What passed in the Alabama Legislature: April 16-18, 2024

Here is a list of the legislation that passed the Alabama Legislature this week.

Tuesday, April 16

House

HB 384, sponsored by Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, increases a fee for service documents by the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s office related to civil matters to $60. It passed 18-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 427, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, authorizes the probate judge of Lamar County to set and collect a mail fee for the renewal of motor vehicle license registrations and business licenses by mail or online. The bill passed 11-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 428, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, authorizes the Henry County Commission to require permits for outside events that charge a fee. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 430, sponsored by Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, increases salary of the Houston County sheriff to $130,800. The bill passed 10-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 431, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, allocates a portion of a fee collected from the Houston County Circuit Clerk’s office to the district attorney’s office.  The bill passed 13-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 306, sponsored by Rep. Donna Givens, R- Loxley, defines the Stapleton Landmark District within Baldwin County lines and prohibits most local annexations of territory in the district. The bill, a constitutional amendment, passed 65-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 311, sponsored by Brett Easterbrook, R-Fruitdale, authorizes the Legislature to fix, alter and regulate court costs in Choctaw County and to provide for their distribution. The bill, a constitutional amendment, passed 66-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 87, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollinger’s Island, authorizes an airport authority to form legal business entities or ventures necessary for operation. The House concurred with Senate changes on a 101-0 vote. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

HB 161, sponsored by Rep. Parker Moore, R-Hartselle, makes it illegal for someone to create or alter a private image of a person without the person’s consent. The House concurred with Senate changes on a 98-0 vote. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

HB 127, sponsored by Rep. Philip Pettus, R-Killen, makes it illegal for someone subject to electronic monitoring to knowingly alter, disable, deactivate, tamper with, remove, damage, or destroy any device used to facilitate electronic monitoring. The House concurred with Senate changes on a 103-0 vote. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

HB 42, sponsored by Rep. Donna Givens, R-Loxley, sets a minimum sentence of life in prison for those convicted of trafficking individuals who are minors.  The House concurred to Senate changes on a 103-0 vote. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill on Wednesday.

HB 147, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, appropriates $1 billion from the Education Trust Fund Advancement and Technology Fund for the current fiscal year. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 144, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, a supplemental appropriation bill, allocates about $651 million from the ETF to various state agencies. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 163, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, establishes the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences in Demopolis, a four-year residential high school. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 145, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, is the Education Trust Fund budget, appropriating $9.35 billion for the support, maintenance and development of public education in Alabama for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025. The bill passed 102-1. It goes to the Senate.

HB 146, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, provides a 2% pay raise for state education employees. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 148, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, allocates nearly $15 million from the ETF for Tuskegee University for the 2025 fiscal year. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 149, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, allocates nearly $1.2 million for Talladega College for the 2025 fiscal year. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 150, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, allocates $409,000 for Southern Preparatory Academy, a military boarding school. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 329, sponsored by Rep. Chad Robertson, R-Heflin, increases and revises the at-large membership of the Jacksonville State University board of trustees to include four at-large members, two of whom reside in Alabama and two of whom reside outside of this state. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 421, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, specifies that a polygraph device does not include equipment or devices used for the purpose of computer voice stress analysis. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 412, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, updates procedures for appointing staff judge advocates and clarifies differences between general and special courts-martial. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 390, sponsored by Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, gives the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission the power to license and regulate medical cannabis cultivators, and requires the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to cooperate with the commission. The bill passed 95-4. It goes to the Senate.

HB 257, sponsored by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, creates the Alabama Adventure Awaits sales tax holiday for outdoor equipment. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 100, sponsored by Rep. Adline Clarke, D-Mobile, increases penalties for a crime committed against an election official. The bill passed 95-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 379, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, revises the nomination procedure for boards of equalization in certain counties. The bill passed 70-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 335, sponsored by Rep. Jim Hill, R-Odenville, requires a public auction to take place between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and consolidates three separate fees on tax lien purchases into one. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 318, sponsored by Rep. Kenyatté Hassell, D-Montgomery, allows the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners to enter into the Social Work Licensure Compact as a means of providing uniformity in licensing requirements and interstate practice. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 407, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R-Killen, revises language on overtime tax exemption and exempt amounts paid as overtime compensation in accordance with the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 320, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly disclose, make use of or permit the use of certain law enforcement records of a child charged with a criminal offense. The bill passed 94-1. It goes to the Senate.

HB 290, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, requires each local board of education and governing body of a nonpublic school to develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

SB 168, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, includes a single commercial entity, such as a restaurant or retail store, for the purposes of commercial development. The bill passed 97-0. Gov. Kay Ivey signed it into law Thursday.

HB 382, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Paramore, R-Troy, updates the competitive bidding process. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 392, sponsored by Rep. Ben Robbins, R- Sylacauga, prohibits the Department of Revenue from transferring any ownership interest in a deceased owner’s motor vehicle with some exceptions. The bill passed 93-5. It goes to the Senate.

SB 59, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, requires public high school students to receive instruction in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) as part of existing health education requirements. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

HB 92, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, requires a plaintiff in an action for damages from asbestos exposure to specify the basis for each claim against each defendant and provide additional, more detailed information relating to the asbestos exposure. The bill passed 102-1. It goes to the Senate.

Senate

SB 291, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, requires some municipal officials to complete training courses on the powers of municipalities and the duties of local governments. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 231, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, prevents companies from receiving economic incentives if they voluntarily recognize a union. The bill passed 23-5. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 167, sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, withdraws any economic incentives awarded to a company found to engage in human trafficking or violate child labor laws. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 294, sponsored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, allows public schools to hire volunteer chaplains. It passed 30-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 248, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, renames the Investigation and Intelligence Division in the Department of Corrections the Law Enforcement Services Division and adds correctional canine classifications. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

HB 71, sponsored by Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, allows certain emergency medical services technicians and paramedics to purchase hazardous duty time for prior eligible service. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 246, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, allows a parent to claim religious exemptions from school vaccinations with a statement made to a local board of education. The bill passed 24-5. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 235, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, makes it illegal to knowingly disclose, use or permit the use of some law enforcement records of a child charged with a criminal offense. The bill passed 30-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 230, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, defines the term “pore space” and sets regulation for underground storage of carbon dioxide. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 278, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, provides compensation for education employees injured on the job. The bill passed 28-0, with one abstention. It goes to the House of Representatives.

HB 233, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Sorrells, R-Hartford, requires off-road vehicles to receive a certificate of title. The bill passed 28-1. It returns to the House of Representatives for concurrence with Senate amendments or a conference committee.

HB 187, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, extends a deadline for an electing pass-through entity to decide whether to be taxed as such. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

HB 89, sponsored by Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Hills, ends elections of Shelby County library board members and gives the county legislative delegation the power to appoint them. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

SB 292, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, increases the monetary threshold of work considered “general contracting” from $50,000 to $100,000. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

HB 121, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R-Vestavia Hills, provides whistleblower protections for county and municipal governments. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

SB 164, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, limits some liability for bovine owners. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 229, sponsored by Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, increases the number of at-large trustees for Jacksonville State University. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 286, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, gives the Secretary of Commerce the power to appoint and set the salary of the director of the Alabama Film Office. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 260, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, adjusts the laws around tax lien auctions. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 219, sponsored by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, authorizes the creation of the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation for the Alabama Farm Center. The bill passed 26-0, with four abstentions. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 299, sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, adjusts the rules for legislative staff and public agencies on spending and access to certain areas. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB287, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, updates the Alabama Code of Military Justice, including setting procedures for situations where a military judge for a general court-martial cannot proceed. The bill passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

Thursday, April 18

House

HB 444, sponsored by Rep. Marcus Paramore, R-Troy, adds definitions and directions on how the City of Troy Investment Trust Fund makes investments. The bill passed 19-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 445, sponsored by Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden, establishes a $5 annual issuance fee for each motor vehicle tag issued in Marengo County. The bill passed 20-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 446, sponsored by Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Linden, increases the Marengo County coroner’s expense allowance to $1,000 and further provides for a mileage allowance. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 346, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, establishes the Alabama Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act and provide tax credits to developers for housing projects. The bill passed 103-0 and goes to the Senate.

HB 358, sponsored by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, establishes an employer tax credit, child care facility tax credit and nonprofit child care provider grant program. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

SB 247, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, renames the Secretary of Labor and Department of Labor the Secretary of Workforce and Department of Workforce and expands duties to include oversight of all current workforce development programs. The bill passed 102-0 and goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

SB 252, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, R-Jasper, establishes the Alabama Growth Alliance, a public corporation to provide economic development recommendations. The bill passed 97-0. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence with House amendments or a conference committee.

SB 253, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chasteen, R-Geneva, would create an alternative diploma pathway for students focused on career education. The bill passed 102-0. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence with House amendments or a conference committee.

HB 418, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kirkland, R-Scottsboro, would increase the threshold cost for one construction project from $50,000 to $100,000 to be considered a general contracting and requires licensing by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors. The bill passed 102-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 292, sponsored by Rep. Penni McClammy, D-Montgomery, provides for the remote enrollment of special needs children of active duty military personnel; the transfer of certain records and for comparable services. The bill passed 101-1. It goes to the Senate.

HB 334, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, provides that work loss compensation for victims of violence includes loss of income for victims of human trafficking as a result of their exploitation. The bill passed 101-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 285, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, replaces the International Symbol of Access with the Dynamic Accessibility Symbol on a distinctive license plate for disabled individuals. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.

HB 332, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, allows warrants for certain violations to be sworn and issued by a judge or magistrate remotely, digitally, via video link, or by telephone. The bill passed 102-1. It goes to the Senate.

HB 44, sponsored by Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, requires custodial agencies to ensure that certain information regarding a detained individual’s emergency contacts and legal directives is included in the individual’s custodial record. The bill passed 100-0. It goes to the Senate.

Senate

SB 168, sponsored by Sen. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, allows commercial entities to acquire land for single commercial enterprises. The Senate concurred with House changes. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey.

SB 139, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, extends the operations of the Alabama Board of Cosmetology and Barbering to Oct. 1, 2028. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB270, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, sets timelines for public agencies to respond to open records requests. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 94, sponsored by Sen. Josh Carnley, R-Enterprise, exempts honeybees and their byproducts from sales tax. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 192, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, codifies the legislative sessions of 2023. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 238, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, expands the usage of the Mortgage Guarantee Fund. It passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 283, sponsored by Sen. Jay Hovey, R-Auburn, requires drivers to yield right of way and exercise care with first responders on sidewalks. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 152, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, allows the State Pilotage Commission to have sole authority to regulate maritime data in Mobile Bay. The bill passed 26-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 183, sponsored by Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, allows full-time students to complete state assessments online, with conditions. The bill passed 28-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 323, sponsored by Sen. Randy Price, R-Opelika, prohibits counties from distributing tobacco taxes to entities foreclosed on or have declared bankruptcy. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 20, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, creates the Bon Secour Landmark District in Baldwin County. The bill, a constitutional amendment, passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 86, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, adjusts the jurisdiction and control of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education and Tuscaloosa City Board of Education. The bill, a constitutional amendment, passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 156, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, allows the Autauga County Board of Education to use private insurers for school property and buildings. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 193, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, creates a $39,000 a year expense account in the current term of the Mobile County Sheriff; provides for the repeal of the account at the start of the sheriff’s next term in office in January 2027, and increases the sheriff’s salary by $39,000 a year effective January 2027. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 261, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, authorizes the Legislature to fix court costs by law in Cherokee County. The bill, a constitutional amendment, passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 262, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, authorizes the Legislature to fix court costs by law in Etowah County. The bill, a constitutional amendment, passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 263, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, sets a $35 process fee in Etowah County to go to a local sheriff’s fund. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 267, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, clarifies that law enforcement officers in the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office and not all employees must complete training and continuing education courses. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.

SB 268, sponsored by Sen. Jack Williams, R-Wilmer, sets qualifications for the Mobile County Sheriff and requires the sheriff to complete 12 hours of continuing education. The bill passed 29-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.