The Alabama Senate advanced a full calendar of legislation on Thursday, passing a series of bills addressing board governance, education policy, emergency management, and licensing issues. All measures cleared the chamber unanimously, often with limited debate.
One of the first bills taken up was SB104, sponsored by Senator Keith Kelly, R-Anniston, which requires members of certain state boards and commissions subject to the Alabama Sunset Law to complete five hours of mandatory training through the Examiners of Public Accounts.
Kelly said the bill stemmed from issues raised during Sunset Committee reviews, where some board members lacked a clear understanding of their legal duties and responsibilities. An amendment clarified that the training requirement would not apply to county or municipal boards. The bill passed without opposition.
Lawmakers also approved SB8, sponsored by Senator Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, which allows the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to use public funds to educate residents about emergency preparedness. Allen noted that the measure would give the agency clearer authority to inform the public about what to expect before and during emergencies. The bill passed unanimously.
Governance changes at the University of Montevallo were addressed in SB66, sponsored by Senators April Weaver, R-Brierfield, and Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham. The bill shortens trustee terms from 12 years to eight, establishes term limits and removes the requirement that the university president be an educator. An amendment adopted on the floor specified that the changes would not apply to trustees appointed before January 1, 2027. The bill passed without objection.
Several education-related measures also advanced. SB168, sponsored by Senator Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, codifies a ban on the use of three-cueing, a reading instruction method already prohibited by the Alabama State Department of Education. Chesteen cited improvements in the state’s literacy rankings as justification for placing the prohibition into law. The bill passed unanimously.
The Senate also approved SB149, sponsored by Senator Andrew Woods, R-Jasper, creating a temporary teaching certificate for military veterans. Woods said the bill is intended to provide veterans with a pathway into K–12 classrooms by recognizing their training, leadership experience, and service. The bill was approved without opposition.
Additional discussion followed SB46, sponsored by Senator Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, which establishes an optional designation on driver’s licenses for individuals with invisible disabilities. Coleman described the bill as a safety measure designed to improve interactions between drivers and law enforcement during traffic stops. Lawmakers from both parties spoke in support of the bill, which passed unanimously.
Other legislation advanced with minimal discussion, including HB59, introduced by Representative Kerry Underwood, R-Tuscumbia, which updates provisions governing the Alabama Board of Certified Public Accountants, and SB90, introduced by Senator David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, which makes changes related to seafood dealer licensing.
