The Alabama Legislature convened for Day 9 of the 2026 Regular Session this week, meeting on Tuesday and Thursday, with committee activity concentrated on Wednesday. Lawmakers will return for Day 11 on Tuesday, February 10.
As the session moves deeper into substantive work, Week Four saw significant floor action on criminal justice, environmental regulation, digital policy and tax administration, alongside continued movement on both the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets.
To date, 677 bills have been introduced.
At a Glance
- Total bills introduced: 677
- Passed house of origin: 181
- Passed both chambers: 36
- Pending governor’s signature: 11
- Bills enacted: 19
Notable Bills Enacted
- SB12 – Sen. Garlan Gudger: Repeals Act 2025-294, which authorized the annexation of certain community development districts by wet municipalities located in dry counties. Act No. 2026-2
- SB89 – Sen. Greg Albritton: Repeals statutes establishing the State Pilotage Commission and existing requirements for bar pilots in Alabama. Act No. 2026-18
Floor Action to Watch
House Floor
- HB35 – Rep. Brock Bolton: Creates the Alabama Squat Truck Law, prohibiting vehicle modifications where the front fender height exceeds the rear by four or more inches.
- HB37 – Rep. Reed Ingram: Expands penalties for eluding law enforcement and establishes mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenses.
- HB91 – Rep. Russell Bedsole Hill: Allows certain court fees to be used to support sheriff’s office operations.
- HB111 – Rep. Ben Robbins: Creates the crime of human cloning.
- HB214 – Rep. James Lomax: Prohibits foreign national contributions to Alabama political campaigns and noncandidate elections.
- HB254 – Rep. Kerry Underwood Stringer: Requires probable cause before law enforcement may stop and board a vessel.
- HB308 – Rep. Philip Shirey: Proposes a constitutional amendment establishing a senior property tax exemption in Mobile County.
- SB35 – Sen. David Kitchens: Consolidates vessel registration fees and revises the distribution of those fees.
Senate Floor
- HB41 – Rep. Matt Simpson: Classifies certain sexual offenses against children under age 12 as capital offenses and establishes mandatory minimum parole eligibility timelines.
- HB117 – Rep. Russell Bedsole Hill: Expands county procurement authority and administrative flexibility.
- HB140 – Rep. Tracy Estes: Limits the duration of subdivision regulation exemptions following transfers of land to immediate family members.
- HB161 – Rep. David Faulkner: Imposes age-verification, parental consent, and data protection requirements on app store providers.
- HB181 – Rep. Chip Brown: Requires beneficial use of at least 70 percent of dredged material in large-scale coastal dredging projects.
- SB71 – Sen. Tim Melson: Restricts state agencies from adopting environmental regulations more stringent than federal standards absent scientific justification.
- SB169 – Sen. Greg Albritton: Establishes the Devinee Rooney and John Wesley Holt Safe Streets Act, revising criminal penalties related to motor vehicle fatalities.
- SB203 – Sen. Shomari Figures: Expands and strengthens multiple criminal statutes involving sexual offenses against minors.
Confirmations
The Senate confirmed Sandy Stimpson, Tony Cochran and Patricia Sims to the Alabama Port Authority.
Committee Movement
House Committees
Key legislation advanced in committee included proposals to rename the Gulf of Mexico, establish the Alabama Port Infrastructure Grant Program, revise capital case jury procedures and create criminal penalties for disrupting worship services.
Senate Committees
Committee activity included legislation expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library statewide, restricting marijuana use in vehicles when children are present, revising monument protection procedures, and limiting the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits.
Newly Introduced Legislation
House
New bills addressed compensation for local officials, expanded entertainment industry incentives, public access to water bodies, tax exemptions for community foundations, Public Service Commission reforms and bail-jumping offenses.
Senate
Introductions included proposals addressing commercial driver documentation requirements, released-time religious instruction in public schools, expanded gaming and lottery authorization, firearm permitting requirements, animal abandonment penalties and additional Public Service Commission restructuring.
Budget Outlook
Major budget measures pending in committee include:
- $3.7 billion – General Fund budget
- $9.9 billion – Education Trust Fund budget
What’s Next
The Alabama Legislature will reconvene on Tuesday, February 10, for Day 11 of the 2026 Regular Session. The House is scheduled to convene at 1 p.m., followed by the Senate at 2 p.m. Committee meetings are expected to continue addressing budget measures and legislation advancing from committee to the floor.
