Lawmakers returned to Montgomery last week for continued work in the 2026 Legislative Session, advancing a range of policy proposals while major budget measures remained pending in committee. Lawmakers have introduced more than 750 bills, and dozens have cleared at least one chamber. The session continued at a steady pace as members considered criminal justice revisions, tax changes, regulatory measures and proposed constitutional amendments. Floor action and committee hearings reflected an increasingly active phase of the session heading into the next legislative day.
This Week at a Glance
- Total bills introduced: 753
- Passed house of origin: 306
- Passed both chambers: 41
- Pending governor’s signature: 16
- Bills enacted: 16
- Constitutional amendments pending referendum: 9
What Stood Out This Week
The Legislature convened for Day 11 of the 2026 Legislative Session, holding floor sessions Tuesday and Thursday and committee meetings Wednesday. Lawmakers advanced legislation addressing criminal justice, regulatory oversight, tax policy and public utilities, while continuing to deliberate major budget measures. Several bills cleared both chambers, and Governor Kay Ivey signed additional measures into law.
Notable Bills Enacted
- SB12 – Senator Gudger: Repeals Act 2025-294 concerning annexation of certain community development districts. Act No. 2026-2
- SB89 – Senator Sessions: Repeals statutes establishing the State Pilotage Commission and related bar pilot requirements. Act No. 2026-18
- HB181 – Representative Marques: Requires certain large-scale coastal dredging operations to beneficially use at least 70% of dredged material. Act No. 2026-41
- HB41 – Representative Simpson: Designates certain sexual offenses involving victims younger than 12 as capital offenses and establishes parole eligibility requirements. Act No. 2026-55
Floor Action to Watch
House Floor
- HB136 – Representative Pringle: Requires the governor to certify an immediate danger to justify an agency emergency rule before it takes effect.
- HB268 – Representative Ingram: Authorizes performance measurement and audit procedures for local 911 communication districts.
Senate Floor
- SB177 – Senator Coleman-Madison: Requires certain health benefit plans to cover breast examinations without deductibles or cost-sharing.
- SB253 – Senator Coleman: Expands incentive provisions under the Entertainment Industry Incentive Act of 2009.
Committee Movement
House Committees
House committees considered legislation addressing atmospheric substance dispersion, a proposed Second Amendment sales tax holiday, revisions to Public Service Commission governance and tax incentive policy for data processing centers. Lawmakers substituted or favorably reported several measures after public hearings.
Senate Committees
Senate committees reviewed bills concerning motor vehicle modifications, foreign campaign contributions, public records redaction, education policy requirements, municipal tax exemptions and commercial driver regulations. Committees held public hearings on select tax measures, and some received no vote.
Newly Introduced Legislation
House
New House bills would increase penalties for discharging firearms onto school property, revise telemarketing restrictions, regulate unmanned aircraft near ticketed events, adjust simplified sellers use tax distributions and modify agricultural enforcement authority related to seafood labeling.
Senate
Senate bills would redact sensitive financial information from public records, amend marijuana possession penalties, require reimbursement of economic development incentives for violations of human trafficking or child labor laws and limit certain municipal business license levies.
Budget Watch
Key budget measures pending or advancing include:
- General Fund: $3.7 billion budgets pending in the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee and the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee.
- Education Trust Fund: $9.9 billion budgets pending in the House Ways and Means Education Committee and the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.
What’s Next
The Legislature will reconvene February 17 for Day 13. The House will convene at 1 p.m., and the Senate at 2 p.m. Lawmakers expect to continue committee hearings and floor sessions on pending policy and budget legislation.
