The Alabama Legislature convened for Week 9 of the 2026 Legislative Session, meeting Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Committee meetings were held throughout the week, with floor sessions in both chambers each day.
Lawmakers will return for Day 23 on March 17, with the House convening at 1 p.m. and the Senate at 2:30 p.m.
As the session continues, Week 9 featured legislative activity across several policy areas, including state budgeting, education funding, criminal justice policy, regulatory oversight and energy infrastructure.
This Week at a Glance
- Total bills introduced: 989
- Passed house of origin: 460
- Passed both chambers: 164
- Pending governor’s signature: 31
- Bills enacted: 110
- Constitutional amendments pending referendum: 23
What Stood Out This Week
Legislative activity this week included advancement of the state’s Education Trust Fund and General Fund budgets, along with debate over proposals affecting utility regulation, criminal law and public education policy. Lawmakers also considered legislation addressing data centers, election procedures and local government authority, while committees continued work on a range of economic development and regulatory measures.
Notable Bills Enacted
SB12 – Senator Garlan Gudger: Repeals prior legislation authorizing annexation of certain community development districts by wet municipalities in dry counties. Act No. 2026-2
SB89 – Senator Jimmy Sessions: Repeals statutes establishing the State Pilotage Commission and related bar pilot requirements. Act No. 2026-18
HB41 – Representative Matt Simpson: Designates certain sexual offenses against victims under age 12 as capital offenses and establishes minimum prison terms prior to parole eligibility. Act No. 2026-55
HB161 – Representative Matt Sells: Creates new requirements for app store providers regarding age verification, parental notification, and protections for minors accessing mobile applications. Act No. 2026-59
SB169 – Senator Jimmy Sessions: Creates the Devinee Rooney and John Wesley Holt Safe Streets Act addressing penalties related to fatal motor vehicle accidents. Act No. 2026-64
HB300 – Representative Susan DuBose Holk-Jones: Requires certain health plans to provide breast examination coverage without deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance charges. Act No. 2026-190
Floor Action to Watch
House Floor
HB238 – Representative Danny Garrett: Appropriates approximately $10.4 billion for the Education Trust Fund budget for fiscal year 2027.
HB239 – Representative Alan Collins: Provides a 2 percent salary increase for public education employees beginning Oct. 1, 2026.
HB511 – Representative David Ingram: Proposes a constitutional amendment regarding Pledge of Allegiance policies and student-initiated prayer in public schools.
HB399 – Representative Brock Hulsey: Revises tax incentives and exemptions related to large data processing centers.
Senate Floor
SB146 – Senator Greg Albritton: Appropriates approximately $3.7 billion for the General Fund budget.
SB154 – Senator Greg Albritton: Provides a cost-of-living increase for state employees.
SB270 – Senator Lance Bell: Establishes considerations for the Public Service Commission when approving electric utility contracts with large data centers.
SB360 – Senator Chris Elliott (sponsored by Senator Chambliss): Creates the Power to the People Act, restructuring the Public Service Commission and establishing a Secretary of Energy cabinet position.
Committee Movement
House Committees
House committees considered legislation addressing property title fraud prevention, municipal governance, public utilities oversight and election procedures. Measures discussed included proposals to establish a Title Fraud Recovery Fund, modify critical infrastructure protections, and revise municipal foreclosure procedures. Committees also held public hearings on proposals affecting party registration requirements for primary elections and municipal tax authority.
Senate Committees
Senate committees reviewed legislation related to criminal justice, infrastructure safety, geographic information systems coordination and property fraud prevention. Bills advancing through committees included measures establishing bail-jumping penalties, expanding GIS coordination across state agencies, and strengthening legal protections against real estate title fraud.
Newly Introduced Legislation
House
New House bills addressed economic development incentives, rural industry support, consumer protection, hemp product regulation and solar energy development. Several measures also proposed tax incentives and redevelopment grants aimed at revitalizing small towns and rural communities.
Senate
New Senate legislation included proposals related to school emergency response systems, solar facility regulations, financial transaction rounding rules and workplace protections for municipal firefighters.
Budget Watch
Key budget measures pending or advancing include:
- General Fund: SB146 – Senator Greg Albritton – $3.7 billion General Fund budget passed the Senate and is pending in the House.
- Education Trust Fund: HB238 – Representative Danny Garrett – $10.4 billion education budget passed the House and is pending in the Senate.
What’s Next
The Legislature will reconvene on March 17 for Day 23, with committee hearings and floor sessions expected to continue work on budget legislation, energy policy proposals and measures related to economic development and local government authority.
