The Alabama Legislature convened for Week 11 of the 2026 Regular Session, meeting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Lawmakers held committee meetings throughout the week and floor sessions in both chambers on all three days.
Lawmakers will return for Day 28 on April 7, when both the House and Senate will convene at 1 p.m.
Week 11 brought legislative action across several policy areas, including criminal justice, taxation, economic development, health care and education.
This week at a glance
- Total bills introduced: 1,046
- Passed house of origin: 552
- Passed both chambers: 268
- Pending governor’s signature: 65
- Bills enacted: 171
- Constitutional amendments pending referendum: 32
What stood out this week
Lawmakers advanced legislation this week on criminal penalties, tax policy and regulatory oversight while continuing work on the state’s General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets. They also considered measures related to workforce policy, public safety and health care coverage. Several bills with long-term legal and economic implications passed through both chambers.
Notable bills enacted
- House Bill 41—Representative Simpson: Expands capital offenses to include certain sexual crimes against children younger than 12 and increases the minimum time served before parole eligibility. Act No. 2026-55.
- House Bill 161—Representative Sells: Establishes requirements for app store providers on age verification, parental consent and data protection for minors. Act No. 2026-59.
- Senate Bill 71—Senator Chesteen: Limits state agencies from adopting environmental regulations stricter than federal standards unless they are based on scientific evidence. Act No. 2026-81.
- House Bill 300—Representative Holk-Jones: Requires health plans to cover breast examinations, including mammograms, without cost-sharing requirements. Act No. 2026-190.
- House Bill 96—Representative Pringle: Increases homestead exemptions for seniors and people with disabilities. Act No. 2026-203.
Floor action to watch
House floor
- House Bill 527—Representative Lomax: Provides a state income tax deduction for qualified overtime compensation, capped at $1,000 per taxpayer.
Senate floor
- House Bill 2—Representative Standridge: Requires state and local entities to refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
Committee movement
House committees
House committees advanced legislation related to solar energy restrictions, municipal law enforcement authority, tax policy changes and property fraud protections. Lawmakers substituted or amended several bills after committee discussion, including proposals addressing title fraud and law enforcement staffing requirements.
Senate committees
Senate committees considered legislation on school policy, financial transactions, municipal governance and economic development zones. Committees also took up measures related to education policy and financial rounding standards.
Newly introduced legislation
House
New House bills continued to focus on public safety, taxation, municipal authority and infrastructure policy. Lawmakers introduced measures addressing local governance and regulatory frameworks.
Senate
Senate lawmakers introduced proposals tied to economic development, education policy and regulatory oversight, with several measures aimed at refining existing state programs and administrative systems.
Budget watch
Key budget measures advancing this week include:
- General Fund: $3.7 billion General Fund budget (Senate Bill 146)
- Education Trust Fund: $10.4 billion Education Trust Fund budget (House Bill 238)
What’s next
The Legislature will reconvene April 7 for Day 28. Committee hearings and floor sessions are expected to focus on final passage of budget measures and continued movement on priority legislation ahead of the session’s 30-day limit.
