Alabama Governor Kay Ivey recently signed several bills into law to provide Alabama National Guard personnel, veterans and their families several benefits, including increased tuition assistance, preferential hiring and income tax exemptions.
“Alabamians are among the most patriotic Americans and their dedication to protect our country and safeguard our freedom continually deserves our praise and support,” Ivey said in a statement published late last week. “I was pleased to sign into law this session legislation addressing military education and workforce training benefits and promoting greater employment opportunities for military spouses.”
“These measures and others I have signed further demonstrate our gratitude to our military and their families for their service as well as leveraging their unique skills in growing Alabama’s workforce,” the governor added.
Several of the bills signed by Ivey look to expand employment opportunities for Alabama veterans and their families.
House Bill 233 expands ANGEAP tuition assistance for members of the Alabama National Guard to include workforce development training programs, while House Bill 307 allows for the preferential hiring and promotion of active-duty service members, veterans and military spouses in both the public and private sectors.
House Bill 182 also requires the Alabama Department of Public Health, ADPH, to accept education, training and experience gained during U.S. military service as credit toward state Emergency Medical Services, EMS, licensure requirements. Similarly, Senate Bill 149 would allow eligible veterans to gain temporary teaching certificates from the Alabama State Department of Education, ALSDE, without needing a bachelor’s degree.
Alabama Guardsmen also stand to benefit from House Bill 341, which will exempt the first $5,000 of drill pay for members of the Alabama National Guard from state income tax. The bill is expected to cost the state $1.9 million beginning in Fiscal Year 2027, followed by an annual loss of $2.6 million each year thereafter until 2029.
Ivey also signed into law two pieces of legislation that aim to make homeownership easier for disabled veterans.
House Bill 77 allows totally disabled veterans to obtain a tentative property exemption certificate when applying for a mortgage to make it easier to qualify for a home loan, while House Bill 155 will remove the requirement for annual verification of homestead exemptions for permanent and totally disabled veterans who have already qualified.
Additionally, Ivey signed into law Senate Bill 158, a measure intended to promote military recruitment by requiring Alabama high schools to host annual voluntary Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, ASVAB, testing, administered by military recruiters.
“Governor Ivey believes Alabama’s military, veterans and their families are not only an invaluable asset to the state, but they also help build a stronger future for all,” the governor’s office stated.
