Senate Slowdown Threatens Local Bills and Confirmations in Final Session Day
Action in the Alabama Senate ground to a slower pace on Wednesday as Sen. Bobby Singleton and Sen. Rodger Smitherman employed procedural tactics, casting uncertainty over the legislative agenda for the final day of the session.
Sen. Singleton, frustrated by the House’s lack of action on SB90, a local bill concerning gambling operations in Greene County within his district, declared his intention to dedicate an hour to each of the over 50 local bills still awaiting Senate approval. These local bills, which affect only specific cities or counties, typically receive expedited consideration. However, House Rules provide that the gaming bill, despite its localized impact, qualifies as a “general bill,” thus not warranting the same courtesy. Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger assured reporters that the passage of these local bills would be the Senate’s top priority upon their return this week. Adding to the backlog, a significant number of confirmations for various boards and commissions also remain pending in the Senate.
Earlier in the day, Sen. Smitherman initiated a filibuster against Sen. Elliott’s SB5, a bill proposing changes to the membership and appointment authority of the Alabama Department of Archives and History Board. The House had previously passed SB5 with an amendment that removed the Senate’s role in confirming new board members. Following a delay of several hours, Sen. Elliott requested that the bill be referred to a conference committee. This committee, composed of three members from each chamber, will work to produce a compromise report that must be approved by both the House and Senate on Wednesday to avoid the bill’s failure.
Alabama Lawmakers Approve Bills Restricting Hemp and Vaping Sales
The Alabama Legislature this week passed two bills aimed at restricting the sale and regulating hemp and vaping products, sending them to Gov. Kay Ivey for potential enactment.
HB8: Stricter Regulations for Vaping Products
Rep. Barbara Drummond’s HB8 passed both chambers and will implement the following changes:
- Bans the use of vending machines and self-service displays for vape products in areas accessible to minors.
- Increases the minimum age for purchasing vaping products to 21.
- Increases penalties for retailers who violate these new regulations.
The Senate approved the bill with a 28-5 vote, and the House swiftly concurred with the Senate’s amendments in a 52-43 vote, clearing its path to the governor’s desk.
HB445: Tighter Control and Taxation of Hemp Products
Rep. Andy Whitt’s HB445, designed to heavily regulate and tax hemp products containing THC, received Senate approval and now awaits Gov. Ivey’s signature. Key provisions of the bill include:
- Prohibiting the sale of THC products to individuals under 21.
- Imposing a 10% tax on the sale of these products.
- Mandating that these products be sold exclusively in specialty shops, unless grocery stores store them in dedicated, glass-enclosed areas.
- Limiting the THC content per product to a maximum of 10 milligrams.
The Senate passed HB445 with a 19-13 vote. The House subsequently concurred with the Senate’s revisions by a 60-27 vote, with 14 abstentions. This legislation has sparked debate, with hemp and vape businesses and consumers urging Governor Ivey to veto it, while conservative groups advocate for a complete ban.
Governor Ivey Enacts Birmingham Water Works Bill as Legal Battles Unfold
Gov. Kay Ivey has signed into law SB330, a bill aimed at reconstituting and reforming the Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB), amidst ongoing legal challenges.
Earlier in the week, the city of Birmingham initiated a federal lawsuit against the State, asserting that SB330 is unconstitutional based on several legal grounds. However, a federal judge in Montgomery denied the city’s request for a temporary restraining order to prevent Gov. Ivey from signing the bill.
Shortly after this legal setback for the city, the BWWB attempted to transfer its assets to the city for a nominal fee of $1. This action, however, occurred just hours after Gov. Ivey had already signed SB330 into law.
Adding another layer to the legal complexities, Philip Wiedmeyer, a newly appointed member of the reformed board by Jefferson County Commission President Jimmy Stephens, has filed a lawsuit against the city and city council. This lawsuit seeks to invalidate any actions taken by the previous iteration of the water works board. The situation remains fluid as these legal challenges progress in the wake of the bill’s enactment.
Goodbye Cellphone Distractions: K-12 Schools to Implement Device Ban
The Alabama Legislature has given final approval to HB166, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, mandating that all school districts establish policies by July 1 to prohibit student cellphone use from the start to the end of the school day. Dubbed the FOCUS Act – Freeing Our Children from Unnecessary Screens for Safety – this bill aligns Alabama with approximately 20 other states that have already implemented similar bans or restrictions on cellphone use in classrooms.
The FOCUS Act includes the following exceptions to the ban:
- Students with a Section 504 Plan, IEP (Individualized Education Program), IAP (Individualized Accommodation Plan), or health plan.
- Use during a life-threatening emergency.
- Use for educational purposes under the direct supervision of school staff.
Individual schools will be responsible for developing their own disciplinary procedures for students who violate the policy. Gov. Ivey has expressed strong support for the FOCUS Act and has indicated her readiness to sign it into law once it reaches her office.
Alabama House Advances Bills Targeting Undocumented Immigration
The Alabama House of Representatives passed two bills aimed at addressing undocumented immigration, sending them to the Senate and governor for further consideration.
SB53: Mandating Immigration Status Verification and Criminalizing Transportation
Rep. Ben Robbins carried SB53 in the House, which would require local law enforcement officers to verify the immigration status of individuals upon arrest. Additionally, the bill criminalizes the transportation of undocumented immigrants into Alabama. It includes, however, exceptions for individuals such as healthcare providers, attorneys, educational employees, and those acting for religious purposes, allowing them to transport undocumented immigrants without violating the law. The House passed SB53 by an 80-18 vote with 5 abstentions, and the bill now returns to the Senate for either concurrence with the House changes or the appointment of a conference committee to resolve any differences.
SB63: Requiring Fingerprints and DNA Samples from Undocumented Immigrants
Rep. Mark Shirey sponsored SB63 in the House, a bill that mandates law enforcement agencies to collect fingerprints and DNA samples from individuals arrested for being unlawfully present in the United States. These samples would then be sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. The bill stipulates that the costs associated with these new requirements will be covered by increases in specific court-related fees. The House passed SB63 with a 76-7 vote and 17 abstentions, and the bill now proceeds to Gov. Ivey for her potential signature.
Juneteenth Poised to Become Alabama’s Newest State Holiday
The Alabama Senate has given its final stamp of approval to HB165, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm, which would officially recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
While Gov. Ivey has previously issued proclamations granting state employees the day off for Juneteenth, this legislation would codify it as an official state holiday. The Senate passed the bill by a 13-5 vote, despite some senators expressing concerns about further expanding the state employee holiday calendar, which currently includes Confederate Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis’s Birthday. HB165 now heads to Gov. Ivey for her consideration and potential signature.
The Alabama Legislature will reconvene on Wednesday for its final legislative day.
The following bills are being tracked by our governmental relations team.
| Bill | Sponsors | Title | Last Action | Latest Version |
| AL 2025rs SB 282 |
Barfoot | Virtual currency, declares preemption of virtual currency or cryptocurrency regulation by the Legislature and exempts virtual currency from ad valorem tax | Senate, May 6, 2025: Currently Indefinitely Postponed | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 281 |
Shelnutt | Consumer Protection; platforms providing services allowing employees to access earned income prior to paycheck not considered a lender or debt collector; standards on platforms imposed | Senate, May 6, 2025: Currently Indefinitely Postponed | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 77 |
Weaver | International wire transfers; fee on wire transfers imposed; income tax credit for wire transfer fees paid, authorized; Securities Commission and Revenue Department to administer | Senate, May 6, 2025: Currently Indefinitely Postponed | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 29 |
Elliott | Government issued licenses, permits, and certifications; time frame imposed for issuing licenses etc.; exceptions provided | Senate, May 6, 2025: Currently Indefinitely Postponed | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 483 |
Shaw | Virtual currency, declares preemption of virtual currency or cryptocurrency regulation by the Legislature and exempts virtual currency from ad valorem tax | House, May 6, 2025: Currently Indefinitely Postponed | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 297 |
Fidler | Cash transactions; report certain cash transactions to Alabama Securities Commission required (Banking and Insurance (Senate)) | Senate, May 1, 2025: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Banking and Insurance) | Engrossed |
| AL 2025rs HB 610 |
Harrison | Constitutional Amendment; authorizing Legislature to establish a state bank; create a commission to operate bank or designate a state agency to oversee its operations (Financial Services (House)) | House, Apr 24, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 587 |
Shaw | Information Technology Auditors, qualifications for being hired to perform audits on state chartered financial institutions specified (Financial Services (House)) | House, Apr 17, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 396 |
Paschal | Taxation and Revenue; Homestead ad valorum taxes of certain veterans prohibited from inclusion in debt-to-income ratio
Senate Calendar: Regular Calendar (May 14, 2025) Position: 54 |
Senate, Apr 17, 2025: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Finance and Taxation General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 130 |
Melson | Financial Institutions and Businesses; authorizes gold and silver bullion and coins as legal tender | Senate, Apr 14, 2025: Enacted | Act Number 2025-123 |
| AL 2025rs HB 484 |
Shaw | Public Blockchain, creation of; inclusion of certain state expenditures. (Ways and Means General Fund (House)) | House, Apr 8, 2025: Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 284 |
Barfoot | Public Blockchain, creation of; inclusion of certain state expenditures. (Banking and Insurance (Senate)) | Senate, Apr 1, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Banking and Insurance) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 283 |
Barfoot | State Treasurer, investment of funds in digital assets (Banking and Insurance (Senate)) | Senate, Apr 1, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Banking and Insurance) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 482 |
Shaw | State Treasurer, investment of funds in digital assets (Ways and Means General Fund (House)) | House, Apr 1, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 418 |
Kiel | Financial Institutions and Insurers; using social credit score to discriminate prohibited; violations of insurers an unfair trade practice; fines, penalties and remedies authorized (Financial Services (House))
Companion Bills: SB 228 |
House, Mar 6, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 228 |
Jones (A) | Financial Institutions and Insurers; using social credit score to discriminate prohibited; violations of insurers an unfair trade practice; fines, penalties and remedies authorized (Banking and Insurance (Senate))
Companion Bills: HB 418 |
Senate, Mar 5, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Banking and Insurance) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 141 |
Butler (T) | Financial Institutions; prohibit fee for periodic paper billing statements (State Governmental Affairs (Senate)) | Senate, Feb 11, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (State Governmental Affairs) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs HB 192 |
Shirey | International wire transfers; fee on wire transfers imposed with proceeds for ELL instructors; income tax credit for wire transfer fees paid, authorized; Securities Commission and Revenue Department to administer (Ways and Means Education (House)) | House, Feb 5, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means Education) | Introduced |
| AL 2025rs SB 17 |
Coleman (M) | Digital assets, prohibits the state from certain actions related to digital assets and exempts certain actions from classification as a security or money transfer (Banking and Insurance (Senate)) | Senate, Feb 4, 2025: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Banking and Insurance) | Introduced |
