The Alabama Legislature has officially completed six legislative days of the 30-day maximum allowed for the 2026 Regular Session. While lawmakers are currently scheduled to return on Tuesday, leadership has issued a warning regarding a winter storm expected to impact North Alabama. Next week’s legislative schedule is expected to be finalized by noon on Monday.
App Store Accountability Act Clears House, Moves to Senate
House Bill 161 (HB161) – Sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells
The House unanimously passed the App Store Accountability Act on Thursday, sending the legislation to the Senate. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells, focuses on age verification and parental oversight for digital platforms.
Key Provisions:
- Age Verification: Requires app stores to verify user ages and link minor accounts to a parent or guardian.
- Parental Consent: Requires parental approval before a minor can download an app or when an app makes “significant changes” to its features or data usage.
- Enforcement: Authorizes the Alabama Attorney General to prosecute violations as deceptive trade practices against app stores or developers.
Sen. Clyde Chambliss will handle the legislation in the Senate. It was referred to the Children & Youth Healthcare Committee.
Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act Receives Committee Approval
House Bill 78 (HB78) – Sponsored by Rep. Jeana Ross
Sponsored by the former Secretary of Early Childhood Education, Rep. Jeana Ross’s legislation received unanimous approval from the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday. It now moves to the full House for consideration.
The bill applies specifically to licensed child-care facilities, prekindergarten, public kindergarten, and their associated after-school or summer programs.
Key Provisions:
- Zero-Screen Policy: Prohibits all screen time for children under the age of 2 in child-care settings.
- Structured Limits: Requires the Departments of Early Childhood Education, Human Resources, and the State Board of Education to establish specific screen time limits for children ages 2 through 5.
New Standards for Mobile Bay Dredging Operations
House Bill 181 (HB181) – Sponsored by Rep. Rhett Marques
A House committee approved legislation on Wednesday aimed at addressing complaints from oyster farmers, fishermen, and environmentalists regarding the Army Corps of Engineers’ dredging practices. Currently, the Corps removes and dumps mud from the Mobile Bay shipping channel to accommodate larger container ships entering the Port of Mobile.
HB181 establishes the following requirements:
- Mandatory “Beneficial Use”: Any entity dredging more than 1 million cubic yards of material annually in coastal areas must put at least 70% of that material to “beneficial use.” This includes creating marshlands, developing fish and wildlife habitats, or building areas for human recreation.
- Funding Restrictions: The bill prohibits the use of any state General Fund appropriations to comply with these new regulations.
Immigration Legislation Advances in Alabama Legislature
Two immigration-related bills previously debated last year have returned to the Alabama Legislature for further deliberation.
Senate Bill 45: Driver’s License Restrictions
Sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott
This bill targets out-of-state driver’s licenses that do not require proof of lawful presence. If a nonresident presents a license that explicitly indicates they did not provide proof of legal status when obtaining it, SB45 mandates the following:
- Invalidation: The state will consider the nonresident’s driver’s license invalid within Alabama.
- Exemption Denials: The individual will no longer qualify for standard exemptions to Alabama’s driver’s license requirements.
The Senate State Governmental Affairs Committee passed the bill on Wednesday, clearing it for a full vote on the Senate floor.
House Bill 13: The Laken Riley Act
Sponsored by Rep. Ernie Yarborough
A similar version of this bill passed the House last year but stalled in the Senate. HB13 expands the authority of state and local police to assist in federal immigration enforcement.
Key Provisions:
- Federal Partnerships: Enables state and local law enforcement agencies to enter into formal agreements (Memorandums of Agreement) with federal agencies.
- Enforcement Authority: Permits local officers to enforce federal immigration and customs laws, including the investigation, detention, and removal of individuals regarding their immigration status.
The House Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on Wednesday. While some members of the public expressed concerns that the bill could lead to stops based on skin color, Representative Matt Simpson countered that skin color does not legally constitute a factor for probable cause. The committee expects to vote on the bill next week.
Veterans to Classrooms: Senate Passes New Teaching Pathway
Senate Bill 149 (SB149) – Sponsored by Sen. Matt Woods
The Alabama Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to tackle teacher shortages by streamlining the path for military veterans to enter the classroom. Strongly backed by Governor Kay Ivey, the bill now moves to the House Education Policy Committee.
Key Provisions:
- Temporary Certification: Creates a “Military Veteran Temporary Teaching Certificate” for subjects that typically require a bachelor’s degree.
- Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must document at least 48 months of active duty, an honorable discharge (or medical separation), and a background check.
- Academic Standards: Candidates must have completed at least 60 college credits with a 2.5 GPA and pass the required Praxis content exams.
- Mentorship & Duration: The certificate allows veterans to teach for up to five school years. To ensure success, the local superintendent must assign a mentor to guide the veteran during their first two years of teaching.
SNAP Oversight and Data Sharing Bill Advances
Senate Bill 61 (SB61) – Sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr
The Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved legislation on Wednesday that overhauls how state agencies manage the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
Key Provisions:
- Mandatory Data Matching: Requires Alabama Medicaid and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to enter into formal agreements to cross-check participant information. Agencies must verify eligibility by comparing datasets regarding income, employment, and assets.
- Restricting Categorical Eligibility: Prohibits DHR from granting “categorical eligibility” for SNAP benefits unless specifically required by federal law.
- Fiscal Impact: Implementation of these new mandates will require approximately $16 million in additional state spending.
Our legislative team is tracking the following bills:
| Bill | Sponsors | Title | Last Action | Latest Version |
| AL 2026rs HB 303 |
Bedsole | Cryptocurrency; measures to prevent fraud imposed, penalties established, Alabama Securities Commission authorized to enforce (State Government (House)) | House, Jan 21, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (State Government) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 104 |
Blackshear | Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property; allow finders to contract and locate State Treasurer property, account for digital assets (Finance and Taxation General Fund (Senate)) | Senate, Jan 20, 2026: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 96 |
Pringle | Debtors homestead exemption; in bankruptcy cases; increase homestead exemption for seniors and disabled (Finance and Taxation Education (Senate)) | Senate, Jan 20, 2026: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation Education) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 77 |
Paschal | Taxation and Revenue; disabled veterans’ homestead taxes inclusion in debt-to-income ratio under certain circumstances prohibited (Finance and Taxation General Fund (Senate)) | Senate, Jan 20, 2026: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 259 |
Shaw | Stablecoin; license required for issuance or sale of stablecoins, payment, authorize use of payment stablecoin by governmental entities for contracting, Alabama Securities Commission to enforce and authorize, penalties provided (Financial Services (House)) | House, Jan 15, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 252 |
Shaw | Campaign finance; campaign contributions required to be held in federally insured institution (Ethics and Campaign Finance (House))
On the agenda – House Ethics and Campaign Finance Standing Meeting Jan 28, 2026 10:30am Room 418 |
House, Jan 15, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ethics and Campaign Finance) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 207 |
Wadsworth | Alabama Uniform Trust Code; amended to conform with Alabama Qualified Dispositions in Trust Act, limit property subject to creditors’ claims (Financial Services (House))
Companion Bills: SB 179 |
House, Jan 14, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 206 |
Wadsworth | Trusts; amend Alabama Principal and Income Act, permit trustee to adjust between principal and income (Financial Services (House))
Companion Bills: SB 178 |
House, Jan 14, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs SB 130 |
Elliott | Taxation and Revenue; Homestead ad valorum taxes of certain veterans prohibited from inclusion in debt-to-income ratio under certain circumstances (Finance and Taxation General Fund (Senate)) | Senate, Jan 13, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Finance and Taxation General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 55 |
Hollis | Mortgages; require lenders to all mortgagors to make additional mortgage payments (Financial Services (House)) | House, Jan 13, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
