The Alabama Legislature convened for two legislative days, and one committee day, this past week, completing now 14 days of the 2026 Regular Session. Lawmakers will return on Tuesday to begin their 15th legislative day, out of a maximum of 30.
Environmental Regulation Bill Signed Into Law
SB71 – Sponsored by Senator Donnie Chesteen
After passing the Senate on February 3 by a vote of 25-7 and the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee on February 5, Senator Donnie Chesteen’s bill that changes how the Alabama Department of Environmental Management adopts or enforces new rules received final passage in the House on Tuesday, February 18, and has been signed into law by Governor Ivey.
Key Provisions:
- Federal Floor Standard: Prohibit the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) from adopting or enforcing rules more stringent than corresponding federal standards when a federal regulation exists.
- Science-Based Standard: In the absence of federal law or regulations, require any new state environmental rule to be based on the “best available science” and the weight of scientific evidence.
Final Vote: The bill passed the House on Tuesday, February 18, with 68 yeas and 34 nays.
Status: Signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey.
State Law Enforcement Support for Understaffed Municipalities
SB298, sponsored by Senator Will Barfoot, would allow the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to provide operational support and assume management responsibilities for chronically understaffed municipal police departments in Alabama’s two largest cities was discussed, but not voted on, in the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee this week.
Key Provisions:
- Limited Scope: The bill applies only to Class 3 municipalities, which under Alabama law includes only Huntsville and Montgomery.
- State Assistance Authority: Authorizes ALEA to step in and provide assistance to police departments in these municipalities when experiencing chronic understaffing that compromises public safety.
- Administrative Support: ALEA could appoint a chief administrative law enforcement officer with authority to act in all matters regarding the police department, including personnel actions, administrative procedures, enforcement strategies, and recruitment and retention methods.
- Temporary State Intervention: Provides a mechanism for state-level support when local law enforcement capacity is insufficient to maintain public safety standards.
Commercial Vehicle Regulations Pass Senate Unanimously
SB242 – Senator Lance Bell
Senator Lance Bell’s SB242 addresses safety concerns related to foreign nationals operating commercial vehicles on state roadways.
Key Provisions:
- Codifies Federal Regulations into State Law: Individuals who have obtained a commercial driver’s license from a foreign government must show valid proof of entry documentation to operate a commercial vehicle in Alabama.
- English Language Requirements: The bill requires individuals operating commercial vehicles to have proficiency in the English language.
- Penalties: Violations can result in the impounding of the commercial motor vehicle, fines, and imprisonment for both the driver and/or the carrier.
Status: Passed the Senate unanimously on Tuesday, February 18; pending in the House Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure Committee.
Rep. Paul Lee Elected House Majority Leader
The Alabama House of Representatives elected Rep. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, as the new House Majority Leader on February 19, following the resignation of Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Rainbow City, who is pursuing the chairmanship of the Alabama Republican Party.
Background: The House Majority Leader position is traditionally responsible for overseeing caucus re-election efforts, a critical role with the May 19 primary elections approaching. Lee’s election comes at a pivotal time as the Legislature enters the second half of the 2026 Regular Session with 16 legislative days remaining.
Board Removal Authority Advances in Senate
HB220 – Representative Chris Pringle
Representative Chris Pringle’s HB220 to provide clarity and uniformity to the appointing authorities among various boards and commissions across state government passed out of Senate committee on Wednesday, February 19.
Key Provisions:
- Current Law: Many statutory boards and commissions have members appointed by the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The statutes are generally silent as to the ability of the appointing authority to remove members, either for cause or at-will.
- Bill’s Effects: HB220 provides that any individual appointed to such a board or commission shall serve at their appointing authority’s pleasure, allowing for their removal at any time. The bill does not apply to the Alabama State Port Authority, the State Ethics Commission, or the governing board of any two-year or four-year public institution of higher education.
Status: Passed Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday, February 19; now pending on the Senate floor for consideration.
Background: House leadership cited the recent International Motorsports Hall of Fame scandal, in which the Examiners of Public Accounts discovered widespread misuse of state money and property by board members. The bill ensures consistent removal authority across all state boards and commissions.
Library Board Reform Nears Final Passage
SB26 – Senator Chris Elliott
Senator Chris Elliott’s bill to allow local governments to remove library board members advanced out of House committee on Wednesday, February 19, positioning it for final passage on the House floor in the coming days.
Key Provisions:
- Current Law: Currently, city councils and county commissioners do not have the ability to remove members of library boards at will under state statute.
- Bill’s Effects: SB26 allows the local appointing authority to remove a library board member with a two-thirds majority vote. Board members would serve “at the pleasure” of their appointing authority.
- House Committee Amendment: The bill was amended in committee to require that the appointing jurisdiction appoint members that accurately reflect the diversity of the community in which they serve, and allows members of the appointing authority to serve on the board as long as they reflect the community’s diversity.
Status: Passed House County and Municipal Government Committee on Wednesday, February 19; positioned for House floor vote. If the bill passes the House it will return to the Senate for concurrence or a request for a conference committee to reconcile differences.
Background: This is Senator Elliott’s third attempt to pass this legislation. Previous versions passed committees or chambers in prior sessions but did not become law. The bill has generated controversy amid ongoing debates over library content and local control. A Senate committee amendment requiring annual reporting on book removals was removed in an earlier committee vote.
Our governmental relations team is tracking the following bills:
| Bill | Sponsors | Title | Last Action | Latest Version |
| AL 2026rs SB 221 |
Orr | Taxation; to exclude credit card transaction fees from sales and use tax calculations
Senate Calendar: Special Order Calendar (February 19, 2026) Position: 3 |
Senate, Feb 19, 2026: Carried Over | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 351 |
Shaw | Data privacy; processing of data regulated, consumer actions related to data authorized
House Calendar: Special Order Calendar (February 24, 2026) Position: 13 |
House, Feb 10, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Commerce and Small Business) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 402 |
Datcher | Local land bank authorities; shorten tax sale redemption period; restrictions on geographic scope; creation of multijurisdictional land banks by agreement; Governor’s emergency authorization to create land bank (Fiscal Responsibility (House)) | House, Feb 5, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Fiscal Responsibility) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 303 |
Bedsole | Cryptocurrency; measures to prevent fraud imposed, penalties established, Alabama Securities Commission authorized to enforce
House Calendar: Special Order Calendar (February 24, 2026) Position: 16 |
House, Feb 5, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (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
Senate Calendar: Regular Calendar (February 17, 2026) Position: 32 |
Senate, Feb 5, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Finance and Taxation General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 77 |
Paschal | Taxation and Revenue; disabled veterans’ homestead taxes inclusion in debt-to-income ratio under certain circumstances prohibited
Senate Calendar: Regular Calendar (February 17, 2026) Position: 31 |
Senate, Feb 5, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Finance and Taxation General Fund) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs SB 232 |
Stewart | Volunteer fire departments; authorized to deposit funds with financial institutions (Banking and Insurance (Senate)) | Senate, Jan 29, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Banking and Insurance) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 344 |
Lipscomb | Volunteer fire departments; authorized to deposit funds with financial institutions (County and Municipal Government (House)) | House, Jan 29, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (County and Municipal Government) | 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
House Calendar: Regular Calendar (February 24, 2026) Position: 33 Companion Bills: SB 179 |
House, Jan 29, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 206 |
Wadsworth | Trusts; amend Alabama Principal and Income Act, permit trustee to adjust between principal and income
House Calendar: Regular Calendar (February 24, 2026) Position: 32 Companion Bills: SB 178 |
House, Jan 29, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Financial Services) | Introduced |
| AL 2026rs HB 324 |
Moore (P) | Artificial intelligence; age verification systems required for chatbots, safeguard protocols required, therapy chatbot requirements established, private right of action and enforcement provided for (Judiciary (House)) | House, Jan 22, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Judiciary) | 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 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)) | House, Jan 15, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ethics and Campaign Finance) | 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))
On the agenda – House Financial Services Standing Meeting Feb 25, 2026 09:00am Room 617 |
House, Jan 13, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Financial Services) | Introduced |
