2026 Alabama Legislative Update: Regular Session - Week Seven

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Gulf of America Act

This week, the House passed legislation renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” for state and local government use after a long debate on the House floor Tuesday evening. The bill, sponsored by Representative David Standridge, requires agencies to use the new term in official materials where practical. Supporters of the legislation said the change aligns Alabama with federal directives and neighboring states already using the term. The bill includes exceptions for financial burden and allows schools and universities to continue using “Gulf of Mexico” for historical instruction. Opponents questioned the need for the change and noted that a future administration could reverse it. The legislation now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Data Privacy 

On Tuesday night, the House passed the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act, sponsored by Representative Mike Shaw, creating a statewide framework for consumer data privacy. Generally speaking, the bill grants rights to individuals regarding their personal data. It also places new requirements on data controllers and processors. Representative Shaw stated, “[This bill] is clear, targeted, and practical. It protects consumers without overburdening businesses or piling on unnecessary or redundant government mandates.” The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

TRAIN Act – Career and Technical Education Partnerships

On Thursday, Representative James Lomax, the newly appointed House Majority Whip, introduced the Talent Readiness and Industry Needs (TRAIN) Act. The legislation seeks to expand Alabama’s career and technical education capacity, a leading priority of Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, by allowing businesses to loan qualified employees to serve as CTE instructors through formal partnerships with participating schools. Under the bill, employers would receive a tax credit tied to the salary of loaned employees, subject to annual program caps and per-employer limits. The TRAIN Act also creates a streamlined workforce teaching certificate for industry professionals. The Department of Revenue would oversee the tax credit administration and report on the program’s impact by 2031. This legislation will likely move with little to no pushback through the legislative process as the legislature seeks to address critical workforce needs in the state.

Expedited CTE Certification Pathway

Alongside the TRAIN Act, Representative Marcus Paramore introduced legislation on Thursday creating an expedited certification pathway for career and technical education instructors, reinforcing the House’s broader focus on workforce development. The bill directs the State Board of Education to establish a streamlined certification process for qualified out-of-state CTE teachers who hold a valid teaching certificate, have at least four years of relevant experience, possess a bachelor’s degree, and pass a criminal-history background check. Once these criteria are verified, the State Superintendent would be required to issue the certificate without requiring additional testing or coursework. The legislation also permits local school systems to offer relocation stipends or hiring incentives to attract CTE instructors to Alabama. The Superintendent is required to track certificates issued under this pathway and provide annual reports on the program’s effectiveness. This legislation will move alongside the TRAIN Act through the legislative process.

School Report Card Changes 

On Wednesday, the House Education Policy Committee held a public hearing on legislation revising Alabama’s A–F school report card system. Representative Terri Collins, the sponsor of the legislation, discussed changes that would shift grading weights by increasing the emphasis on student achievement and growth, including a separate measure for the lowest‑performing 25% of students.  Representative Collins, a leading voice on education policy in the legislature, said the updates are intended to ensure the accountability system continues to reflect real academic progress as schools improve. The committee did not vote on the legislation, and the bill will continue through the committee process.

Overtime Income Tax Deduction

On Thursday, Representative James Lomax introduced legislation creating a state income tax deduction for qualified overtime pay. The bill would allow taxpayers to deduct up to $1,000 in overtime compensation for tax years 2025 through 2027, with the definition of qualified overtime aligned to federal law. The legislation primarily updates Alabama’s tax code to add the new deduction and makes other technical revisions. 

Closed Alabama Primaries

This week, Representative Ernie Yarbrough announced the intent to file legislation to close Alabama’s currently open primary system. Under the proposal, voters would register a political party affiliation in order to participate in that party’s primary or runoff. Yarbrough said there is interest in advancing the measure in both chambers and described the effort as a way to ensure party primaries reflect the preferences of each party’s voters. This idea has received support from GOP and legislative leaders. 

School Prayer & Pledge of Allegiance 

On Wednesday, a proposed constitutional amendment concerning school prayer and the daily Pledge of Allegiance failed to advance in the House Education Policy Committee. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Reed Ingram, would require local school boards to vote within 90 days on whether to allow voluntary prayer or devotional readings in public schools and require daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Before debating the legislation, the committee adopted an amendment removing references to the Bible and eliminating permission‑slip requirements. Lawmakers raised concerns about the bill’s funding penalties. After a lengthy discussion, the bill failed on a voice vote.

Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday 

This week, the House passed legislation establishing a Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday after a debate on the House floor. The bill, sponsored by Representative Chris Sells, creates an annual tax-free weekend on the last weekend of August during which firearms, ammunition, and eligible hunting supplies are exempt from state sales and use tax. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Rioting in Churches 

This week, the House passed legislation creating a new Class C felony for intentionally disrupting a worship service in reaction to a widely publicized event that occurred in Minnesota when protestors interrupted a church service. The bill, sponsored by Representative Greg Barnes, prohibits entering a religious service with the intent to disrupt through unlawful protest, riot, disorderly conduct, or harassment. While the sponsor of the legislation framed the bill as a necessary protection measure, opponents questioned whether the state is duplicating conduct already prosecutable under federal law, noting recent federal felony cases involving church disruptions. Members also raised concerns about elevating the offense to a Class C felony and whether that could invite uneven or subjective enforcement. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration, where it is expected to stall due to the aforementioned concerns.

Status of the Legislature

The legislature used three working days this week, bringing its current total to seventeen of its allotted 30 legislative working days. 

As of February 27, 531 bills have been filed in the House, and 333 bills have been filed in the Senate.

The House will reconvene on Tuesday, March 3, at 1:00 PM, and the Senate will reconvene on the same day at 4:30 PM. Upon return, the legislature is expected to use two working days.