2026 Alabama Legislative Update: Regular Session - Week Six

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House Majority Leadership Shakeup

This week, House Republicans made a leadership transition as Representative Paul Lee of Dothan was elected to serve as House Majority Leader following Scott Stadthagen’s permanent resignation to pursue the ALGOP chairmanship. Representative Lee, who currently chairs the House Health Committee, emphasized continuity and focus on the policy work that remains in the 2026 session. Members described the move as a way to maintain steady committee governance while ensuring that internal caucus operations remain aligned with long‑term legislative priorities. 

Sound Science Legislation

Legislation, commonly referred to as the “Sound Science” bill, passed the House this week and was subsequently signed into law by the Governor. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Donnie Chesteen and Representative Troy Stubbs, bars state agencies from adopting environmental rules that exceed federal standards and requires any state-initiated regulations in unaddressed areas to be grounded in the best available science. Supporters argued the framework provides regulatory predictability for businesses and prevents costly overreach in areas like water quality and waste management. The new law is now in effect.

Food Truck Regulation

This week, the Senate passed a bill, sponsored by Senator Dan Roberts, restructuring how mobile food vendors are inspected statewide. Under the legislation, food trucks will undergo one health inspection and a statewide fire inspection that replaces the patchwork of constantly shifting local requirements. The State Fire Marshal would establish a uniform inspection standard. Supporters describe the bill as a pro-business modernization effort that brings consistency across jurisdictions while reducing costs. This legislation now moves to the House for consideration.

Library Boards

On Wednesday, the House Committee on County and Municipal Government gave a favorable report to legislation allowing city and county governments to remove members of local library boards by a two‑thirds vote. Under current law, board members cannot be removed before their terms expire, creating what officials described as a gap in local oversight. Supporters said the reform simply aligns library boards with other appointed bodies. Opponents raised concerns about removals without cause. The bill now moves to the House for further consideration. 

Appointments Legislation

The appointments legislation sponsored by Representative Chris Pringle advanced in the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee this week. The bill expands the authority of appointing figures, including the Governor, Speaker, Senate President Pro Tem, Lieutenant Governor, and minority leaders, to remove and replace their appointees to boards and commissions at any time, with some limited exceptions. Legislators are seeking to ensure that elected officials need flexibility to ensure appointees remain aligned with policy objectives with this legislation. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration. 

ADMH Oversight of Behavior Analysts

On Thursday, sunset legislation, sponsored by Senator Chris Elliott, shifting regulatory authority for behavior analysts to the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH), received final passage. The legislation converts the existing Behavior Analyst Licensing Board into an advisory council and places full licensing and rulemaking authority with ADMH. Supporters cited multiple audit findings showing administrative failures and said the department is better equipped to manage regulatory functions. The bill has been sent to the Governor for her signature.

Camp Safety – Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Act

On Tuesday, the House passed the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, creating Alabama’s first emergency‑preparedness licensing system for overnight camps. The legislation, sponsored by Representative David Faulkner, follows the tragic death of eight‑year‑old Sarah Marsh, a Mountain Brook resident who lost her life in last summer’s Texas floods. Under the bill, camps must obtain an emergency preparedness license from the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and satisfy other criteria. Camps located in floodplains must satisfy additional requirements. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. 

Religious Released Time 

On Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed a piece of parental rights and religious liberty legislation, sponsored by Senator Shay Shelnutt, that updates the existing Released Time Credit Act. With the input of education groups, the bill adds definitions, spells out the responsibilities of the sponsoring entities that run these programs, and tightens language around how released‑time activities are handled during the school day. It also specifies requirements for record‑keeping, background checks, and liability coverage by the sponsoring entities, along with existing limits on instructional time and the use of public funds. The legislation does not require any district to adopt a policy. The bill, which is strongly supported by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, now moves to the House for consideration, where little to no opposition is expected from outside groups due to changes made compared to similar legislation filed during the 2025 legislative session.

CDL English‑Language Proficiency

This week, the Senate unanimously passed legislation requiring commercial truck drivers to demonstrate English proficiency and, for drivers licensed in other countries, present valid U.S. entry documentation. Lawmakers highlighted a tragic crash last year involving a non-English-speaking driver as justification for the need for clearer verification and communication standards. Under the bill, violations carry fines, with fines increasing for repeat offenses. Supporters said the measure aligns Alabama with federal standards and strengthens road safety. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. 

Breast and Prostate Cancer Screening Legislation

The House advanced two significant health‑coverage bills this week. One bill, sponsored by Senator Steve Livingston and Representative Jeremy Gray, removes out‑of‑pocket costs for prostate cancer screenings for high‑risk men over 40 and all men over 50. This bill has now passed both chambers and been sent to the Governor for her request. The other bill, sponsored by Senator Linda Coleman-Madison and Representative Francis Holk-Jones, provides similar no‑cost coverage for mammograms and follow‑up diagnostic imaging for women over 40. Supporters said the reforms reduce financial barriers and align with best‑practice screening recommendations. The House version of the bill has now been sent to the Senate for consideration.

Sex Education Standards

On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation, sponsored by Senator Shelnutt, reshaping sex education instruction in Alabama’s public schools. The bill requires curricula to emphasize sexual risk avoidance and abstinence and prohibits sex education in grades K–4, among other requirements. It also restricts the use of sexually explicit materials and mandates parental notification with an opt‑out provision. The bill now moves to the House for consideration. 

Status of the Legislature

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

As of February 20, 489 bills have been filed in the House, and 318 bills have been filed in the Senate.

The House will reconvene on Tuesday, February 17, at 1:00 PM, and the Senate will reconvene on the same day at 2:00 PM. Upon return, the legislature is expected to use three working days.