2026 Alabama Legislative Update: Regular Session - Week Twelve

PDF

Solar Moritorium 

Legislation imposing a one‑year moratorium on the construction of new solar farms failed to advance this week due to a late‑session procedural hurdle in the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Senator Greg Albritton and Representative Matt Simpson, would have temporarily halted new solar energy facilities for one year, while lawmakers reviewed regulatory processes surrounding large‑scale solar projects.

An objection for immediate transmittal prevented it from being sent to the House with enough time to move the bill through the legislative process. After the chamber’s 26th legislative day, unanimous consent is required for immediate transmittal. As a result, the legislation did not pass this session.

Beau’s Law

This week, the legislature passed Beau’s Law, legislation establishing minimum care standards for dogs, following extended floor debate and the adoption of multiple amendments. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger and Representative Phillip Ensler, makes it a misdemeanor offense to keep a dog outdoors without adequate food, water, and shelter. The legislation was inspired by the death of a dog named Beau, whose case drew statewide attention and prompted renewed focus on animal welfare standards. Beau’s Law has been sent to Governor Ivey for her signature.

Workforce and Career‑Technical Education Legislation

This session, lawmakers advanced a package of workforce and career‑technical education (CTE) measures aimed at expanding access to skilled instructors and strengthening ties between industry and the classroom. CTE legislation has been a top priority of Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter this session. 

The legislation includes the TRAIN (Talent Readiness and Industry Needs) Act, sponsored by House Majority Whip James Lomax and Senator Chris Elliott, which creates a new mechanism allowing employers to temporarily loan experienced industry professionals to teach designated CTE courses, establishes a Workforce Teaching Certificate for qualified individuals, and creates a tax break for donations to certain CTE-related entities. Lawmakers also advanced legislation sponsored by Representative Marcus Paramore and Donnie Chesteen, creating an expedited certification pathway for experienced CTE educators relocating to Alabama, and reducing barriers to entry for qualified instructors. Supporters said the two pieces of legislation address instructor shortages, align education with workforce needs, and support Alabama’s long‑term economic development goals. The bills have been sent to the Governor for her signature. 

Budgets

This week, lawmakers completed work on both the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. The Legislature gave final approval to a $3.74 billion General Fund budget after the Senate concurred with House amendments, sending the non‑education spending plan to Governor Ivey for her signature. The budget includes funding for a 2% cost‑of‑living adjustment for state employees, coverage of increased health insurance costs, and a one‑time longevity bonus for state retirees, along with targeted adjustments across several state agencies and infrastructure funds.

The legislature also finalized the $12.4 billion education budget package after the House agreed to Senate changes. The package includes the FY 2027 Education Trust Fund budget, a supplemental appropriation for the current fiscal year, and additional funding through the Education Advancement and Technology Fund. Key components include a 2% pay raise for educators, funding for CHOOSE Act education savings accounts, adjustments to RAISE Act funding weights, and one‑time bonuses for retired educators. With legislative approval complete, the education budget package has been sent to Governor Ivey for her signature.

SNAP Restrictions 

This week, the legislature approved legislation to prohibit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients from purchasing certain sugary products with their benefits. The bill, sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr and Representative Reed Ingram, would require the Alabama Department of Human Resources to seek a federal waiver allowing the state to exclude items such as candy, sodas, and certain energy drinks from SNAP‑eligible purchases. Supporters said the measure is intended to address Alabama’s high obesity and nutrition‑related health concerns.

The bill passed largely along party lines following extensive debate and the adoption of amendments clarifying which products would be prohibited. After House passage, the Senate declined to concur with the House changes, sending the legislation to a conference committee. The conference committee compromise bill was concurred upon by both chambers, sending it to the Governor for her signature. 

Data Privacy 

This week, the legislature passed the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act, sponsored by Representative Mike Shaw and Senator Chris Elliott, 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 has been sent to Governor Ivey for her signature. See summary of the legislation from Maynard Nexsen’s Cybersecurity & Privacy team.

Closed Primaries 

Legislation that would close Alabama’s primary elections advanced out of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee this week, but did not receive consideration on the Senate floor before adjournment on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Representative Ernie Yarbrough, would require voters to formally affiliate with a political party in order to participate in that party’s primary elections beginning in 2027, ending Alabama’s longstanding open‑primary system.

With no floor vote taken before adjournment, the legislation failed to pass this session.

Data Center Cost Allocation

This week, the legislature passed the data center cost allocation bill sponsored by Senator Lance Bell and Representative Neil Rafferty. The most notable feature is a requirement that any grid or infrastructure upgrades needed to serve a large load data center facility must be funded by the project developer rather than by existing utility customers. This legislation has been sent to the Governor for her signature. 

Data Center Abatements

The data center incentive‑reform bill, sponsored by Representative Leigh Hulsey and Senator Andrew Jones, passed this week. The legislation alters the abatement period for data center projects and requires the largest facilities to begin paying certain taxes on designated purchases after the data center is placed in service. This legislation has been sent to the Governor for her signature.

Overtime Tax Deduction and Grocery Tax Holiday

This week, the Senate approved legislation providing temporary tax relief through an overtime income tax deduction and a two‑month grocery tax holiday. The bill, sponsored by Representative James Lomax, establishes a state income tax deduction of up to $1,000 per taxpayer for qualified overtime compensation and is set to expire at the end of 2028.

The legislation also temporarily eliminates the remaining 2% state sales tax on groceries for the months of May and June. After previously passing the House, the bill cleared the Senate and now moves to Governor Kay Ivey for her signature.

Sexual Risk Avoidance

This week, the Legislature passed legislation redefining sex education standards in Alabama public schools. The bill, sponsored by Senator Shay Shelnutt and Representative Susan DuBose, requires schools to teach “sexual risk avoidance” in place of comprehensive sex education and emphasizes abstinence as the primary prevention strategy. The legislation also restricts instruction on how to obtain or use contraceptives and allows parents to opt their children out of the curriculum without academic penalty.

The bill passed the House with limited debate after previously clearing the Senate. Supporters said the measure updates existing law and modernizes curriculum language, while reinforcing parental involvement. Opponents raised concerns about limiting students’ access to information on contraception and reproductive health. The bill has been sent to Governor Kay Ivey for her signature. 

Montgomery Police Department 

Legislation addressing staffing requirements for the Montgomery Police Department (MPD) did not receive a final vote in the House before adjournment. The bill would have established minimum staffing standards for MPD and authorized state‑level intervention if the city failed to meet those thresholds. Supporters argued the measure was necessary to ensure adequate public safety resources in the state’s capital city, while opponents criticized it as an encroachment on local control. With no final House action taken, the legislation did not pass this session.

Ten Commandments

This week, the legislature approved legislation requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in Alabama public schools. The bill, sponsored by Senator Keith Kelley and Representative Mark Gidley, would mandate that posters be displayed in public schools serving grades five through twelve.

Under the bill, school systems would not be required to use public funds to comply and could instead rely on donated posters or private funding. The bill has been sent to the Governor for her signature. 

Status of the Legislature

The Legislature used its final three working days this week and adjourned sine die. 

The legislature will reconvene in early 2027 for an organizational session as they enter a new legislative quadrennium.

During this legislative session, 666 bills were filed in the House, and 380 were filed in the Senate.