LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

This week, the Alabama Legislature completed its sixth week. It was a two-day session week, with Wednesday full of committees. Fourteen of the allotted 30 days are now complete. A total of 807 bills have been introduced; 489 in the House of Representatives and 318 in the Senate. As we near the halfway point, many bills are moving, so please follow the tracking below for bills of relevance to your practice area.

Some bills of interest introduced this week include new historic tax credits; child abuse and neglect notification changes; a return-to-work bill for retired state employees; a Good Samaritan wildlife rescue bill; changes to the priority of restitution payments in criminal cases; a bill addressing decentralized unincorporated nonprofit associations; and more local bills.

Some bills of interest debated in committees this week include the use of sheriffs during eviction procedures; changes to the crime of stalking; guidelines for court-appointed special advocates in juvenile proceedings; and the transportation of feral swine.

Some bills debated in the House of Representatives and Senate this week include the passage of sunset bills in the House. In the Senate, some bills receiving passage include the new Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act; changes regarding violations of domestic violence protection orders; sex offenses involving transmittal of obscene material; and the ALI guardianships and conservatorships bill.

Another update brought this year by the Alabama Law Institute is amendments to the Alabama Uniform Trust Code. SB179 (Barfoot) and HB207 (Wadsworth) bring Alabama trust law into conformity with surrounding states and permitted federal tax practices. The bills permit flexibility for trust settlors, trustees, and beneficiaries in the tax treatment of distributions, powers of appointment, and withdrawal rights.

As always, the Alabama State Bar encourages all members to be aware of legislation that may impact court costs and fees. Access to justice is a priority. Please be aware of advertisements that may be occurring for local bills and those that may already be filed to use the courts as a fundraiser for non-court entities. We encourage you to be informed and notify us as well.

LEGISLATIVE TRACKING

We are excited to present a new tracking method for our members this year. Hopefully, it will prove to be a more user-friendly experience.  The Alabama State Bar provides legislative status reports concerning pending legislation that may be of interest to our members. The reports divide legislation into the following categories for your convenience:  Civil/General; Court Costs; Criminal; Domestic Relations; Elections, Ethics, and Government Relations (EEGR); Judicial; and Tax.

A comprehensive master list containing all tracked legislation is also available here.

Look Up A Specific Bill Here

LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 pm.

The House of Representatives has adjourned until Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 1:00 pm.