Legislative Summary

The Alabama Legislature returned from Spring Break ready to work, with filled committee agendas and special order calendars. Legislators held session days Tuesday and Thursday, and Wednesday was packed numerous committee meetings. Nineteen of the constitutionally allotted 30 days are now complete, with only one-third of the session remaining. Perhaps that realization resulted in almost 100 new bills introduced this week. There are now 426 bills in the House of Representatives and 305 in the Senate.

Some of the bills introduced this week include updates to the Alabama Code of Military Justice, changes to public/open records, tax liens, housing authorities, and a Guardianship Bill of Rights. There were also proposals relating to filing and recording fees relating to property, district attorney salaries and immunity, notary law revisions, and a tort bill involving trucking liability. Numerous criminal bills were filed this week, including increased criminal liability for parents involving minors committing offenses.

In committees this week, lawmakers debated more crimes relating to AI content and creation of images, juvenile expungement, virtual kidnapping, crimes against election officials, changes to tax liens and sales, involuntary commitment categories, municipal e-warrants, and boating licenses for out-of-state drivers. The General Fund budget passed out of committee in the Senate as well as the bill overhauling the organization and regulation of certain occupational licensing boards.

The bill revising Alabama’s Ethics law passed out of the House this week and the Senate continued to work through special calendars moving bills out of the Senate.

More local bills increasing or creating service of process fees for sheriffs were introduced this week. The counties now seeking increases of up to $50 (sometimes per document) include Marion, Tallapoosa, Baldwin, Tuscaloosa, and Etowah.

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

The Alabama State Bar provides legislative status reports concerning pending legislation that may be of interest to our members, with direct links to the actual legislation. The reports divide legislation into the following categories for your convenience: civil/general, court costs, criminal, domestic relations, elections ethics and government relations (EEGR), tax, and judicial.

You can find our comprehensive updated bill-tracking spreadsheet here.

LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

The 2024 regular session of the Alabama Legislature will continue as follows:

• The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, Apr. 9, at 2:00 p.m.
• The House has adjourned until Tuesday, Apr. 9, at 1:00 p.m.