LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

This week, the Alabama Legislature continued with a three-day session. It was a busy week, with committee meetings and a legislative session on Wednesday, followed by the annual Senate vs. House softball game at Riverfront Park that evening. The Legislature will be adjourned next week for constituent services before reconvening the following week.

To date, 13 legislative days have been completed, with 231 bills introduced in the Senate and 398 bills introduced in the House of Representatives.

Bills introduced this week include changes to income tax exemptions and deductions, additional modifications to real estate transaction laws, a reduction in the sales tax on food, and a bill permitting blood draws in certain traffic-related offenses.

Bills reviewed in committee this week included a measure requiring notification of schools when juveniles commit certain criminal offenses and proposed changes to accountability courts. The Alabama Law Institute’s business code revisions bill also advanced out of committee.

Additionally, a bill allowing for child support during pregnancy moved forward, as did legislation granting property tax exemptions for widows and a bill providing parental leave for state employees. A measure permitting hearings in certain expungement cases also passed.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives spent most of the day debating multiple bills related to immigration.

A variety of criminal justice bills are under consideration. Please refer to the legislative tracking section below for a complete list. Additionally, any miscellaneous legislation can be found under the civil designation.

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. The reports divide legislation into the following categories for your convenience: civil/general, court costs, criminal, domestic relations, elections ethics, and government relations (EEGR), judiciary, and tax.

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

Look Up A Specific Bill Here

LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

The 2025 regular session of the Alabama Legislature will continue as follows:

• The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 2:00 p.m.
• The House has adjourned until Tuesday, Mar. 18 at 1:00 p.m.