Alabama Legislative session coming to a close

April 2, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama Legislature is winding down the 2026 regular legislative session. This was a productive session that addressed a number of issues facing the state of Alabama.

Passing the budgets are the primary constitutional purpose of the Alabama Legislative session.

The Legislature is poised to pass a $10,479,207,990 education trust fund budget (ETF) – over a half a $billion more than the 2026 budget. 67.88% of the money will be spent on K-12 education. 25.89% is allocated to higher education, and 6.23% goes to other agencies including the legislature. K-12 is receiving $376 million of that increase. On the higher education side all the schools are seeing an increase. Auburn is receiving $440,591,003 in funding from the state, while Alabama receives $284,765,168 and UAB $439,340,008. The education budget is sponsored by Representatives Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) and Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). They chair the House and Senate education budget committees.

Of more concern is the state general fund budget (SGF). While the education budget receives all of the corporate and individual income taxes collected in the state the general fund lacks the growth taxes that fill the ETF. The 2027 SGF is only $3,737,357,400 – essentially unchanged from 2026. The lack of new revenue in the SGF is concerning given the level of inflation – particularly in the healthcare sector. Medicaid is the largest item in the SGF. The 2027 budget line item for Medicaid is $1,179,054,000 – exactly what it was in the 2026 budget. The second largest item in the SGF is the Department of Corrections (the prisons) which received a slight increase at $868,019,393. Most SGF programs are level funded. Some including Mental Health and the Department of Public Health received slight decreases. As of press time, neither budget has been sent to the governor so these numbers could still change slightly. The general fund budget is being carried by Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) and Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville). They chair the Senate and House general fund budget committees.

The legislature also passes laws. Getting tough on crime has been a priority of this session.

This past summer ten individuals in Bibb County were arrested for chaining up children – some as young as three – in a storm shelter turned dungeon so they could be sold to pedophiles for sex. Those individuals – if convicted of what they are charged with – cannot be executed because Alabama does not have a law allowing for the execution of child rapists. The 2026 Legislature fixed that oversight in the 2026 session with legislation carried by Senator April Weaver (R-Briarfield) and Representative Matt Simpson (R-Daphne).

Several other crime‑related bills have advanced in the 2026 Alabama Legislature, including major changes to reckless‑endangerment penalties (HB266) and new minimum staffing requirements for municipal police departments (SB298).

HB266 - Expansion of Reckless Endangerment Penalties has passed and been sent to the governor. It expands Alabama's reckless‑endangerment statute. It creates harsher penalties when multiple people are endangered or when a firearm is used. Endangering multiple people becomes a Class C felony, and if a deadly weapon is involved, a Class B felony. Single‑victim endangerment remains a Class A misdemeanor. HB266 was sponsored by Representative Chris Sells (R-Greenville). It should become law on October 1, 2026.

SB298 by Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) sets minimum staffing requirements for Law‑Enforcement Agencies in Class 3 Municipalities (Montgomery being the target city). That has passed the Senate and is in the House as of press time.

Both Houss have passed SB162, sponsored by Senator Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), dealing with Domestic Violence Coalition Reporting Requirements. SB162 requires the statewide coalition against domestic violence to submit audited financial statements, quarterly reports, and an operations plan. This bill is not a criminal‑penalty statute but is part of the state's domestic‑violence response infrastructure.

The Legislature is also working on promoting traditional values in Alabama public schools.

The House has passed HB511 - a proposed constitutional amendment that would require every Alabama public K–12 school to begin each day with the Pledge of Allegiance and allow a voluntary, student‑initiated, student‑led prayer. It also requires local school boards to adopt formal policies, ensures students may opt out, and outlines how violations are reported. HB511 is awaiting action in the Alabama Senate. If passed by the Senate it would still have to be approved by Alabama voters. HB511 is sponsored by Representative Reed Ingram (R-Montgomery).

The Senate passed a Ten Commandments bill – SB99 by Senator Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) - that would require the document to be posted in every public school in the state, but that legislation is awaiting action in the House of Representatives.

The Alabama Senate also passed a national anthem bill. Senate Bill 5, a proposed constitutional amendment requiring public K–12 schools to play or broadcast the first stanza of "The Star‑Spangled Banner" once per week. SB5 was sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen (R‑Northport). SB5 is awaiting action by the House of Representatives. Since it is a constitutional amendment if passed it would have to be voted on by the voters of the state.

Gambling is a widely discussed topic in the state, but at this time it appears that there will be no gambling bill passed by the Legislature this session. A gambling bill passed both Houses in 2024, but the conference committee version of that bill failed in the Senate. Rep. Phillip Ensler (D-Montgomery) introduced a lottery bill in this session, but that was not considered.

The Legislature also passed controversial legislation that would expand the Public Service Commission and create a new cabinet position – the Secretary of Energy. The Senate version of that bill – House Bill 475 – was passed over the objection of the sponsor, Representative Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City) who voted against concurring with the Senate changes.

Thursday was day 27 of the legislative session. There are a maximum of three days left in the session.

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