Alabama
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: March 5-7, 2024 • Alabama Reflector
Here is a list of bills that passed the Alabama Legislature this week.
Tuesday, March 5
House
HB 170, sponsored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, alters the boundary lines and corporate limits of the Town of Jackson’s Gap in Tallapoosa County. The bill passed 14-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 231, sponsored by Rep. Ivan Smith, R- Clanton, authorizes the Chilton County sheriff to establish procedures for using a credit card or debit card to make purchases. The bill passed 12-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 252, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R- Killen, establishes a permit fee to carry a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on or about the person in Lauderdale County. The bill passed 8-0. It goes to the Senate.
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HB 138, sponsored by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would make a supplemental appropriation of $98 million from the American Rescue Plan Act – State Small Business Credit Initiative Fund to the Alabama Innovation Corporation or other entity so designated by the Department of Finance. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 176, sponsored by Rep. James Lomax, R-Huntsville, bans cities and counties from enacting laws, regulations or ordinances on advanced air mobility and directs the Alabama Department of Transportation to develop a statewide plan to include vertiports, electric aviation charging, and the infrastructure needs of other advances in aviation technology. The bill passed 102-0, and it goes to the Senate.
HB 196, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Pike Road, would authorize the Land Commissioner to sell certain bid-in-land owned by the state by public auction in certain circumstances. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 173, sponsored by Rep. Leigh Hulsey, R- Helena, prohibits the use of the three-cueing system of educational instruction in the curriculum. The bill passed 92-2. It goes to the Senate.
Senate
SB12, sponsored by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, removes certain conditions for a retired elected official receiving benefits from the Teachers’ Retirement System or Employees’ Retirement Systems to serve in another elected position to maintain benefits and full compensation. It passed 32-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.
SB31, sponsored by Sen. Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, moves the administration of the Distressed Institutions of Higher Education Revolving Loan program to the executive director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, among other changes. It passed 23-5. It goes to the House of Representatives.
SB95, sponsored by Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, makes it illegal for people under 21 to possess, use, purchase or transport an electronic battery-powered device capable of dispensing substances to individuals in the form of vapor. It passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.
SB32, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, removes a provision that a case must be assigned to the district’s attorney restitution recovery division for when someone’s pension, annuity or retirement allowance benefits are subject to some recovery actions. A vote total was not immediately available on Friday. It goes to the House of Representatives.
SB72, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, prevents the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama from revoking, susping, failing to renew, or taking action against a physician’s license for recommending or prescribing an off-label medical treatment, unless it presents a threat of serious harm. It passed 31-0. It goes to the House of Representatives.
SB114, sponsored by Sen. Sam Givhan, R-Huntsville, continues the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board until Oct. 1 2028. A vote total was not immediately available on Friday. It goes to the House of Representatives.
Wednesday, March 6
House
SB 159, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, provides civil and criminal immunity to in vitro fertilization providers and patients, as well as criminal and limited civil immunity to manufactures of goods related to IVF services. The bill passed the House 81-12. It went to the Senate for concurrence.
Senate
HB129, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, creates a program to allocate up to $7,000 to qualifying students for certain non-public education-related expenses, including private school tuition. The bill passed 23-9. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill Thursday.
SB 159, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, provides civil and criminal immunity to in vitro fertilization providers and patients, as well as criminal and limited civil immunity to manufactures of goods related to IVF services. The Senate concurred with House changes 29-1. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill that evening.
Thursday, March 7

House
HB 175, sponsored by Cynthia Almond, R-Tuscaloosa, authorizes Tuscaloosa to increase property tax for public school purposes, subject to approval in a special election. The bill passed 18-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 190, sponsored by Rep. Jim Carns, R- Vestavia Hills, identifies the Personnel Board of Jefferson County as the civil service system of Jefferson County and clarifies designated beneficiaries. The bill passed 25-0. It goes to the Senate.
SB 48, sponsored by Sen. Greg Reed, R- Jasper, requires the posting of classroom curricula on a school website and allows parents or guardians to request information on instructional and supplemental materials used in the classroom. The bill passed 99-3. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence after House changes.
SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R- Cullman, makes it illegal for someone to knowingly provide an absentee ballot application with pre-filled information, with exceptions for emergency medical care. It would also make it a Class B felony, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, to provide or receive assistance for help with voting. The bill passed 75-28. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence after House changes.
SB 129, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, bans the public funding of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and leaves teachers or employees who use “divisive concepts” subject to potential termination. The bill passed 75-28. It goes back to the Senate for concurrence after House changes.
HB 253, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, R- Hollinger’s Island, makes the Alabama State Port Authority is a body corporate with the ability to employ non-merit system employees. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 194, sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pettus, R- Killen, exempts purchases made by volunteer fire departments and rescue squads from the requirements of the state procurement code and subjects them to local competitive bid law requirements. The bill passed 103-0. It goes to the Senate.
HB 95, sponsored by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R- Wetumpka, authorizes full-time students to complete required state required assessments through closed browser remote testing. The bill passed 99-2. It goes to the Senate.
Senate
HB151, sponsored by Rep, Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, which proposed a constitutional amendment to legalize and enforce some forms of gambling in the state. It passed 22-11. It returns to the House of Representatives with changes.
HB152, sponsored by Rep. Chris Blackshear, R-Smiths Station, which is the enabling legislation to create the Alabama Gaming Commission and outlined legalization under HB151, if it passes on the ballot. The bill passed 22-11. It returns to the House of Representatives with changes.
Alabama
Alabama offensive lineman transferring to Georgia Tech
Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.
Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)
A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.
Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.
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Alabama
Alabama Farmers Federation endorses Kristin Nelson for House District 38
The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed Kristin Nelson in the upcoming special election for Alabama House District 38, a seat left vacant following the resignation of Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley). The district includes portions of Chambers and Lee counties.
Nelson recently secured the Republican nomination after winning a runoff election. The special general election is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3.
“Kristin Nelson is a well-respected community leader in Chambers County, and we are proud to endorse her,” said Jason McKay, president of the Chambers County Farmers Federation. “We know she will represent us well in Montgomery and ensure District 38 gets the attention it needs in the business and agricultural arenas.”
Support for Nelson’s candidacy also came from farmers in neighboring Lee County. “Kristin Nelson is a strong conservative with incredible knowledge of House District 38,” said Robert Walters, president of the Lee County Farmers Federation. “There is no doubt she will work hard and represent the people of Lee and Chambers counties well in the Legislature.”
Nelson grew up along the Chambers-Lee county line and brings experience from both the public and private sectors. Her background includes seven years in city administration with the City of Valley and three years as a third-grade teacher with Lanett City Schools.
She has also been active in homeschooling through Classical Conversations, where she has served as both a tutor and a local representative supporting other families.
In addition to returning to part-time work with Harris Gray LLC, Nelson serves as worship leader at Fairfax Methodist Church, secretary of the Junior Variety Club and president of the EAMC Lanier Auxiliary Board.
She also founded the Chambers County Young Republicans and currently serves as the chair of the Chambers County Republican Party.
“The farmers of this district and I share the same strong work ethic and conservative values,” said Nelson. “It is an honor to have their support and to be able to represent them and all the people of this district in Montgomery.”
Nelson and her husband, Jeff, live in the Huguley community with their two teenage sons.
The Alabama Farmers Federation is the state’s largest farm organization, representing more than 360,000 member families. The organization uses a grassroots endorsement process that relies on decisions made by county Farmers Federation boards of directors in local elections.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
Alabama
Tuberville officially files for 2026 Alabama governor’s race
HOOVER, Ala. (WSFA) – Senator Tommy Tuberville officially filed the paperwork to run for governor at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Hoover Monday morning.
“I want to make the lives of the people of this state better,” said Sen. Tuberville. “If I thought that staying in the U.S. Senate would be best for Alabama, I would’ve stayed. but I think the best thing for Alabama is for me to come back.”
He talked about the need to grow Alabama’s economy, with attracting manufacturers being a primary focus. Sen. Tuberville said that to do that, he would focus on improving the state’s infrastructure and making the state’s education and workforce systems more attractive to new residents.
When asked about cutting waste, fraud and abuse, a focus of his time in Washington, D.C., alongside President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, Sen. Tuberville said, he expects to make changes if elected governor.
“You have a lot of different agencies here, we want to make them all better,” he said. “We also want to make sure that we save the taxpayers’ money, that we use it wisely and we give it back to them.”
The former Auburn football coach said he did not expect to go into politics, but now, he is ready to transition from national to state politics.
“It’s time to come home, put together a staff and worry about the state of Alabama and the people here,” he said.
According to Alabama’s constitution, someone running for governor has to have lived in the state for at least seven years. Some have questioned whether Sen. Tuberville fits that requirement. He said during the candidacy filing that the Republican Party of Alabama says he does fulfill the requirement.
The filing deadline for candidates to qualify for a major political party is Jan. 23.
Alabama’s Democratic primary has the following candidates:
- Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones
- Dr. Will Boyd – businessman and engineer
- JaMel Brown – pastor and talk show host
- Chad ‘Chig’ Martin – businessowner
Alabama’s Republican Primary has the following candidates:
- Sen. Tommy Tuberville
- Ken McFeeters – former congressional candidate
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