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
YMCA of South Alabama holds Healthy Kids Day in Spanish Fort
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Former Alabama superstar signs massive extension with NFL team
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama
Alabama Baseball Strikes Out 17 Times in Noncompetitive Loss to Texas
Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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