These are the recent bills that were adopted by both Alabama legislative chambers to become law. Baldwin County has three state senators and seven state representatives.

The Alabama Legislature generally meets three days a week during session, with Tuesday and Thursday being voting days on the floor and Wednesday being days for committee meetings.

Baldwin County’s Legislative Delegation includes Sens. Greg Albritton, R-22, Chris Elliott, R-32, and Vivian David Figures, D-33, and Reps. Donna Givens, R-64, Alan Baker, R-66, Jennifer Fidler, R-94, Frances Holk-Jones, R-95, Matt Simpson, R-96, Shane Stringer, R-102, and Brett Easterbrook, 65.

HB 213 — This bill changes the name of the Alabama State Port Authority to the Alabama Port Authority. This bill authorizes the code commissioner to change all references to the State Port Authority, the Alabama State Docks Department and the Alabama State Port Authority to the Alabama Port Authority. This bill repeals the 1975 laws establishing the Alabama Port Authority because it is an obsolete entity. However, this bill does not dissolve the current port authority of the state.

Final passage on March 3. Enacted on March 9.

House vote: 105-0

Senate vote: 33-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

HB 42 — Under existing law, a person in possession of an unclaimed motor vehicle is required to report the vehicle as unclaimed to the Department of Revenue within five calendar days after the vehicle was considered unclaimed. This bill would provide that a person in possession of a motor vehicle after towing the vehicle may report the vehicle as unclaimed immediately after towing the vehicle.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 102-1, 1 abstained

Senate vote: 29-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

HB 77, Disabled Veterans Property Tax Debt-to-Income Ratio Exemption Act — Under existing law, the homesteads of residents of this state who are over 65 years of age or who are retired due to permanent and total disability, including disabled veterans with a 100% disability rating, are exempt from all state ad valorem taxes. Also under existing law, those individuals are granted a certificate of permanent and total disability by the commissioner of revenue as evidence of this exemption. This bill would require a tax assessing official to issue tentative certificates of permanent and total disability to disabled veterans with a 100% disability rating upon the submission of certain information. This bill would also prohibit settlement agents and loan closing officers from considering ad valorem taxes for homesteads when calculating these veterans' debt-to-income ratio upon receiving a tentative certificate.

Approved and governor's signature requeasted March 10.

House vote: 101-1

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0; Fidler and Givens sponsored this bill.

HB 122 — Under existing law, the Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Salary Schedule Program provides for additional compensation to be paid to K-12 qualified teachers of mathematics and science who elect to participate in the program. Under TEAMS, a participating teacher with over 20 years of service that satisfies the advanced contract criteria is required to be offered a five-year contract. This bill would provide that a contract may be offered to the participating teacher for a period of up to five years. This bill would also make conforming changes to hierarchy units.

Approved and ready to enroll March 10.

House vote: 96-0, 5 abstained

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

HB 124 — Under existing law, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education administers the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), which provides a loan repayment award to eligible public K-12 math, science and computer science teachers and an additional loan repayment award to the eligible applicants who are employed in underserved locations in the state. This bill would change the name of the program to the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program and would expand program eligibility to address additional educator shortages by extending eligibility for loan assistance to educators with certification in acute educator shortage programs and providing additional loan assistance if those educators are employed by public K-12 schools or school systems recognized as acute educator shortage locations. This bill would specify that the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the State Department of Education, would determine which programs, schools and school systems have acute educator shortages. This bill would also require the commission, in consultation with the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, to develop an accountability and evaluation plan for the program and would provide further for the eligibility of certain applicants who have been continuously employed with a qualifying school.

Approved and ready to enroll March 10.

House vote: 92-8, 2 abstained

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Easterbrook marked P (not voting/not present).

HB 125 — Under existing law, the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education provides grant award payments to adult learners pursuing a first associate or baccalaureate degree to assist them in earning short-term credentials. This bill would decrease the minimum age of an adult learner from 25 to 22 years of age. This bill would also include as an eligible student an individual who, in addition to other specific criteria, has not previously received a grant award and is pursuing a first baccalaureate degree following a two-year stop-out period after receiving his or her first associate degree.

Approved and ready to enroll March 10.

House vote: 100-0

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 8-0; Easterbrook, Baker marked P.

HB 156 — This bill would adopt the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact as a means of providing uniformity in licensing requirements and interstate practice throughout member states. This bill would establish requirements and obligations for participation in this compact. This bill would provide for disciplinary actions and joint investigation procedures. This bill would establish and provide for the operation of the PA Licensure Compact Commission. This bill would also provide for the management, implementation and enforcement of the compact among member states.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 101-0, 1 abstained

Senate vote: 28-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Elliot marked P.

HB 163 — Under the Property Insurance and Energy Reduction Act of Alabama, a county or municipality may issue bonds or notes to finance necessary improvements to existing properties in designated regions to increase energy efficiency and resistance to storm-related events. This bill would enable a local government to allow private capital to finance qualified projects instead of using government funds. This bill would also allow a local government to place a lien on the qualifying property for the debt and assign the right to payments toward the lien to the private capital lender. This bill would revise the application process for qualifying projects. This bill would prohibit the use of public funds from the state or a local government to repay a loan between the qualifying property owner and the private capital financier, and would provide that the local government shall not guarantee repayment of the debt and shall not be liable for actions taken pursuant to the act. This bill would repeal the laws allowing a governmental entity or designee to establish a loss reserve fund for paying delinquent assessments and to establish regulatory jurisdiction by the state. This bill would rename the act as the Property Insurance Reduction and Capital Expenditure Act of Alabama. This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 99-0, 5 abstained

Senate vote: 30-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Simpson marked P.

HB 189 — Under existing law, a local superintendent of education or principal of a private K-12 school may be notified in writing if a child enrolled in a school under their jurisdiction has been adjudicated delinquent for committing certain criminal acts. This bill would require the juvenile court to provide written notification to the local superintendent or principal of a private K-12 school upon an enrolled child being charged with or adjudicated delinquent by the juvenile court for committing certain capital and other offenses. This bill would also authorize the juvenile court to provide written notification to the local superintendent or principal of a private K-12 school upon an enrolled child being charged with or adjudicated delinquent by the juvenile court for committing any other act which would be considered criminal if committed by an adult.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 104-0, 1 abstained

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0; Baker filed this bill.

HB 214 — This bill would prohibit foreign nationals from contributing to campaigns, ballot measures, political parties, or political action committees and prohibit political parties, political action committees, principal campaign committees, and others from soliciting campaign contributions from foreign nationals. This bill would also define terms and impose penalties for violations.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 94-0, 9 abstained

Senate vote: 30-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

HB 227 — Under existing law, the Administrative Office of Courts may direct state appropriated funds to pay for the judicial education of any justice, judge, or court-supportive personnel. This bill would allow the Administrative Office of Courts to create a nonprofit entity to collect and use nonpublic funds for judicial education. This bill would allow the Administrative Office of Courts to hold nonpublic funds in accounts outside the State Treasury which would be audited or reviewed annually. This bill would allow the Administrative Office of Courts and other state entities to transfer state funds to the nonprofit entity for judicial education purposes and would allow the nonprofit entity to be housed at the Administrative Office of Courts and staffed by the employees of the Administrative Office of Courts. This bill would be remedial and curative. This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Approved and delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 102-0, 3 abstained

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

HB 271 — Under existing law, a state resident who is totally and permanently disabled and receives disability benefits from certain entities may be issued an annual special hunting or fishing license from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for a reduced fee. This bill would establish lifetime special hunting and fishing licenses for state residents who are totally and permanently disabled.

Approved and delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 105-0

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0; Stringer filed this bill.

HB 277 — Current rules prohibit possessing oysters for a commercial purpose that have been shucked or otherwise processed by an establishment without a permit from the Alabama Department of Public Health. This bill would authorize oyster aquaculture licensees to harvest, shuck and serve oysters from the aquaculture facility for product tasting.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 102-0, 1 abstained

Senate vote: 28-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Elliott marked P. Simpson sponsored this bill.

HB 332 — Under existing law, child care facilities are not required to have anaphylaxis training and response procedures in place. This bill would require the Department of Human Resources to create an anaphylactic response policy. This bill would require all licensed day care centers, which are facilities that care for more than 12 children, to adopt and implement the anaphylactic response policy. This bill would also require all licensed day care center employees to complete an approved anaphylaxis training program.

Approved and delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 105-0

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

HB 362 — Existing law provides the duties of various positions within the Legal Services Office of the Alabama National Guard. This bill would revise and further provide for the duties of certain positions, including the State Staff Judge Advocates, General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, Military Justice Associate General Counsel, Contract and Fiscal Law Associate General Counsel, Administrative and Civil Law Associate General Counsel, Operational Law Associate General Counsel, Legal Assistance Associate General Counsel and certain other Judge Advocates.

Approved and delivered to governor March 10.

House vote: 101-0

Senate vote: 35-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Simpson marked P.

SB 41 — Under existing law, various laws exist to ensure a person does not profit from intentionally killing another, including: (i) prohibiting an individual who intentionally and feloniously kills a decedent from receiving any benefits under the decedent's will or intestate succession; (ii) providing that any joint tenant who intentionally and feloniously kills another joint tenant loses his or her property interest; and (iii) prohibiting any named beneficiary of any contractual obligation who intentionally and feloniously kills the obligee from receiving any benefit from the contract. This bill would provide that any individual who is convicted of elder abuse or financial exploitation of an elderly person: (i) may not receive any benefits under the abused or exploited individual's will or, if no will, through intestate succession; (ii) loses his or her property interest in any joint tenancy held with the abused or exploited individual; and (iii) may not receive any benefits in which the abused or exploited individual was the obligee.

Approved and delivered to governor March 10.

Senate vote: 32-0

House vote: 105-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

SB 160 — This bill would adopt the Athletic Trainer Compact as a means of providing uniformity in licensing requirements and interstate practice throughout member states. This bill would establish requirements and obligations for participation in this compact. This bill would provide for disciplinary actions and joint investigation procedures. This bill would establish and provide for the operation of the Athletic Trainer Compact Commission. This bill would also provide for the management, implementation and enforcement of the compact among member states.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

Senate vote: 30-0

House vote: 105-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 9-0; Albritton marked P. Albritton sponsored this bill.

SB 195 — Under existing law, the administration of an estate or a will contest may be removed to the circuit court in the county where the proceeding is pending unless the probate court or judge has concurrent equitable jurisdiction with the circuit court. This bill would allow removal of estate administration and will contests to the circuit court without assigning any special equity, provided the probate court and circuit court do not have concurrent jurisdiction. This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Approved March 5. Delivered to governor March 10.

Senate vote: 34-0

House vote: 105-0

Baldwin delegation vote: 10-0

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a rule governing debate on a Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, approved several housing and policy measures and considered a resolution related to U.S. military involvement with Iran. Lawmakers also voted on a motion to recommit before passing fiscal 2026 funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security. Baldwin County is represented in the 1st Congressional District by Republican Barry Moore, whose votes are noted below.

H. Res. 1095 — Rule for consideration of DHS appropriations bill

Action: House agreed to ordering the previous question March 4 by a 213-208 vote. Roll call vote No. 79. The House later adopted the resolution March 4 by a 211-209 vote. Roll call vote No. 80. The rule provided for consideration of H.R. 7744 with one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit and closed the bill to amendments.

Vote on ordering the previous question: Moore — Yea

Alabama delegation: 5 yea, 2 nay

Vote on adoption of the resolution: Moore — Aye

Alabama delegation: 5 aye, 2 no

S. 723 — Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act of 2025

Action: House passed the bill March 4 under suspension of the rules by a 384-40 vote. Roll call vote No. 81. The measure sets timelines and requirements for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to process mortgage and related documents involving trust land.

Vote on passage: Moore — Yea

Alabama delegation: 7 yea

H.R. 6472 — Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act

Action: House passed the bill March 4 under suspension of the rules, as amended, by a 351-72 vote. Roll call vote No. 82. The bill requires participating public colleges to charge in-state tuition rates to qualifying students from U.S. territories.

Vote on passage: Moore — Nay

Alabama delegation: 6 yea, 1 nay

H. Res. 1100 — Records of House ethics investigations involving sexual harassment

Action: House agreed to a motion to refer the resolution to the Ethics Committee March 4 by a 357-65 vote, with one member voting present. Roll call vote No. 83. The resolution directs the committee to preserve and publicly release certain records related to investigations involving sexual harassment or related misconduct.

Vote on motion to refer: Moore — Yea

Alabama delegation: 7 yea

H. Res. 1099 — Reaffirming Iran as the largest state sponsor of terrorism

Action: House adopted the resolution March 5 under suspension of the rules by a 372-53 vote, with two members voting present. Roll call vote No. 84.

Vote on adoption: Moore — Yea

Alabama delegation: 7 yea

H. Con. Res. 38 — Removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran

Action: House rejected the resolution March 5 by a 212-219 vote. Roll call vote No. 85. The measure would have directed the president to terminate the use of U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

Vote on adoption: Moore — Nay

Alabama delegation: 2 yea, 5 nay

H.R. 7744 — Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

Action: House rejected a motion to recommit the bill March 5 by a 212-217 vote. Roll call vote No. 86. The House then passed the bill March 5 by a 221-209 vote. Roll call vote No. 87. The legislation provides fiscal 2026 funding for the Department of Homeland Security and ends a partial shutdown affecting the agency.

Vote on motion to recommit: Moore — Nay

Alabama delegation: 2 yea, 5 nay

Vote on passage: Moore — Yea

Alabama delegation: 5 yea, 2 nay

Information is sourced from www.Congress.gov.

U.S. SENATE

The Senate voted on housing legislation, a war powers measure involving Iran and a fiscal 2026 Homeland Security appropriations bill. Lawmakers advanced debate on a bipartisan housing supply measure, rejected an effort to force consideration of a resolution directing the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran and failed to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to a Homeland Security funding bill. Alabama is represented in the Senate by Republicans Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, whose votes are noted below.

H.R. 6644 — Housing for the 21st Century Act

Action: Senate invoked cloture on the motion to proceed March 2 by an 84-6 vote. Record vote No. 44. The Senate agreed to the motion to proceed March 4 by a 90-8 vote. Record vote No. 45. The bill would expand financing and grant programs intended to increase the supply of affordable housing and revise several federal housing programs.

Cloture vote on motion to proceed: Yeas 84, Nays 6, Present 1, not voting 9

Motion to proceed vote: Yeas 90, Nays 8, Present 1, not voting 1

Alabama votes: Britt — Yea; Tuberville — Nay

S.J. Res. 104 — Removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran

Action: Senate rejected a motion to discharge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee March 4 by a 47-53 vote. Record vote No. 46. The resolution would have directed the president to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran unless authorized by Congress.

Vote on motion to discharge: Yeas 47, Nays 53

Alabama votes: Britt — Nay; Tuberville — Nay

H.R. 7147 — Department of Homeland Security appropriations

Action: Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed March 5 by a 51-45 vote. Record vote No. 47. The bill would provide fiscal 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security.

Cloture vote on motion to proceed: Yeas 51, Nays 45, not voting 4

Alabama votes: Britt — Yea; Tuberville — Not voting

Information is sourced from www.Senate.gov.