With the 2026 Alabama Legislature starting up again on Jan. 13, it might be good to see where we’ve been before we look at where we’re going. Last year’s session convened on Feb. 4, and adjourned May 14 (sine die). Currently, the Legislature is Republican controlled, with a GOP supermajority in both chambers. Across roughly 30 legislative days, lawmakers debated, amended, and passed hundreds of bills.
Governor Kay Ivey outlined priorities as being crime, law enforcement, immigration, education, and budget in her State of the State address. By mid-session, budget bills were advanced, as were criminal justice proposals, judicial review reforms, and other civil-law measures.
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmx? E96 =2DE 52JD[ E96 {68:D=2EFC6 D2H 962E65 5632E6 2?5 AC@465FC2= 8C:5=@4<[ H9:49 DE2==65 5@K6?D @7 =@42= 3:==D :? 3@E9 492>36CD] r=@D6 E@ `[d__ AC@A@D2=D H6C6 7:=65] pC@F?5 b__\cac 3:==D 2?5 C6D@=FE:@?D H6C6 6?24E65 :?E@ =2H[ 2?5 3:==:@?D H6C6 2==@42E65 E@ 65F42E:@? 2?5 86?6C2= 8@G6C?>6?E] w6C6 2C6 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE ?@E23=6 244@>A=:D9>6?EDik^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• $2=6D E2I @? >@DE 8C@46C:6D 5C@AA65 7C@> bT E@ aT 2?5 D2=6D E2I @? 5:2A6CD[ 7@C>F=2[ 2?5 76>:?:?6 AC@5F4ED H2D 6I6>AE65] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• !2:5 A2C6?E2= =62G6 7@C E62496CD 2?5 DE2E6 6>A=@J66D H2D 6?24E65 2?5 :D ?@H 6:89E H66<D 7@C >@E96CD 2?5 EH@ H66<D 7@C 72E96CD] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• p >F=E:\3:== 2?E:\4C:>6 A24<286[ :?4=F5:?8 6IA2?D:@? @7 A@=:46 =:23:=:EJ AC@E64E:@?D 2?5 ;FG6?:=6 >@?:E@C:?8 AC@G:D:@?D[ >256 :E E9C@F89[ 2D H6== 2D >2;@C 4C:>6 =2H C67@C>D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• {2HD C6BF:C:?8 4=2DDC@@> 46==A9@?6 32?D 2?5 5:8:E2= D276EJ 4@FCD6 56G6=@A>6?E 7@C DEF56?ED H6?E :?E@ 67764E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• p 4@?EC@G6CD:2= =2H 567:?:?8 D6I\32D65 E6C>D W“(92E :D 2 (@>2?n”X H2D 4@565 2?5 D:8?65 3J E96 8@G6C?@C] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• }6H C68F=2E:@?D @? A92C>24J 36?67:E >2?286C AC24E:46D 2:>65 2E DFAA@CE:?8 :?56A6?56?E A92C>24:6D H6C6 6?24E65] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm• x? =@42=^DECF4EFC2= 3:==D[ >62DFC6D 2=E6C:?8 4@CA@C2E6 =:>:ED[ H2E6C 2FE9@C:EJ 3@2C5D[ 4@F?EJ A@D:E:@?D[ 2?5 C68:@?2= 8@G6C?2?46 A2DD65 @? E96 7:?2= 52J] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAdQmkDEC@?8mwq`c D66<D E@ 4C62E6 4:E:K6? :?:E:2E:G6 AC@46DDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp=232>2 =2H>2<6CD 92G6 :?EC@5F465 =68:D=2E:@? E92E H@F=5 8:G6 G@E6CD 2 ?6H E@@= E@ D92A6 DE2E6 =2H 2?5 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?ED E9C@F89 5:C64E AF3=:4 A6E:E:@?] w@FD6 q:== `c[ DA@?D@C65 3J #6A] |2C:=J? {2?5D[ H@F=5 2>6?5 E96 p=232>2 r@?DE:EFE:@? E@ 2==@H 4:E:K6?D E@ AC@A@D6 86?6C2= =2HD 2?5 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?ED 3J :?:E:2E:G6 2?5 82E96C D:8?2EFC6D E@ A=246 E9@D6 >62DFC6D 367@C6 E96 {68:D=2EFC6 @C[ :7 ?646DD2CJ[ @? E96 32==@E 7@C G@E6C 2AAC@G2=] %96 >62DFC6 H:== 36 C625 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 y2?] `b 2?5 C676CC65 E@ E96 w@FD6 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ r2>A2:8?D 2?5 t=64E:@?D r@>>:EE66] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm&?56C E96 AC@A@D2=[ 25G@42E6D H@F=5 7:=6 2 4@?4:D6 DF>>2CJ 2?5 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ A6E:E:@? H:E9 2E =62DE `[___ D:8?2EFC6D 7C@> BF2=:7:65 p=232>2 G@E6CD[ 2=@?8 H:E9 2 7:=:?8 766] %96 $64C6E2CJ @7 $E2E6 H@F=5 C6G:6H DF3>:DD:@?D 2?5[ :7 46CE:7:65[ AC6A2C6 7F== E6IE 2?5 2? @77:4:2= DF>>2CJ] %96 {68:D=2EFC6 4@F=5 E96? 24E @? E96 AC@A@D2=j :7 :E 564=:?6D @C @776CD ?@ DF:E23=6 24E:@?[ AC@A@?6?ED 4@F=5 82E96C 255:E:@?2= D:8?2EFC6D 7@C 32==@E A=246>6?E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm$FAA@CE6CD D2J E96 492?86 H@F=5 6IA2?5 5:C64E 56>@4C24J :? 2 DE2E6 E92E 4FCC6?E=J 5@6D ?@E A6C>:E 4:E:K6?\:?:E:2E65 32==@E >62DFC6D 2E E96 DE2E6H:56 =6G6=] p=232>2’D r@?DE:EFE:@? C6BF:C6D G@E6C 2AAC@G2= @7 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?ED C676CC65 3J E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ 3FE 4:E:K6?D 5@ ?@E ?@H 92G6 E96 A@H6C E@ A=246 :?:E:2E:G6D @? E96 32==@E E96>D6=G6D] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmrC:E:4D @7 E96 AC@A@D2= 92G6 G@:465 4@?46C?D 23@FE D:8?2EFC6 E9C6D9@=5D[ 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 4@DED[ 2?5 A@E6?E:2= =682= 492==6?86D[ E9@F89 DFAA@CE6CD 2C8F6 E92E DECF4EFC65 CF=6D 2?5 =68:D=2E:G6 C6G:6H H@F=5 8F2C5 282:?DE 23FD6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmx7 6?24E65[ wq`c H@F=5 3C:?8 p=232>2 :?E@ 2 8C@FA @7 DE2E6D H:E9 7@C>2= :?:E:2E:G6 AC@46DD6D] p4C@DD E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ 23@FE 92=7 @7 DE2E6D 2==@H D@>6 7@C> @7 4:E:K6? :?:E:2E:G6 @C C676C6?5F>[ 6?23=:?8 G@E6CD E@ AFE DE2EFE6D @C 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?ED 367@C6 E96 6=64E@C2E6 E9C@F89 A6E:E:@? 5C:G6D] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp>@?8 DE2E6D H:E9 4:E:K6? :?:E:2E:G6D[ AC@465FC6D G2CJ H:56=J] $@>6[ =:<6 r2=:7@C?:2[ r@=@C25@[ 2?5 ~C68@?[ A6C>:E 5:C64E :?:E:2E:G6D H96C6 BF2=:7J:?8 >62DFC6D 8@ DEC2:89E E@ E96 32==@E 27E6C DF77:4:6?E D:8?2EFC6D 2C6 G2=:52E65] ~E96CD FD6 :?5:C64E :?:E:2E:G6D[ H96C6 AC@A@D2=D 7:CDE 8@ E@ E96 =68:D=2EFC6[ H9:49 42? 25@AE[ 2>6?5[ @C C6;64E E96> 367@C6 2?J 32==@E BF6DE:@?] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQA`Qm}2E:@?H:56[ ae DE2E6D 2?5 (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ 4FCC6?E=J 92G6 D@>6 7@C> @7 :?:E:2E:G6 @C C676C6?5F> 2E E96 DE2E6H:56 =6G6=[ H9:=6 ac DE2E6D[ :?4=F5:?8 p=232>2[ 5@ ?@E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAeQm k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAdQmkDEC@?8mwq`` H@F=5 C6D92A6 9@H D6C:@FD ;FG6?:=6 42D6D 2C6 92?5=65k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp=232>2 =2H>2<6CD 92G6 :?EC@5F465 w@FD6 q:== `` W“y@=66’D {2H”X =68:D=2E:@? E92E H@F=5 6?5 ;F586D’ 23:=:EJ E@ 8C2?E J@FE97F= @776?56C DE2EFD E@ >@DE E66?D 492C865 H:E9 >FC56C] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm&?56C 6I:DE:?8 DE2E6 =2H[ A6@A=6 H9@ 4@>>:EE65 @776?D6D H9:=6 F?56C 286 `h 2?5 H9@D6 42D6D 2C6 :? 25F=E 4@FCE >2J 36 4@?D:56C65 7@C J@FE97F= @776?56C DE2EFD] %92E DE2EFD 2==@HD ;F586D E@ 92?5=6 2 42D6 >@C6 =6?:6?E=J E92? DE2?52C5 25F=E AC@465FC6[ 7@4FD:?8 @? C6923:=:E2E:@?] s676?52?ED H9@ C646:G6 J@FE97F= @776?56C DE2EFD 86?6C2==J H2:G6 E96 C:89E E@ 2 ;FCJ EC:2=[ 7246 =@H6C A6?2=E:6D[ >2J D6CG6 D9@CE6C E6C>D[ 2?5 =62G6 H:E9 2 D62=65 C64@C5 E92E 5@6D ?@E 4@F?E 2D 2 EJA:42= 4C:>:?2= 4@?G:4E:@? — AC@E64E:@?D 56D:8?65 E@ AC6D6CG6 7FEFC6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 24<?@H=6586 J@FE9 56G6=@A>6?E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm$A@?D@C65 3J #6A] !9:==:A !6EEFD[ #\z:==66?[ wq`` H@F=5 AC@9:3:E 2 ;F586 7C@> 8C2?E:?8 J@FE97F= @776?56C DE2EFD E@ 2?J A6CD@? H9@ H2D `e J62CD @7 286 @C @=56C 2E E96 E:>6 @7 E96 @776?D6 2?5 :D 492C865 H:E9 42A:E2= >FC56C @C >FC56C] %9@D6 5676?52?ED H@F=5 :?DE625 36 492C865[ 2CC6DE65 2?5 EC:65 2D 25F=ED 7C@> E96 @FED6E]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%96 =68:D=2E:@? AC6D6CG6D 2? 6I46AE:@?i :7 E96 :?:E:2= 42A:E2= @C >FC56C 492C86 :D =2E6C C65F465 E@ 2 =6DD6C @776?D6[ E96 5676?52?E 4@F=5 E96? 364@>6 6=:8:3=6 7@C J@FE97F= @776?56C DE2EFD F?56C E96 6I:DE:?8 DE2EFE6] ~E96C A2CED @7 E96 3:== >2:?E2:? C6BF:C6>6?ED E92E G:4E:>D C646:G6 ?@E:46 367@C6 J@FE97F= @776?56C 962C:?8D 2?5 E92E 4@FCED 9@=5 2? 6G:56?E:2CJ 962C:?8 @? :?;FC:6D H96? D6C:@FD 92C> :D 2==6865] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm$FAA@CE6CD D2J E96 492?86 H@F=5 6?DFC6 E92E E9@D6 244FD65 @7 E96 >@DE G:@=6?E 4C:>6D 7246 25F=E =682= 4@?D6BF6?46D[ C67=64E:?8 E96 D6C:@FD?6DD @7 @776?D6D =:<6 >FC56C] rC:E:4D 2C8F6 E92E C6>@G:?8 ;F5:4:2= 5:D4C6E:@? 4@F=5 AFD9 >@C6 J@F?8 5676?52?ED :?E@ E96 25F=E AC:D@? DJDE6> 2?5 E2<6 2H2J @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C C6923:=:E2E:@? :? 42D6D H96C6 >:E:82E:?8 724E@CD >:89E H2CC2?E :E] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmwq `` H:== 36 :?EC@5F465 y2?] `b[ a_ae[ 2?5 C676CC65 E@ E96 w@FD6 yF5:4:2CJ r@>>:EE66 7@C C6G:6H] x7 6?24E65[ E96 >62DFC6 H@F=5 364@>6 67764E:G6 ~4E] `[ a_ae]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAdQmkDEC@?8mwq` H@F=5 E:89E6? s&x A6?2=E:6D 7@C 7:CDE\E:>6 @776?56CDk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmw@FD6 q:== `[ AC67:=65 7@C E96 a_ae #68F=2C $6DD:@? 2?5 DA@?D@C65 3J #6A] q2C32C2 q@J5[ H@F=5 C6BF:C6 2== 5C:G6CD 4@?G:4E65 @7 2 7:CDE s&x E@ :?DE2== 2? 2AAC@G65 :8?:E:@? :?E6C=@4< 56G:46 @? E96:C G69:4=6 2?5 @A6C2E6 :E 7@C D:I >@?E9D] %96 =68:D=2E:@? 2=D@ :?4=F56D 4@?7@C>:?8 492?86D E@ 6I:DE:?8 s&x DE2EFE6 =2?8F286] %96 3:== H2D C676CC65 E@ E96 w@FD6 !F3=:4 $276EJ 2?5 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ r@>>:EE66 27E6C :ED :?EC@5F4E:@? @? y2?] `b[ a_ae] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm&?56C 4FCC6?E =2H[ 2 7:CDE s&x 4@?G:4E:@? 42CC:6D 2 h_\52J 5C:G6C’D =:46?D6 DFDA6?D:@? 2?5 A@E6?E:2= ;2:= E:>6 2?5 7:?6D] w@H6G6C[ @776?56CD >2J 2G@:5 E96 DFDA6?D:@? 3J G@=F?E2C:=J :?DE2==:?8 2? 2AAC@G65 :8?:E:@? :?E6C=@4< 56G:46 2?5 @3E2:?:?8 2 C6DEC:4E65 =:46?D6 7@C h_ 52JD] %92E @AE:@? 67764E:G6=J 2==@HD =:>:E65 5C:G:?8 AC:G:=686D H9:=6 E96 :?E6C=@4< :D :?DE2==65] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmwq` H@F=5 6=:>:?2E6 E96 49@:46 36EH66? DFDA6?D:@? 2?5 :?E6C=@4< 7@C 7:CDE\E:>6 @776?56CD] x?DE625[ :E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 3@E9 E96 =:46?D6 24E:@? 2?5 2 D:I\>@?E9 >2?52E@CJ :?E6C=@4< A6C:@5[ H96E96C @C ?@E E96 @776?56C 6=64ED :E E@ DE2J 2 A@CE:@? @7 E96 DFDA6?D:@?] x8?:E:@? :?E6C=@4< 56G:46D C6BF:C6 2 3C62E9\2=4@9@= E6DE 367@C6 E96 6?8:?6 H:== DE2CE] p5G@42E6D A@:?E E@ C6D62C49 D9@H:?8 DF49 56G:46D 42? D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F46 C6A62E 2=4@9@=\:>A2:C65 5C:G:?8 H9:=6 :?DE2==65] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp=232>2’D :8?:E:@? :?E6C=@4< C68:>6[ :? A=246 D:?46 a_`a[ E:6D :?E6C=@4< E6C>D E@ A6?2=E:6D 7@C s&x 4@?G:4E:@?D 2?5 42? D9@CE6? DFDA6?D:@? A6C:@5D H96? 56G:46D 2C6 :?DE2==65 2?5 @A6C2E65 F?56C C6DEC:4E65 =:46?D6D] &?56C 4FCC6?E AC24E:46[ :?E6C=@4< E6C>D G2CJ H:E9 3=@@5\2=4@9@= =6G6=D 2?5 C6A62E @776?D6D[ H:E9 =@?86C E6C>D 7@C 9:896C qprD 2?5 DF3D6BF6?E 4@?G:4E:@?D] k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmpD @7 62C=J y2?F2CJ a_ae[ wq` C6>2:?D A6?5:?8 :? 4@>>:EE66 2?5 92D ?@E 366? 6?24E65]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAdQmkDEC@?8m$qbd H@F=5 C2:D6 3@2E C68:DEC2E:@? 766D[ 492?86 C6?6H2= DJDE6>k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp =@E @7 #FDD6== r@F?EJ 2?5 {66 r@F?EJ C6D:56?ED 2C6 3@2E @H?6CD[ 2?5 96C6 :D D@>6E9:?8 3@2E @H?6CD D9@F=5 <?@H] $6?2E6 q:== bd H@F=5 C2:D6 3@2E C68:DEC2E:@? 766D[ C65:C64E 7F?5:?8 E@H2C5 H2E6C D276EJ 2?5 C6D6CG@:C >2?286>6?E[ 2?5 492?86 9@H G6DD6= @H?6CD C6?6H E96:C C68:DEC2E:@?D F?56C 2 DE2886C65 DJDE6> E:65 E@ =2DE ?2>6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAcQm k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm$A@?D@C65 3J $6?] (6D z:E496?D[ 2 #6AF3=:42?[ $qbd H2D :?EC@5F465 y2?] `b 2?5 :D A6?5:?8 :? E96 $6?2E6 r@>>:EE66 @? r@F?EJ 2?5 |F?:4:A2= v@G6C?>6?E] }@ 4@>>:EE66 @C 7=@@C G@E6D 92G6 366? C64@C565 2D @7 62C=J y2?F2CJ] x7 2AAC@G65[ E96 492?86D H@F=5 E2<6 67764E y2?] `[ a_af]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm&?56C E96 AC@A@D2=[ C68:DEC2E:@? 766D 7@C 3@2ED H@F=5 :?4C62D6 32D65 @? G6DD6= =6?8E9] u66D H@F=5 C:D6 3J C@F89=J Sd :? 6249 42E68@CJ[ :?4=F5:?8 G6DD6=D F?56C `e 766E[ `e E@ ad 766E[ ae E@ bh 766E[ 2?5 E9@D6 c_ 766E 2?5 =@?86C] x? 255:E:@?[ 2 ?6H Sa :DDF2?46 766 H@F=5 36 25565 @? E@A @7 E96 32D6 C68:DEC2E:@? 4@DE]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmu@C 3@2E @H?6CD[ E96 4@>3:?65 :?4C62D6D >62? >@DE C68:DEC2E:@?D H@F=5 4@DE D6G6C2= 5@==2CD >@C6 A6C 4J4=6[ 56A6?5:?8 @? G6DD6= D:K6] ~H?6CD @7 =2C86C 3@2ED H@F=5 D66 E96 9:896DE :?4C62D6D[ H9:=6 @H?6CD @7 D>2==6C C64C62E:@?2= G6DD6=D H@F=5 D66 >@C6 >@56DE 492?86D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%96 3:== 2=D@ C6G:D6D 9@H C68:DEC2E:@? C6G6?F6 :D 5:DEC:3FE65] u:G6 5@==2CD 7C@> 6249 C68:DEC2E:@? H@F=5 36 5:C64E65 E@ E96 $E2E6 #6D6CG@:C |2?286>6?E vC2?E uF?5[ H9:49 DFAA@CED >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 :>AC@G6>6?E AC@;64ED 2E AF3=:4 C6D6CG@:CD] #6>2:?:?8 7F?5D H@F=5 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8@ E@ E96 $E2E6 (2E6C $276EJ uF?5[ H9:49 7:?2?46D 3@2E:?8 D276EJ AC@8C2>D[ 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 65F42E:@?]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm$FAA@CE6CD D2J E96 492?86 6?DFC6D E92E C68:DEC2E:@? 5@==2CD >@C6 5:C64E=J DFAA@CE H2E6CH2JD FD65 3J 3@2E6CD] rC:E:4D 4@F=5 C2:D6 4@?46C?D 23@FE 9:896C 4@DED[ A2CE:4F=2C=J 7@C 7C6BF6?E 3@2E6CD @C 4@>>6C4:2= @A6C2E@CD H9@ C68:DE6C >F=E:A=6 G6DD6=D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmp?@E96C D:8?:7:42?E 492?86 7@C @H?6CD :D E96 :?EC@5F4E:@? @7 2 DE2886C65 C6?6H2= DJDE6>] x?DE625 @7 >@DE C68:DEC2E:@?D 6IA:C:?8 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6[ C6?6H2=D H@F=5 36 DAC625 E9C@F89@FE E96 J62C 32D65 @? E96 7:CDE =6EE6C @7 2? @H?6C’D =2DE ?2>6] $E2E6 @77:4:2=D D2J E96 2AAC@249 H@F=5 C65F46 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 324<=@8D 2?5 D9@CE6? H2:E E:>6D[ 3FE 3@2E6CD H@F=5 ?665 E@ A2J 4=@D6C 2EE6?E:@? E@ :?5:G:5F2=:K65 C6?6H2= 5625=:?6D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm%96 3:== 2=D@ 4=2C:7:6D C68:DEC2E:@? CF=6D 7@C 3@2E 562=6CD 2?5 >2?F724EFC6CD 2?5 <66AD 2 Sad :?DA64E:@? 766 7@C 9@>6>256 3@2ED E92E C6BF:C6 :DDF2?46 @7 2 9F== :56?E:7:42E:@? ?F>36C]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQmx7 6?24E65[ E96 56=2J65 67764E:G6 52E6 :D :?E6?565 E@ 8:G6 3@2E @H?6CD[ 562=6CD 2?5 DE2E6 286?4:6D E:>6 E@ 25;FDE E@ E96 ?6H 766 DECF4EFC6 2?5 C6?6H2= D4965F=6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQAbQm$qbd C6>2:?D F?56C 4@>>:EE66 4@?D:56C2E:@?] k^Am
