Healthcare costs a major concern as legislators craft state budgets

As the 2026 Legislative Session evolves, it is apparent that this year’s annual session will be short and sweet. That is par for the course in an election year session. This is election year and all 105 House Seats, and all 35 Senate Seats are up for election. Therefore, it is an inherent historical reality that nothing consequential or controversial is addressed in a quadrennium ending election year.

However, it is a constitutional requirement that the legislature enact a budget – in fact, both budgets. Indeed, Alabama has two state budgets. We have a Special Education Trust Fund Budget, which encompasses two-thirds of Alabama’s tax revenues, and of course, we have our General Fund Budget, which has one-third of all revenues. Even though crafting the state’s budgets is difficult and mundane work, it is the most important chore of a legislature.