The Alabama Legislature returned from its traditional Spring Break recess last week, and only 12 legislative days remain in the 2025 session that must end by May 19, according to the state constitution. Despite using only two legislative days, it was an active week, and the total number of bills filed this session rose to 829, which long-time lawmakers note is unusually high. In the House, the General Fund budget, which allocates funding for non-education state agencies, and related bills passed the full chamber. The Senate saw a slow-down over budget negotiations with only two bills passing all week. In addition, a comprehensive gambling proposal was brought to an abrupt halt after comments by Sen. President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) declared it dead for the session

A bill requiring public notice for any tax increase or license fee by a municipality passed out of a Senate committee last week. SB 249, sponsored by Sens. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), and Tim Melson (R-Florence), sets a 30-day notice before a municipality can review a new or increased tax or business license fee. The 30-day notice would lead up to a public hearing in which the proposal could be discussed. The municipality could not vote on the tax or fee proposal until a date after the public hearing. Currently, there are no notice requirements for a municipality to vote on a tax or fee proposal otherwise allowed by law.

The bill now awaits consideration by the full Senate.

SB 233, sponsored by Sen. David Sessions (R-Grand Bay), passed quickly out of committee last week. The bill will add two consumer members to the Ad Valorem Advisory Committee, a committee established several years ago and comprised of local tax collecting officials and the Department of Revenue. While the committee has no specific authority, two consumer members will ensure taxpayer interests and concerns are represented at a committee made up exclusively of tax officials.

HB 281, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa), sets a few additional rules for appealing the final decisions of municipal zoning boards of adjustment. The bill sets a 30 day time frame for appeals to the circuit court and fleshes out the process for filing an appeal. The bill would provide more certainty for these appeals and benefit developers and others by establishing a more uniform process.

The bill passed committee and awaits consideration by the House.

A bill filed last year that sought to block picketing or protesting in residential areas is back again with some revisions. Sponsored again by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), SB 247prohibits protesting or picketing at someone’s house except during daylight hours and places other limitations on protests, such as prohibiting the use of megaphones or blocking a driveway. At a public hearing held last week, Orr indicated his measure was filed in response to protests at the home of at least one U.S. Supreme Court justice several years ago, and it seeks to strike a balance between privacy rights and free speech liberties.

The bill passed out of the Senate committee and awaits review by the full Senate.

A bill changing the judicial review standard for state administrative rules moved last week. SB 248 sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is at least influenced by a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion that overturned a long-held doctrine of judicial deference to agency action, called Chevron deference. The bill follows the Supreme Court opinion in setting the judicial review standard as de novo, which means that the facts and merits of the case will be fully adjudicated by the court with no extra deference to agency action. The Supreme Court holding was heralded as a win for taxpayers and businesses which struggled to overcome the deferential standard under Chevron. While state agency action has not risen to the level of difficulty as federal regulatory action, the bill would help prevent Alabama’s businesses from being subject to egregious regulatory burdens.

• Budget Bills – A record $3.7 billion General Fund budget and a package of related bills passed out of the House last week with near unanimity. While it was originally expected that General Fund revenues would decrease during this budget cycle, continuing high interest rates on state savings has created a small and unexpected surplus, alleviating the need for budget cuts. The Education Budget is expected to move in the Senate this week.
• Alfa Health Plan Bill – A bill allowing the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer a health plan to its members continues its progress, passing out of a House committee last week. Proponents of the bill argue that farmers could save money by enrolling in the plan, which is similar to those offered by farm bureaus in 10 other states, including neighboring Tennessee. A House vote on the bill is expected later this week.
• State Gaming Bill – Rumors of a state gaming bill circulated the first half of session before materializing and evaporating last week. Sen. Albritton (R-Atmore) stated plans to file a bill and was working legislators to support an effort before Sen. President Pro Tem. Garlan Gudger announced that it was “too little, too late, and has too few votes to pass,” which effectively ended the effort this session.

The House and Senate reconvened today at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., respectively. Lawmakers are expected to meet for three days this week rather than the traditional two. Besides the budgets, a few sunset bills await final passage in the Senate along with a number of confirmations of board appointments.