Alabama’s 2026 Legislative Session is Done
April 13, 2026 Group Watch: News & Views from the State House
The 2026 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature drew to a close last week. It was a busy session, with multiple bills — many receiving strong bi-partisan support — passing both chambers and becoming law after the governor’s signature. Keep reading to find more info on several of the major measures passed.
And look for the next Group Watch in mid-May as we return to our monthly schedule until the 2027 session kicks off.
Lots of Legislation
Alabama lawmakers conducted an action-packed session this year, taking on issues including the continuing rise of energy costs, the protection of man’s best friend, making the rape of a child punishable by death and more. Here are a few highlights.
The Power to the People Act changes the make-up of Alabama’s Public Service Commission, expanding it and creating a secretary of energy to oversee the body. The new law also puts a freeze on energy rate increases until January 2029. It had an interesting journey to become law; when several of its earlier provisions were removed, the bill’s original House sponsor chose not to support it, voting “no” and encouraging others to do the same.
Beau’s Law regulates the treatment of pet dogs, requiring them to be provided adequate food, water and shelter when tethered outdoors and also mandating certain restrictions on the way they are tethered.
A law banning the purchase of candy and sugary soft drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits hopes to reduce obesity and other health issues related to poor nutrition. Some detractors claim providing more healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables in food deserts could do more to better health outcomes than the restriction of high-calorie options.
The legislature delivered some significant tax cuts to hard-working Alabamians, passing HB527 into law. The measure allows people to deduct overtime pay from state income taxes and provides another temporary tax break by halting the charge of the state’s 2 percent sales tax on food purchases from May 1 through June 30.
Read more on the other headline-making measures here.
AL Legislature Passes Act Providing Scholarships for Families of Law Enforcement
Image via Unsplash by Scott Rodgerson
The Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Act, signed into law by Governor Ivey who has long voiced her support for the measure, gives kids and spouses of law-enforcement officers who have been working full-time for at least seven years scholarships of up to $2,500 (per academic period) to assist with tuition payments.
The Act is an effort to keep police and other law-enforcement personnel on the job as cities around the state face staff shortages. Read more here.
Quick Hits
The bill requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in Alabama schools passed the Alabama Legislature last week, and Governor Ivey signed it into law.
The Alabama Property Protection Act passed last week. The legislation aims to make it more difficult for thieves to claim and sell someone else’s property by upping the stringency of ingdefivation verification throughout the real-estate selling process. It is expected to be signed into law by Governor Ivey.
X Post of the Week
Meet The Bloom Group: (left to right) John Guthrie Jr., Harris Sanderson, Stephanie Norrell, Hal Bloom (principal/founder), Allen Sanderson (principal), Sara Elizabeth Burnham (vice president), James Dupree Jr., John Floyd.