This act amends Sections 16-5-50, 16-5-51, 16-5-52, 16-5-53, 16-5-54, 16-5-54.1, 16-5-55, and 16-5-56, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) rename the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP) as the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; (2) to provide loan assistance to educators who become certified in programs with an acute shortage of certified educators; (3) offer base loan assistance to eligible educators in the amount of $7,500 per year worked or $3,750 per semester, not exceeding four consecutive years; (4) offer supplemental loan assistance to eligible educators in the amount of $3,000 per year worked or $1,500 per semester, not exceeding four consecutive years, to educators eligible to receive base assistance who are in acute educator shortage locations; and (5) require the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, to determine the programs and locations that have acute educator shortages at least every academic year. This act adds Sections 16-5-53.1 and 16-5-53.2 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) require the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, in consultation with the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, to develop an accountability and evaluation plan for the program; and (2) provide that qualifying applicants who have received loan assistance before August 1, 2026, remain eligible for loan repayments under the program as long as employed by a qualifying school. This act also repeals Section 16-5-54.2, Code of Alabama 1975, which provided for the eligibility of individuals who completed alternative certification programs to participate in AMSTEP.

This act amends Sections 16-33D-3 and 16-33D-6, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) decrease the minimum age of an adult learner under the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program from 25 to 22 years of age; and (2) expands the definition of an eligible student to participate in the program to include individuals who have not previously received a grant award under the program, are pursuing a first baccalaureate degree following a two-year stop-out period after receiving his or her first associate degree, satisfies all other eligibility criteria, and is eligible according the Alabama Commission on Higher Education's rules.

This act amends Section 36-27-8.2, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) add sheriff's deputy, municipal police officer, law enforcement officer, and state policeman to the jobs to which retirees of the Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System classified as law enforcement officers or state policemen prior to retirement may work without suspension of their retirement pay and benefits; (2) authorize retirees of the Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System with 25 years of service and who are licensed to practice law to work as assistant district attorneys without suspension of their retirement pay and benefits so long as the annual compensation does not exceed $52,000; (3) increase the requisite years of service for certain of these retirees to qualify to return to work without suspension of retirement pay and benefits by 1 one each year until 30 years of service is required beginning January 1, 2032; and (4) authorize retirees of the Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System to work as a permanent full-time bus drivers without suspension of retirement pay and benefits so long as annual compensation does not exceed $52,000 and benefits have been drawn for 12 consecutive months, except for those who retired before January 1, 2026.

This act amends Sections 20-1-71 and 20-1-79, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) add that corn masa flour sold for human consumption must contain 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound, within acceptable industry standards of deviation of error; (2) provide that the 0.4 milligrams of folic acid required to be in corn masa products is per pound of end product, within acceptable industry standards of deviation of error; and (3) exempt snack foods from these enrichment requirements.

This act amends Section 11-24-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that the exemption of transfers of land to immediate family members from certain subdivision regulations does not apply if the land is transferred to a non-immediate family member within 24 months of the initial immediate family transfer, except in counties where local law requires division of land by recorded plat.

This act amends Sections 34-19-12, 34-19-14, and 34-19-16 to: (1) change the nominating entity of four members of the State Board of Midwifery from the Alabama Birth Coalition to the Alabama Midwives Alliance; (2) remove the prohibition of the board chair serving consecutive terms; (3) authorize the board to receive gifts and grants pursuant to terms adopted by the board; and (4) remove the requirements that board rules must be adopted consistently with documents of the Midwives Alliance of North America and that midwives must collect data under the Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project.

This act amends Section 16-13-334, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) remove the requirement that teachers participating in the Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Salary Schedule Program with over 20 years of service and who satisfy the advanced contract criteria for the program must be offered a contract for five years; and (2) provide such contacts may not be for a term longer than authorized for contracts of other participating teachers, except for those executed prior to October 1, 2026.