Bills: HB472, HB542

Keywords: state employees, meal allowance, per diem, travel expenses, Alabama law, HB542, district attorney, prosecutor, supernumerary district attorney, Employees' Retirement System, ERS, Alabama retirement, public employee retirement, pension, retirement benefits, post-retirement employment, salary cap, dual participation, double dipping, District Attorneys' Plan

Transcript Highlights:

• If you live here and you're raising your children here, and you've chosen Alabama to be your state...
• You've chosen Alabama to be your state. By God, Public Safety should be number one in my cities.
• I'm Baker Allen, director of governmental affairs for the Alabama League of Municipalities.
• Alabama League of Municipalities.

Bills: SB82, SB78, SB4, SB6, SB62, SB66, SB77, SB63, SB79, SB53, SB55, HB14

Keywords: inhalants, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, possession, sale, misdemeanor, felony, criminal penalties, public health, school safety, resource officers, law enforcement, public schools, private schools, liability insurance, contracting, library governance, board appointment, library diversity

Transcript Highlights:

• It should not be sold, period, to adults or children or anybody.
• I've seen firsthand how important it is to keep natural kratom safe, legal, and accessible to adults
• Regulation protects consumers while preserving access for responsible adults.
• Regulation protects consumers while preserving access for responsible adults.
• Regulation protects consumers while preserving access for responsible adults.

Bills: HB305, HB395, HB341

Keywords: hemp, marijuana, THC regulations, cannabis products, adult-use industry, public health, youth protection, child support, reunification, Department of Services for Children, family court, liability

Summary: The committee met in late June with Senators Hansen, Buckson, Siegfried, Townsend, and Huxable present, and first approved the meeting minutes by voice vote. The opening bill, HB 341, would limit DFS from filing child support in foster care cases unless doing so would not hinder reunification; Children’s Department staff said the department has already decided to stop filing in all such cases, with an estimated fiscal impact of about $140,000 annually. Public testimony from the League of Women Voters supported the bill as a compassionate measure to help families reunite. The committee then heard HB 446/related anaphylaxis legislation for colleges and universities, which would allow institutions to stock and use intranasal epinephrine alongside auto-injectors and update training and reporting requirements. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America supported the measure, emphasizing the need for needle-free options and faster treatment of anaphylaxis. The committee also took up HS1 for HB 356 on PFAS, which would ban firefighting foam containing PFAS beginning in 2028, require disclosure if PPE contains PFAS, and address recalls; DNREC and the fire service supported it, saying most departments have already transitioned away from PFAS foam. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 305, a diabetes wellness pilot program that would use continuous glucose monitoring, app-based care coordination, lab testing, and DHIN data analysis to shift care toward prevention and remission. Sponsor Senator Siegfried described the bill as a response to Delaware’s high diabetes costs and prevalence, and the Medical Society of Delaware supported it as a proactive model. The committee also discussed HB 395, which would regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products and synthetic cannabinoids by classifying products over a THC threshold as marijuana and creating penalties for unlicensed sales; the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner supported the bill, while hemp industry representatives and Senator Hoffner warned it could harm legitimate hemp retailers and access to hemp products. The final item, HS1 for HB 332, would ban sales and marketing of kratom products to those under 21 and direct the state to study testing and regulation of kratom and synthetic variants. Supporters, including the Delaware Healthcare Association and several recovery advocates, said age-gating is a reasonable first step and that synthetic products are the main concern; opponents and some senators argued the bill should go further and fully ban kratom or better distinguish synthetic products from natural leaf kratom. No formal roll-call votes were taken on the substantive bills during the transcript, and the meeting adjourned after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It would amend the Texas Finance Code by adding a section to prohibit motor vehicle sellers from conditioning

Bills: HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696

Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, automobile sales, finance, retail seller, motor vehicle purchase, motor vehicle sales, pricing restrictions, third-party financing, education, funding, student assessment, accountability, standards, motor vehicle, financing

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard testimony on HB 149, the Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. Senator Schwertner described the bill as an outcomes-based AI framework that would require disclosure when people interact with AI, prohibit manipulative or social-scoring systems, address biometric capture, discrimination, and deepfake child exploitation, and give the Attorney General enforcement authority. It would also create an AI Sandbox and AI Council. Witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a Houston attorney, TechNet, and the Texas Association of Business strongly supported the bill, praising its stakeholder process and pro-innovation approach, while Texas Appleseed suggested regulators should have more examination authority over sandbox participants. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard SB 229, which would prohibit motor vehicle dealers from conditioning a sale on dealer-offered financing or charging more because a buyer uses outside financing or cash. Senator West said the bill is meant to stop forced financing and bait-and-switch pricing, and he noted the bill passed the committee and Senate in the prior session. The Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill, arguing it would force dealers to accept any third-party lender or cash transaction on terms they cannot control. The Texas Credit Union Association supported the bill, saying consumers should be able to choose outside financing without hidden fees or pressure. After questions about cash purchases and dealer practices, the bill was left pending. The committee also took up SB 2566, which would clarify legislators’ access to information from executive agencies, including confidential information, by setting response deadlines, limiting confidentiality agreements to statutory terms, requiring a standard AG form, and creating a complaint and penalty process for noncompliance. No witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 1749, as substituted, would let certain court-related employees and judicial conduct commission personnel keep personal information such as home addresses and phone numbers confidential, with work addresses used in place of home addresses for certain purposes. District clerk and judicial conduct commission witnesses described threats and harassment as the reason for the bill, and a court administration witness answered questions about how the address protections would work with voter registration and precinct records. That bill was also left pending, and the committee recessed without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was 30 years later before all. 50 states had adopted it.
• And in 20 years, only 18 states have adopted it.
• By a state, no state being allowed to adopt any laws. Thank you, members.
• APT codes like MNT does.
• population. on what's now available for both children and adults.

Bills: HB26, HB140, HB141, HB142, HB215, HB26, HB140, HB141, HB142, HB215

Keywords: Medicaid, nutrition support, maternal health, chronic conditions, pilot program, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, child abuse investigations, child neglect, child exploitation, advisory committee, Family and Protective Services Council, council abolition, foster care, due process, investigative procedures, child welfare, parental rights, family preservation services

Bills: SB233, SB233

Keywords: ad valorem, taxation, local governance, advisory committee, Alabama Department of Revenue, eluding officers, law enforcement, penalties, public safety, criminal justice, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to commend the Alabama reading initiative though, because they have been out for a year presenting
• All right, all those in favor of adopting the amendment say "Aye." Any opposed?
• With that, then the amendment has been adopted. Madam Chair, thank you.

Bills: HB332, HB166, SB336, HB447, HB244

Keywords: education policy, wireless communication devices, internet safety, social media, mental health, gender identity, sexual orientation, public schools, classroom instruction, Alabama, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Securities Commission's playbook, their handbook, whatever you want to call it, and we're adding a new code
• Can we adopt the sub first? Yes. So, in? Can we adopt the sub first? Yes.

Bills: HB297, HB587

Keywords: cash transactions, money transmission, regulatory compliance, criminal penalties, Alabama Securities Commission, information technology, auditors, financial institutions, cybersecurity, certifications, state regulations, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It brings it up to modern day and in fact the board that governs it is the Alabama Space Science Exhibit
• So this bill brings it up to code, updates a lot of things in the language that we need to have to bring
• I think it just changes the name and updates... ...it changes the name and updates some of the code language
• The name of the governing body would change from the Alabama Space and Science Exhibit Commission to

Bills: HB159

Keywords: U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, public facilities, space exploration, education programs, bond issuance, Governor involvement, 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Engineers go to the building code, follow the wood table stuff, and copy... ...code, and they copy this
• This bill creates a one-size-fits-all approach to building codes in Alabama.
• When we talk about building codes, they are produced by the International Code Council.
• So we have the International Building Code and the International Residential Code.
• we have adopted that regulate codes up to 140 mph and above.

Bills: HB324, HB252, SB80, HB241

Keywords: sheriffs, term of office, Alabama law, local government, election, residential construction, architectural approval, engineering approval, home building, single family residences, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Do I have a motion to adopt the sub? Move that we adopt the sub. All right.
• Alabama. Okay. So, what happened? Alabama. Okay. So, what happened?
• of Alabama. of Alabama.
• While we seem very big in Alabama, we do have about 1.9 million subscribers here in Alabama.
• This bill has Alabama focused.

Bills: HB55, SB15, SB247

Keywords: fishing, licensing, jubilee, Marine life, Alabama, regulations, sex offenders, employment restrictions, first responders, public safety, juvenile offenders, local laws, registration requirements, picketing, protesting, residential protest, noise amplification, amplified sound, residential picketing, harassment

Transcript Highlights:

• Previously, we were only notified when an Alabama citizen died in the state of Alabama.
• The server is located in Alabama, specifically with the Alabama government servers.
• We had counties the state of Alabama.
• The driver's license on it says Alabama. The driver's license on it says Alabama driver's license.
• My point is just from a practical standpoint, people don't see the Alabama code.

Bills: HB479, HB480

Keywords: voting, elections, voter registration, voter rolls, list maintenance, address change, change of address, ERIC, Electronic Registration Information Center, AVID, Alabama Voter Integrity Database, Secretary of State, board of registrars, inactive voter, voter purge, duplicate registration, cross-state voter matching, National Change of Address, NCOA, driver license data

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd move adoption of the amendment. >> We have a motion and a second on the amendment.
• >> Seeing no objection, the amendment is adopted. Now on the bill.

Bills: HB166, HB487, SB130, SB181, HB166, HB487, SB130, SB181

Keywords: education policy, wireless communication devices, internet safety, social media, mental health, HB487, Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program, veterans, disabled veterans, dependents, spouse benefits, widow benefits, children of veterans, tuition assistance, education benefits, scholarship, college aid, undergraduate tuition, private school reimbursement, books and fees

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh Alabama with the climate as it is.
• certificate and developed by the Alabama certificate and developed by the Alabama Department<00:
• the case in the state of Alabama, is that correct?
• the case in the state of do not adopt the case in the state of Alabama<00:47:49.040> is<00:47
• :49.200> that<00:47:49.280> correct Alabama is that correct Alabama is that correct >

Bills: HB88, HB314, SB46, HB332, HB86, HB363, HB88, HB314, SB46, HB332, HB86, HB363

Keywords: driver license, English examinations, language requirement, immigration, testing standards, motor vehicles, window tint, law enforcement, prosecutors, vehicle regulations, medical condition, communication, first responder, invisible disabilities, anaphylaxis, day care centers, training, child safety, healthcare, parole

Transcript Highlights:

• to adopt the amendment? to adopt the amendment?
• of Alabama 1975 relating to the Alabama sickle cell oversight regulatory commission.
• of Alabama 1975 relating to the Alabama sickle cell oversight regulatory commission is repealed.
• <00:09:34.399> to<00:09:34.480> the code of Alabama 1975 relating to the code of Alabama
• of Alabama 1975 relating to the Alabama sickle cell oversight regulatory commission is repealed.

Bills: SB54, SB126, SB128, SB101, SB102, SB104, HB282, HB298, SB54, SB126, SB128, SB101, SB102, SB104, HB282, HB298

Keywords: sunset law, Alabama Surface Mining Commission, environmental regulation, mining, state commission, Alabama Private Investigation Board, regulatory oversight, agency review, continuation, sickle cell disease, healthcare, regulatory commission, public health, regulation, electrical contractors, state agencies, home medical equipment, board continuation, boards, commissions

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted. We are back on the bill as amended. Any more discussion?
• Is there any opposition using previous roles on adopting the substitute?
• I move for adoption of the amendment. I move for adoption of the amendment.
• Got a motion for adoption of the amendment, seconded by Senator Bell.
• Hearing none, the amendment is adopted. Let's go back to the bill as amended.

Bills: SB210, SB292, HB360, HB233, HB66, HB356, HB164, HB238, HB209, SB223, HB307, SB210, SB292, HB360, HB233, HB66, HB356, HB164, HB238, HB209, SB223, HB307

Keywords: hospital liens, medical billing, government healthcare, insurance claims, patient rights, education oversight, subpoena authority, investigation, State Superintendent, school misconduct, drug courts, accountability, veterans, mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation, criminal justice, court intervention, terrorist threat, terroristic threat

Bills: SB297, HB562

Keywords: water resources, division chief, state governance, Alabama law, exempt service, State Auditor, property investigations, loss and theft, state property, property inventory control, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Did they play at Alabama, too? >> They did.
• Yeah. >> And they're both about 6'4", 6'5". >> Did they play at Alabama, too? >> They did.
• Yeah. >> And they're both about 6'4", 6'5". >> Did they play at Alabama, too? >> They did.
• Yeah. >> And they're both about 6'4", 6'5". >> Did they play at Alabama, too? >> They did.
• this, but if you need one to trade in your home or whatever, and you do not have to have the UCCC code

Bills: SB282, SB282

Keywords: virtual currency, cryptocurrency, tax exemption, state tax law, digital assets, manufactured homes, certificate of title, Alabama Department of Revenue, law amendment, 1999 models, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, now it's just if you control 25,000 consumers or more, and those are Alabama citizens, or 25% of
• or more, and control 25,000 consumers or more, and those<00:10:39.519> are<00:10:39.680> Alabama
• citizens,<00:10:40.880> or<00:10:41.120> 25%<00:10:41.839> of those are Alabama
• citizens, or 25% of those are Alabama citizens, or 25% of your<00:10:42.160> revenue<00:10:42.640
• If not, I'll entertain a motion for adoption of the ... >> SAB.

Bills: HB351, HB351

Keywords: ad valorem tax, road funding, local government, referendum, Choctaw County, data privacy, consumer rights, personal data, data protection, Alabama Personal Data Protection Act, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment is adopted.
• I'd make a motion for adoption of that amendment. >> Adoption of that amendment.
• The amendment is adopted.
• The amendment is adopted.
• We uh we've got it adopted.

Bills: HB300, HB40, SB19, HB283, HB179, HB296, HB300, HB40, SB19, HB283, HB179, HB296

Keywords: HB300, Choctaw County, probate court, probate judge, recording fee, filing fee, deed tax, mortgage tax, deeds, mortgages, property records, recordation, county local act, local legislation, technology upgrades, digitalization of records, recordkeeping, county treasury, special fund, court administration