An Update from the Legislature

The Alabama Legislature has completed days 15, 16, and 17 of the calendar, officially surpassing the halfway point of the 2026 legislative session.

A public hearing was held in the House Financial Services Committee on SB247, legislation that would allow health care service corporations to reorganize under a nonprofit holding corporation structure. No vote was taken this week, but the committee is expected to consider the bill next week.

SB91, sponsored by Senator Tim Melson, was reported favorably out of the Senate committee. The legislation has raised concerns among local economic development authorities, particularly due to provisions that would increase certain taxes without requiring voter approval. The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

Senate leadership also confirmed that HB392, legislation related to Public Service Commission (PSC) reform, will not be taken up during the current session. President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger indicated lawmakers will instead continue working toward long-term solutions focused on improving transparency and public confidence in the commission.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville recently discussed the concept of creating a statewide Secretary of Energy position to coordinate and oversee Alabama’s energy policy. Under his idea, the role would work alongside PSC members and major power and energy providers to strengthen collaboration, enhance long-term energy strategy, and help maintain affordable rates for consumers and businesses.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter is advancing a four-bill legislative package aimed at strengthening Career and Technical Education (CTE) statewide and better aligning workforce training with the needs of Alabama employers. The package focuses on expanding instructional capacity, streamlining certification pathways, and fostering stronger partnerships between industry and education. Included in the package are:

– HB517 (Representative James Lomax) — Establishes the Talent Readiness and Industry Needs (TRAIN) Act, which would authorize businesses to partner directly with eligible educational institutions to deliver CTE instruction. The bill incentivizes employer participation by creating a tax credit to offset income, financial institution excise, and utility tax liability for businesses that loan qualified employees to serve as CTE instructors. This model leverages private-sector expertise to strengthen Alabama’s workforce pipeline.

– HB520 (Representative Marcus Paramore) — Requires the State Board of Education to develop an expedited certification pathway for individuals seeking to teach CTE courses, helping address instructor shortages and accelerate the placement of experienced industry professionals in high-demand classrooms.

Additional measures in the four-bill package further support CTE expansion and workforce alignment efforts.

BCA will continue to monitor these measures and other priority legislation as the session moves forward.

Additionally, following his election as House Majority Leader, Representative Paul Lee announced the appointment of Representative James Lomax to serve as House Majority Whip. Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter has appointed Representative Jeff Sorrells to chair the House Committee on Health, further solidifying leadership roles as the session continues.