The House of Representatives continued working through the regular order calendars, which focused mostly on administrative-related legislation. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter has long championed efforts to improve Alabama’s below-average labor force participation rate and continues to prioritize expanding career and technical education (CTE) as a key initiative this session. The Speaker hosted a roundtable discussion on Wednesday with Workforce Secretary Greg Reed, BCA, and numerous industries in attendance. The discussion centered on the need to emphasize skills training at an earlier age and the necessity of teaching soft skills required in the workplace. Speaker Ledbetter plans to introduce legislation on the subject in the coming days.
A bill addressing dredged materials in coastal areas (HB181), sponsored by Representative Rhett Marques, received a favorable report from the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee and is now moving to the House floor for a vote on Tuesday. The App Store Accountability Act (HB161) passed the Alabama House and now moves to the Senate. Sponsored by Representative Chris Sells, the bill aims to give parents more control over their children’s app use. The House also passed HB245, sponsored by Representative Terri Collins, which updates the Rural Hospital Investment Program by placing program oversight under the Alabama Department of Revenue.
In the Senate, several sunset bills pertaining to boards and commissions, as well as legislation addressing military and veterans issues, were passed. Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger’s legislation that would authorize special primary elections in legislative and congressional races—should a court order those district lines redrawn after the primary has occurred—advanced out of a Senate committee on Tuesday. Senator Donnie Chesteen’s SB71, a bill that would prohibit state agencies from adopting or amending rules imposing environmental protection standards more stringent than those required under federal law or regulation, received a favorable report from the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee.
Given the potential for winter storms in North Alabama, the Legislature is scheduled to convene Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., weather permitting. The General Fund budget hearing has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 29, at 8:30 a.m. Should severe winter weather occur, both chambers will return on Wednesday of next week.
To kick off the second week of the legislative session, BCA hosted Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth and his Chief of Staff Connie Rowe as our Tuesday Morning Issues Briefing guest speakers. Ainsworth affirmed Alabama’s growth in the business sector, challenged lawmakers and leaders to think boldly about the state’s economic opportunities, and encouraged the state to continue serving as the “workforce engine of the Southeast.” Our next briefing will be held on Tuesday, January 27, at 9:00 a.m., where we will hear from Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter and House Rules Chairman Joe Lovvorn.
Capitol Briefing An Update from the Legislature The Alabama Legislature returned to the State House this week to complete days 11 and 12 of the 2026 legislative calendar, and is
Capitol Briefing An Update from the Legislature The Alabama Legislature returned to the State House this week to complete days 9 and 10 of the Legislative Calendar, and will reconvene
Capitol Briefing An Update from the House The House of Representatives had several bills introduced this week—Representative Parker Moore’s HB324 and HB325, along with Representative Ben Robbins’ HB327—that reflect
