Alabama lawmakers advance major bills as session nears final days

Today has proven to be a pivotal day in the Alabama Legislature. Lawmakers in both chambers issued final passage on some of the session’s biggest bills, while others hang in the balance.

After completing their primary constitutional duty Tuesday night by sending finalized general fund and education trust fund budgets to Governor Kay Ivey’s desk, several major pieces of legislation today made it over the finish line, under threat of filibuster from Democrats at times, and cloture from Republicans at others.

As of the close of the journal last week, lawmakers in both chambers have introduced a combined total of 961 bills. Among those, the House has passed 323 and the Senate has passed 164.

After adjournment today, only three days will remain in the 2025 legislative session.

Birmingham Water Works in House

The House issued final passage on a long-awaited reform bill opposed that would overhaul governance of the Birmingham Water Works Board.

SB330, sponsored by State Rep. Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills) in the House and State Sens. Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook) and Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills) in the Senate, will address longstanding concerns about mismanagement and ratepayer accountability by replacing current board appointments with a more regionally representative structure.

The bill also caps board members’ terms, implements mandatory training requirements, and adds new financial oversight provisions.

The proposal was vehemently opposed by Democrat members from Jefferson County, however cloture was not needed. It now heads to Governor Ivey’s desk for her signature.

ALFA in Senate

The Senate issued final passage to a proposal that would allow the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) to offer health benefit plans to its members outside the scope of traditional insurance regulations – known as a farm bureau health plan — after several failed attempts by Senate Democrats to amend the bill.

HB477 by State Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) passed the House earlier in the session with unanimous support. It is far and beyond the political powerhouse’s top legislative priority. It could come to fruition today and be sent to Governor Ivey’s desk.

The proposed plans are modeled after a similar concept in 10 other states and are aimed at providing more affordable coverage options for farmers and rural residents who often lack access to employer-sponsored insurance. The Federation argues that these plans could save families up to 60% on health care costs.

To address concerns from healthcare groups and insurers, lawmakers added several amendments to the bill, including provisions that prohibit coverage from being canceled or premiums increased due to a medical diagnosis, require coverage for prescription drugs, mental health care, and substance abuse treatment, and set a minimum annual benefit cap of $2 million per enrollee.

Today, it is being carried by State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) upstairs in the Senate.

The bill ultimately passed and now heads to Governor Ivey’s desk for her signature.

Powering Growth in House

The House issued final passage today on the Powering Growth package — a three-bill initiative with the uniformed goal of modernizing Alabama’s energy infrastructure and speeding up industrial development.

SB304, carried by State Sen. Arthur Orr and State Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville), creates the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank to finance projects like substations and power lines.

The package passed the Senate last week and passed the house overwhelmingly today, with only one ‘no’ vote from State Rep. Ben Harrison (R-Elkmont). The proposal came with the full endorsement of the Alabama Growth Alliance and Department of Commerce.

It now heads to Governor Ivey’s desk for her signature.

Smith Lake Resort in House

The House issued final passage today to SB322, by Senate Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) and Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R-Vestavia Hills), which would allow certain community development districts — like one proposed near Smith Lake — to be annexed into nearby wet municipalities, even if non-contiguous.

The bill passed the Senate 27-1, but initially drew opposition from the Cullman County Commission, which warned it could disrupt local planning and infrastructure management. Gudger pushed back against those claims, arguing that annexation would be voluntary and that the legislation is enabling, not authorizing a specific development.

Supporters say the proposal could unlock $1.15 billion in investment for Cullman County. It was carried in the House today by State Rep. Bryan Brinyark (R-Tuscaloosa).

Updated 1:04 p.m. to reflect final passage of HB477 by the Alabama Senate.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.