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In week two of the Alabama Legislative session lawmakers have introduced 463 bills in its latest session, revealing a stark contrast between genuine efforts to improve public policy and blatant attempts to stoke culture wars. While some bills focus on workforce development, public safety, and economic incentives, others prioritize government overreach, religious nationalism, and performative political stunts meant to rile up the Republican base.
Below is a breakdown of which bills stand to benefit Alabama citizens, which could do harm, and which exist purely to appease the far-right culture war agenda.
Bills That Could Benefit Alabama
Workforce Development and Economic Incentives
Alabama Workforce Board Confirmation – The Senate confirmed 38 members to the newly formed Alabama Workforce Board, created under Act 2024-115. This board, along with the renaming of the Department of Labor to the Department of Workforce, is intended to improve job training and economic opportunity in the state. If implemented effectively, this could strengthen Alabama’s labor market.
HB240, Rep. Lovvorn – Exempting student-athletes’ NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) earnings from state income tax incentivizes college athletes to remain in Alabama and stimulates local economies.
HB253, Rep. Colvin – Providing sales tax exemptions for aircraft and aircraft parts could boost the state’s aviation industry and attract new business investments.
HB268, Rep. P. Moore – Exempting lottery winnings from state income taxation would increase public participation in Alabama’s lottery, benefiting education funding and state revenues.
Maternal and Infant Health
HB89, Rep. Lands, and SB102, Sen. Coleman-Madison – Extending Medicaid benefits for pregnant women will improve maternal health outcomes, particularly in a state with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.
SB159, Sen. Orr – Exempting sales tax on baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, and menstrual hygiene products eases financial burdens on families, a long-overdue policy move.
Public Safety Measures
SB170, Sen. Coleman – Establishing gun violence protective orders would allow courts to temporarily restrict firearm access for individuals deemed dangerous, striking a balance between public safety and Second Amendment rights.
Bills That Could Harm Alabama and Its Citizens
Attacks on LGBTQ+ Rights in Schools
HB244, Rep. Butler, and HB246, Rep. Stadthagen – These bills ban classroom discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation and prohibit teachers from using a student’s preferred pronouns. These measures directly target LGBTQ+ youth, further marginalizing an already vulnerable population.
Criminalizing Immigration
SB63, Sen. Bell, and SB53, Sen. Kitchens attempt to insert state law enforcement into federal immigration enforcement, despite immigration policy being under federal jurisdiction. By requiring local law enforcement to collect fingerprints and DNA from undocumented individuals, these bills effectively seek to turn Alabama police into immigration enforcers without directly legislating immigration status, which the state lack authority.
Expanding Government Control and Law Enforcement Power
SB118, Sen. Barfoot – A constitutional amendment expanding the list of offenses that allow judges to deny bail increases incarceration rates without addressing underlying crime issues.
HB202, Rep. Reynolds, and SB129, Sen. Bell – Granting law enforcement officers immunity from civil liability and criminal prosecution undermines police accountability and removes legal recourse for victims of misconduct.
HB231, Rep. Ingram – This bill mandates that public schools recite a Judeo-Christian prayer every morning and threatens funding cuts for non-compliance, a clear violation of constitutional protections against government-mandated religious practices.
SB166, Sen. Kelley – Requiring public schools and colleges to display the Ten Commandments in every building is another example of religious nationalism creeping into public policy.
Bills That Are Pure Republican Base Pandering
Performative Nationalism
HB247, Rep. Standridge – This bill renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, a pointless stunt considering that former President Donald J. Trump already signed an executive order doing the same thing. It serves no function beyond grandstanding for conservative voters.
Conspiracy Theory Legislation
HB248, Rep. Butler – Banning “weather modification efforts” feeds into right-wing conspiracy theories rather than addressing any actual scientific concern.
Guns Above All Else
HB277, Rep. Yarbrough – The 2A Sales Tax Holiday allows firearms and ammunition to be tax-free from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, once again prioritizing Alabama’s obsession with guns over more pressing economic concerns.
Targeting Drag Performances and LGBTQ+ Events
HB67, Rep. Stadthagen – This bill bans public drag performances in the presence of minors, even with parental consent, in an attempt to legislate LGBTQ+ individuals out of public life under the guise of “protecting children.”
Conclusion: Where Alabama’s Legislative Priorities Stand
The Alabama Legislature’s 2025 session includes bills focused on workforce development, public safety, and economic incentives, alongside measures addressing social and cultural issues. While some proposals expand economic opportunities and healthcare access, others impose restrictions on LGBTQ+ discussions in schools, increase law enforcement authority, and introduce religious requirements in public institutions. Additional legislation includes symbolic measures such as renaming the Gulf of Mexico and banning weather modification. As these bills progress, their legal and economic impact on the state will depend on legislative outcomes and potential legal challenges.
