Friday Five: May 2, 2025
Alabama’s legislative session is underway, and the trail ahead is full of decisions that will shape the state’s future.
Each week, our #FridayFive maps out the key developments from the State House. We’ll track legislation that is gaining momentum, facing obstacles or coming to a halt. Stay informed as we break down what’s moving, what’s stalled and what it all means for Alabama.
For the full picture, explore our 2025 Alabama Legislative Guide and get ahead of the twists and turns this session.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
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HB202, a key bill from Gov. Kay Ivey’s Safe Alabama package, advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. Carried by Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Hazel Green), the bill would raise the legal threshold for prosecuting or suing law enforcement officers, establish a 45-day period for pre-trial immunity hearings and allow for early dismissal of cases that don’t meet the new standard.
Supporters say the bill would protect officers making split-second decisions and reinforce recruitment and retention. Critics argue it reduces accountability and raises the risk of abuse, particularly for Black Alabamians.
The committee adopted two amendments from Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) that would require agencies to collect and archive data on excessive force claims and study the bill’s impact on officer recruitment. Another amendment from Singleton, which would have required all agencies to update written conduct policies, failed. A separate amendment from Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) passed, allowing plaintiffs access to bodycam footage before pre-trial hearings.
The bill moves to the Senate floor, where Democrats have pledged to fight it. “I heard about the impact on law enforcement officers and all that, but what about the regular folks?” asked Sen Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham). “Regular folks are going to get killed.”
Reynolds defended the bill’s intent, saying it does not grant immunity to officers who violate constitutional rights.
Read More: ‘We will fight this;’ stage set for showdown in Alabama Senate over police immunity bill (Alabama Daily News)
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Lawmakers approved a record $3.8 billion General Fund budget for 2026 and sent it to the governor’s desk. The final version includes $348 million in new spending over last year’s budget and adds $14 million above the governor’s original proposal.
Key additions include funding increases for law enforcement, public health, regional airports, broadband expansion and rural infrastructure. The Senate restored $3 million for broadband and added $6.8 million more across several priorities, including $2.16 million for public health and $1.5 million each for the Port Authority and rural energy development.
Although the budget passed unanimously, it faced a lengthy delay after Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) invoked a procedural rule requiring the entire 133-page bill to be read aloud. The move stalled Senate activity for more than four hours and reflected ongoing tensions in the session’s final days.
Read More: Alabama Legislature sends record $3.8B General Fund budget to governor after marathon day (Alabama Daily News)
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The Legislature has approved a $12 billion Education Trust Fund budget, the largest in state history, and sent it to the governor. It introduces a new hybrid funding model (SB305) that provides a base allocation per student, with additional support for students in poverty, with special needs, English language learners and gifted students. The budget also includes funding for mental health services, school nutrition, paid parental leave and career tech expansion.
Lawmakers are also advancing a wave of education bills in the session’s final stretch. The FOCUS Act, filed as HB166 and SB92, would require school boards to ban student cell phone use during instructional time. Each bill now awaits final approval from the Senate and House, respectively, with three legislative days remaining.
One of the most debated measures, HB244, also cleared committee this week. The bill would expand current restrictions on classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity to all grades, aligning with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump earlier this year. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
Additional proposals awaiting further action include off-campus Bible study, graduation flexibility, and new course requirements in computer science and workforce readiness.
As the session nears its end, lawmakers are making final calls on which bills to push through and which to let go.
Read More: Alabama’s education budget headed to governor’s desk (WSFA 12 News); Alabama public school cellphone ban moves closer to Senate vote (Alabama Reflector); Dozens of education bills awaiting passage in final days of Alabama legislative session (Alabama Daily News)
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The Senate gave final approval this week to HB477, which would allow the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) to offer health benefit plans to its members. Supporters say the legislation would expand coverage for farmers and self-employed agricultural workers without access to traditional employer-sponsored insurance. The plans would not be subject to state insurance regulations but would cover core services such as emergency care, mental health and prescription drugs. The bill includes a 1.3% premium tax and now heads to the governor.
Democratic lawmakers attempted to add consumer protections, including Department of Insurance oversight and stronger coverage guarantees, but all proposed amendments failed.
Gov. Kay Ivey also signed SB102 into law, granting presumptive Medicaid eligibility to pregnant women. The measure allows health care providers to determine Medicaid eligibility for expectant mothers, accelerating access to prenatal care. The new law permits one 60-day coverage period per pregnancy and prohibits retroactive denial during that window.
“While this law will not end the maternal and infant mortality crisis in Alabama, we believe that it does have the potential to save lives and lessen the burden for pregnant people to access prenatal care early in pregnancy,” said A’Niya Robinson of the ACLU of Alabama.
Read More: Bill allowing Alfa health benefit plans passes Alabama Senate (Alabama Reflector); Gov. Kay Ivey signs presumptive Medicaid eligibility bill into law (Alabama Reflector)
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Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation this week establishing the Alabama Development Fund, a new long-term funding source to support economic development across the state. The fund will retain a portion of sales and property taxes abated in qualified projects beginning in June 2026. It is backed by the Alabama Growth Alliance and designed to help the state compete for high-quality jobs and investment without raising taxes.
State leaders say the fund will support priorities outlined in Alabama’s “Catalyst” plan, including rural development, international recruitment and workforce expansion. Lawmakers approved the measure with broad bipartisan support.
Separately, the Senate advanced the Powering Growth package, a three-bill initiative aimed at modernizing Alabama’s energy infrastructure to meet rising industrial demand. The centerpiece, SB304, would create the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Bank to finance grid upgrades and support large-scale project development. It also establishes a fund to pre-purchase critical equipment and reduce delays caused by supply chain shortages.
Supporters say the package is essential to ensuring Alabama remains competitive as neighboring states pursue similar strategies. The package is now under consideration in the House.
Read More: Governor Ivey signs Alabama Development Fund legislation to power economic growth (Made in Alabama); As Trump champions energy dominance, Alabama lawmakers double down with ‘Powering Growth’ package (Yellowhammer News)
OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY
The session moves fast, and the path isn’t always clear. Some bills will race ahead, others will hit rough terrain and a few may never leave the trailhead.
That’s why Peritus PR is here with Friday Five—to help you stay oriented as the session unfolds. We’ll mark the milestones, flag the detours and keep an eye on what’s coming next.
Follow along on our socials and check back here every Friday to stay on course. Double-knot your laces—this session won’t wait for stragglers.
At Peritus Public Relations, we know you want to make an impact. To do that you need confidence and clarity to take action. Tell us what’s keeping you up at night and stop letting fear of a misstep get in the way of driving your mission forward. We believe you deserve to get it right. For over a decade, organizations like yours have trusted us to navigate the best path forward.
Peritus specializes in issue advocacy, stakeholder engagement, government affairs and strategic consulting. Let’s connect if you want to learn more about how state policy affects your mission and bottom line.
Check out the 2025 Peritus PR Alabama Legislative Guide here.