Friday Five: May 9, 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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Gov. Kay Ivey signed a key piece of her eight-point Safe Alabama package into law this week, advancing what she’s called her top legislative priority. SB119, a bipartisan measure, expands firearm prohibitions for recent and repeat felons, undocumented immigrants and certain minors. It also increases penalties for firing into occupied buildings or vehicles, expands judicial authority to deny bail in violent crime cases and strengthens parole and probation enforcement when firearms are involved.
The bill follows earlier wins for the administration, including bans on Glock switches (SB116), stronger penalties for impersonating officers (SB115) and a constitutional amendment, which is headed to the 2026 ballot, that broadens pretrial detention powers (SB118). Lawmakers also approved $3 million to expand the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit.
Three bills’ progress stalled as session draws to a close: HB202, a controversial measure that would raise the legal threshold to prosecute police officers; HB188, offering scholarships for officers’ families; and HB199, expanding electronic monitoring for juvenile offenders.
With the session set to wrap next week, legislative leaders say they’re confident the full package will reach the governor’s desk, though debate around police immunity may still test the finish.
Read More: Bill restricting firearm access for felons, immigrants, minors heads to governor’s desk (Alabama Political Reporter); Some of Ivey’s public safety package still pending in waning days of legislative session (Alabama Daily News)
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The Alabama House advanced two immigration bills this week, continuing a legislative push that has been a priority since the session began. SB53 and SB63 are part of a broader package introduced this year to increase local involvement in immigration enforcement and complement President Donald Trump’s federal policies.
SB53, which passed 80-18-5, would require law enforcement to verify immigration status during stops and make it a felony to knowingly transport someone without legal status in the state. A substitute adopted in committee expanded exemptions for individuals transporting undocumented people for medical care, religious or charitable purposes, or under the direction of a legal representative.
Supporters say the bill targets human smuggling and formalizes practices already used in many local jails. Opponents raised concerns about unintended consequences for mixed-status families and questioned how “reasonable suspicion” would be applied in practice.
SB63, which passed 76-7-17, would require fingerprinting and DNA collection from non-citizens taken into custody, with records added to the state’s forensic database. Proponents argue it would shorten processing times that currently delay federal enforcement.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) praised the bills as meaningful progress but acknowledged that the entire package is unlikely to advance before session ends.
Read More: Alabama lawmakers advance immigration bills, but some measures stall (Alabama Daily News)
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Gov. Ivey signed HB477 into law this week, authorizing the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) to offer health plans to its members. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) and Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), had strong bipartisan support, passing 98-1 in the House and 30-2 in the Senate.
Supporters say the plan offers a more affordable coverage option for ALFA members, particularly farmers and small business owners who struggle to access or afford insurance. The new ALFA Health Plans will operate outside the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) requirements, a point supporters say allows for flexibility and lower premiums.
Critics, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama and several health care advocates, warn the exemption creates an unlevel playing field and could allow ALFA plans to deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions — something ACA-compliant plans cannot do.
The bill features consumer protections, including a $2 million minimum coverage gap and a prohibition on dropping members or increasing premiums due to illness. Only those without access to affordable employer-sponsored plans are eligible.
This week’s signing follows earlier movement in April, when the bill advanced out of the House with amendments adding mental health and emergency coverage requirements.
Read More: Governor Ivey signs ALFA health plan legislation into law to ‘help our farmers’ (Yellowhammer News); Ivey signs bill that sparked battle between ALFA, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (AL.com)
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A bill to further reduce Alabama’s state grocery tax is now on Gov. Ivey’s desk after clearing both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support. HB386, sponsored by Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), would lower the tax from 3% to 2%, effective Sept. 1, 2025, if signed into law.
The bill builds on legislation passed unanimously in 2023 that cut the rate from 4% to 3% and set a benchmark tied to Education Trust Fund (ETF) growth for future reductions. This year’s bill removes that benchmark, allowing the second 1% cut to proceed even though revenues did not reach the 3.5% growth threshold set in the 2023 law.
An amendment added in the Senate also incorporates HB387, giving local governments the option to reduce their own grocery tax rates.
Supporters say the bill offers meaningful relief for families and high food costs. Alabama remains one of 10 states that tax groceries, and estimates suggest the reduction could save the average family of four $150 a year. Critics have raised concerns about the long-term funding impact, noting the cut is projected to reduce ETF revenues by $121.9 million each year, even as the 2023 reduction appears to have had a smaller-than-expected effect on state revenues.
Advocacy group Alabama Arise called the vote a major step toward tax equity but urged lawmakers to protect long-term education funding as future cuts are considered.
Read More: Grocery tax reduction bill heads to governor’s desk (Alabama Political Reporter)
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Gov. Ivey signed HB165 into law this week, officially recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday in Alabama. The law will close state offices each year on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans were freed in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It became a federal holiday in 2021 and has been observed in Alabama each year since.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Rick Rehm (R-Dothan), passed with bipartisan support in both chambers, though a handful of senators voted against it and nearly half abstained. The bill reflects years of advocacy by Black lawmakers, who previously saw similar proposals blocked or tied to Jefferson Davis’ Birthday, a holiday honoring the Confederate president. The final version of HB165 removed any reference to Davis, making Juneteenth a standalone observance.
Read More: Alabama adds Juneteenth as an official state holiday (Montgomery Advertiser)
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.