Two Wins in Washington
Two major wins: the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Trey's Law, and the U.S. House sent Lulu's Law to President Trump's desk for his signature.
April 17, 2026
The 2026 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature is in the books, and it was a good year for Alabama.
Eight of my statewide bills made the trip across the finish line - among the highest of any legislator in the chamber - and every one of them started with a problem a real Alabamian brought to me. From protecting kids at summer camp to closing a loophole in our self-defense laws, the through-line this session was the same one that's guided me from day one: steady, principled, common-sense work for the people of House District 46.
Here are some of the wins I'm most proud of.
The Legislature approved a record $10.5 billion Education Trust Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2027. That included the first cost-of-living raise for teachers, support staff, and administrators in three years - a 2% pay bump long overdue for the people shaping the next generation of Alabamians. State employees received the same 2% raise in the General Fund budget, and a one-time longevity bonus for retirees was added on top.
This Legislature cut the state sales tax on groceries in half over the quadrennium - from 4% down to 2% - and on top of that, this year we passed a grocery tax holiday running May 1 through June 30. We also exempted up to $1,000 of overtime pay from the state income tax, eliminated sales tax on credit card transaction fees, and made the disabled veteran property tax homestead exemption permanent without yearly reverification. Every one of those is real money staying in Alabama pockets.
Two of the bills closest to my heart this session are about keeping Alabama families safe.
The Sarah Marsh Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act is named for eight-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, who lost her life in last summer's Texas camp flood. This new law requires summer camps across Alabama to have emergency plans, weather radios, and cabins outside of flood plains. Sarah's mother has said that had the provisions of this bill been in place in Texas, her daughter and the 26 other children killed that night would likely still be alive. That's why we passed it here.
Trey's Law, which received unanimous passage, ensures that no contract, settlement, or employer agreement can legally silence a survivor of sexual abuse. The bill is named for Trey Carlock, who took his own life after being barred by an NDA from telling his story. Survivors deserve the right to speak.
I also secured passage of a narrow, common-sense bill requested by our district attorneys: if a defendant uses physical or deadly force and then disposes of or can’t produce the weapon allegedly used in self-defense, the self-defense presumption no longer applies (you can still claim self-defense, but you need to explain why you don't have the weapon anymore). Alabama remains a Stand-Your-Ground state - but the evidence has to stay intact.
Other highlights from the session include expanded access to breast and prostate cancer screening by eliminating copays and deductibles; the Alabama Post Election Audit Act, which finally brings Alabama in line with every other state on post-election audits; the Child Predator Death Penalty Act; new protections against property title fraud; and a bipartisan measure to get retired school bus drivers, school resource officers, police officers, and correctional staff back on the job without losing their retirement benefits.
Also of local interest: $2 million was earmarked in the General Fund budget for Birmingham's Innovation Depot, plus additional funding for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and our district attorneys.
The session ended around six o'clock last Thursday night. The bills are now with Gov. Ivey, and most are already on their way to becoming law. I'm back in the district full-time, and I'm looking forward to spending more time meeting with constituents, businesses, schools, and civic groups across House District 46 this spring and summer. If you'd like me to visit your group or organization, please reach out to my office.
As always - thank you for the privilege of representing you in Montgomery.
- David
Two major wins: the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Trey's Law, and the U.S. House sent Lulu's Law to President Trump's desk for his signature.
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Organizing for Action: We’re the people who don’t just support
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Organizing for Action: We’re the people who don’t just support
