First Week in Montgomery: Session is Off and Running

We wrapped up the first week of the 2026 legislative session, and I wanted to take a moment to fill you in on what happened and what's ahead.

A Fast Start

This was one of the busiest first weeks I can remember. We had a record-setting number of bills come out of committee on Wednesday alone. There's a real sense of urgency this year - with May primaries on the calendar, leadership wants to get the important work done efficiently so members can get back to their districts.

Budget News

The Governor sent over her proposed budget, and the good news is that it maintains level funding across the board. We're also looking at a teacher pay raise, which I expect will move forward. That said, we're being cautious. While this year's budget looks stable, we've been warned that fiscal year 2028 could be tighter. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but it's on our radar.

Bills I'm Working On

I've already dropped a couple of pieces of legislation this session:

Trey's Law is out of committee and moving forward. This bill makes it unenforceable for any agreement - whether it's an NDA, a settlement, or an employment contract - to silence survivors of sexual abuse. No legal document should be used to protect abusers or prevent victims from speaking about what happened to them.

I'm also finalizing a Camp Safety bill that I expect to file by the end of the month. This one is personal. After the tragic loss of Sarah Marsh - a young girl from our district who died at a summer camp in Texas - I've been working with her parents, the Governor's office, EMA, and the Alabama Camp Association to put real safety requirements into law. We're talking about things like mandatory emergency response plans and criminal background checks for staff. My hope is that every good camp in Alabama is already doing these things, but we need it codified so there are no gaps.

I've also filed some technical bills through the Alabama Law Institute dealing with business entity code updates and reforms to our guardianship and conservatorship laws. Not the flashiest stuff, but important work to keep our legal framework current.

New Faces

We welcomed four new members to the House this week. Even though the new quadrennium doesn't start until next year, we've had some turnover - folks moving to the Senate or stepping away for other reasons. The new members all seem like great additions, and I look forward to working alongside them.

A Personal Highlight

On a lighter note, I had family in the building this week. My cousin Sarah Frances came up from Mobile to serve as my House Page. She got to attend the State of the State address, meet Governor Ivey, and even spend some time with Chief Justice Sarah Stewart. It was a week she won't soon forget - and honestly, having her there made it a little more special for me too.

Looking Ahead

I don't expect a lot of fireworks this session. The focus will be on getting the budgets passed, moving good legislation through, and wrapping up in time for the campaign season. That said, It’s my intention to be here each week keeping you posted on what's happening in Montgomery.

As always, if you have questions or concerns about anything at the state level, don't hesitate to reach out. Hearing from you helps me do this job better.

Until next week,

David Faulkner
Alabama House District 46

‍