January 28, 2026
The second week of the 2026 legislative session brought meaningful progress on several fronts, including a major milestone for survivor protections in Alabama.
I'm proud to share that Trey's Law passed the House floor this week with 98 yes votes and zero opposition. This bill prohibits non-disclosure agreements from silencing survivors of sexual abuse. While settlement agreements can still protect financial terms and other details, victims can never be forced to stay quiet about the abuse itself.
The bill is named after Trey Carlock, who took his own life after an NDA prevented him from speaking about the abuse he endured. His sister, Elizabeth Phillips, came to Montgomery months ago to share Trey's story with me, and she has been advocating for this change across the country. Her courage and persistence made this possible.
A companion bill carried by Senator Matt Woods passed the Senate the day before our House vote, so both bills now move to the opposite chambers. I look forward to seeing Trey's Law signed into law and hope it serves as a model for other states.
Work continues on the camp safety bill that will honor Sarah Marsh and the 26 other young women who lost their lives in a tragic flood at a Texas camp last year. This week we had productive conversations with the Alabama Camp Association, camp owners, and the Emergency Management Agency.
The bill is in its final drafting stages, and I plan to file it next Thursday. Our goal is to codify commonsense safety standards - emergency response plans, criminal background checks, and other measures that responsible camps already follow. No parent should have to wonder whether their child is safe at summer camp.
I also passed a bill out of the Judiciary Committee this week on behalf of our district attorneys and the Office of Prosecution Services. This legislation addresses a gap in how self-defense claims are evaluated.
Under this bill, if someone claims they killed or injured another person in self-defense, they must retain the weapon they used. If the weapon has been disposed of, a rebuttable presumption is established that the act was not in self-defense. The accused can still overcome that presumption by explaining to the court why the weapon is no longer available, but the burden shifts appropriately. This is a reasonable step to ensure that self-defense claims are supported by evidence.
Education remains one of my top priorities, and this week I filed a bill to make computer science a high school graduation requirement in Alabama. We've made great strides in recent years - my computer science education bill passed in 2019 required every high school to offer at least one CS course - but we need to go further. In today's economy, computer science literacy is as foundational as reading and math. Our students deserve to graduate prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
Leadership remains focused on an efficient session, and I expect us to wrap up by early April - roughly two weeks ahead of the normal schedule. With primary elections on May 19, the priority is passing the budgets, moving good legislation through, and getting members back to their districts.
Finally, a quick note on the weather. I receive regular updates from Jefferson County's Emergency Management Agency, and the latest reports are more encouraging than earlier forecasts. It looks like our area may see rain rather than ice, though we should still expect freezing temperatures from Sunday night through Tuesday. Please take precautions, check on neighbors, and stay safe.
As always, if you have questions or concerns about anything happening at the state level, don't hesitate to reach out. Hearing from you helps me serve District 46 better.
Until next week,
David Faulkner
Alabama House District 46
The Camp Safety Act passed the House unanimously, key bills on computer science and arson reform advance, and Trey's Law awaits the Governor’s signature as the session reaches its midpoint.
The Camp Safety Act is first on Tuesday’s House calendar, Trey's Law awaits the Governor’s signature, and key bills on self-defense, computer science graduation requirements, arson reform, and guardianship updates continue advancing with strong bipartisan support.
HB 192 passed the House 104–0, Trey's Law heads to the Governor’s desk, the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act advances in committee, and a computer science graduation requirement moves toward a full House vote.
Trey’s Law moves toward final passage, the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act will be filed next week, and key legislation continues advancing as the 2026 Session stays on track.
For 4 weeks now, the Legislature has had a weekly conference call with the Governor and some of the State’s top Department and Agency heads.
It was such an honor to be among those involved with the groundbreaking ceremony for the EXPLORE Playground & Splash Pad
State Rep. David Faulkner (R - Mountain Brook) on Tuesday announced he will direct a $15,000 community grant to the Hollywood Boulevard pedestrian bridge project
With the new school year finally set into a groove, it has been PTO meeting season.
Organizing for Action: We’re the people who don’t just support
Organizing for Action: We’re the people who don’t just support
Organizing for Action: We’re the people who don’t just support
