March 8, 2026
This has been one of the busiest stretches of the session, and the progress reflects it. From restoring funding for crime victims to advancing local infrastructure, here's where things stand as we head into the final weeks of the 2026 Alabama Legislative Session.
The Sarah Marsh Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act, which passed the Alabama House 104-0 earlier this session, is now my top priority as it moves through the Senate. I expect the bill to be heard in the Senate committee during the week of March 11, with a Senate floor vote the following week.
This bill is named for Sarah Marsh, and her mother Jill has been with us every step of the way. A unanimous House vote sends a clear signal to the Senate: Alabama is ready to protect our kids at camp. I am committed to seeing this across the finish line before the session ends.
I passed the VOCAL Victims Fund bill out of the House this week. VOCAL - Victims of Crime and Leniency - is one of Alabama's most important victim advocacy organizations, and this legislation restores their ability to receive voluntary donations through the state income tax refund form.
The check-off had rolled off the form - an administrative lapse that effectively cut off a funding stream for crime victims. This bill puts it back. If you want to contribute a portion of your state income tax refund to support victims of crime, you'll be able to do that again. The bill now heads to the Senate.
My Community Foundation Sales Tax Exemption bill cleared the House Budget Committee and was scheduled for a House floor vote this week. Community foundations play a vital role in directing charitable giving across our state, and this exemption removes an unnecessary tax burden that impedes that work.
My self-defense rebuttable presumption bill, HB 192, passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee without a single no vote. It's now ready for a Senate floor vote. This legislation creates a fairer standard for evaluating self-defense claims, and I'm grateful for the bipartisan support it has received at every stage.
This week, I joined Senator Tommy Tuberville, mayors, county commissioners, transportation officials, road builders, and the Alabama Farmers Federation for a major regional meeting focused on the Northern BeltLine. The message from the room was unified: we have the funding, and we need to start moving.
Approximately $570 million in federal funds is available for this project - a 52-mile corridor that will transform mobility and economic development across our region. We are currently building just a mile and a half. The Coalition for Regional Transportation, led by Mike Thompson, is driving the push to accelerate that timeline. I am a strong supporter of this project and will continue advocating for it.
The same arguments used against the Northern BeltLine today - that it's "a road to nowhere" - were made about the 459 southern loop. Look at the growth that followed. We cannot afford to leave this opportunity on the table.
Great news for Homewood residents: the pedestrian bridge project is underway. Following a meeting with county commissioners a few weeks ago, the project is now moving forward with an estimated completion timeline of approximately eight months.
A special thank-you to Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress, who has championed this project from the very beginning- before she was even on the city council. Her persistence made this happen. We'll be sharing renderings soon so the community can see what's coming.
The session is entering its final weeks, and the pace is only going to increase. My focus is on moving bills through the Senate - especially the Camp Safety Act and the VOCAL VictimsFund - while also shepherding the Community Foundation exemption and HB 192 to final passage.
I don't expect the legislature to be in session much past the first or second week of April. There's no time to waste, and I'm not wasting any.
Alabama passed Trey's Law. Now Congress is following our lead. I was on Capitol Hill this week as Senators Ted Cruz and Katie Britt filed the federal version of the bill - here's what that moment meant.
A long Tuesday night in Montgomery produced three unanimous votes, and a major self-defense bill cleared its biggest Senate hurdle. Here's everything that moved in Week 7 - from arson reform to protecting houses of worship.
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.
The Governor and Alabama State Health Officer, Dr. Scott Harris, shared Alabama’s most recent numbers and updates...
I had my legislative weekly conference call with the Governor and our State Health Officer, Scott Harris, yesterday.
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
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
