Goat Hill Report- Week Ending February 20, 2026

This week the Alabama legislature completed Week 6 of the 2026 session. The legislature held another two-day week, convening on the floor on Tuesday and Thursday while holding committee meetings on Wednesday. Next week is expected to be a 3-day week, with Tuesday marking the half-way point of the legislative session (they have completed 14 days out of a possible 30 legislative days). As previously mentioned, the session still is expected to wrap up in early to mid-April.

Details of this week’s notable action and news items are provided below.

House Majority Leader Elected and Key Committee Assignments Announced Amidst GOP Caucus Drama
On Wednesday, Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan) was elected by the House GOP Caucus as the new House Majority Leader. Rep. Lee replaces Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), who resigned as Majority Leader (but not his House seat) to run for Alabama Republican Party Chairman. Lee, who is a 16-year veteran of the House, has most recently served as chairman of the House Health Committee.

Rep. Stadthagen’s decision to run for state party chairman was set in motion on the final day of candidate qualifying on January 23, when current ALGOP chairman John Wahl resigned to run for lieutenant governor. Acting chair Joan Reynolds is also seeking the leadership spot, and former Alabama Secretary of State and State Rep. John Merrill (R-Tuscaloosa) is reportedly considering a run, among others. The state party will vote on a new leader in two weeks.

Controversial “Sound Science Bill” Passes House, Signed by Governor
On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed SB71, known as the “Sound Science bill” by Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva) on a 68-34 vote. The Senate previously passed the bill by a vote of 27-7. SB71 prohibits state agencies from implementing environmental regulations that are more stringent than federal regulations and explicitly prohibits the use of the controversial and questioned guidance provided under the EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) to set regulatory limits and standards.

The bill, presented in the House by Rep. Troy Stubbs (R-Wetumpka), would require the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to establish a “direct causal link” between exposure to a harmful chemical or pollutant and bodily harm in humans. Critics said that kind of science does not exist, and that the requirement for specific data would effectively delay help for people exposed to harmful substances or pollutants. Discussion over the strictness of the “direct causal link” standard led to a floor amendment offered by Rep. Sam Jones (D-Mobile) to remove the word “direct”, but the amendment failed by a vote of 68-30. The bill does allow ADEM to adopt emergency rules as provided in the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act if it can prove there is immediate danger to public health, safety or welfare. But in those cases, it requires ADEM to use what the bill defines as “best available science” and the “weight of scientific evidence.” That could include collecting specific data at sites.

Rep. Stubbs was questioned for two hours on the bill before a cloture motion was made to shut off debate, which prevailed by a vote of 72-30. The bill then passed the House by a vote largely along party lines. Governor Ivey promptly signed the bill into law on Thursday morning.

Other Notable Legislation
Several high-profile bills passed through their respective chamber of origin this week, including:

• Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act – HB381 by Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook). This legislation would require overnight camps to obtain an emergency preparedness license from the Alabama Department of Emergency Management (ADEM). Currently, there are no state-specific requirements for overnight camps beyond food inspection. New guidelines for emergency planning, communications equipment, and staff background checks are all provided for in the bill. HB381 passed the House 101-0 with bipartisan support and is expected to be favorably considered by the Senate in the coming weeks.

• Religious Instruction Time – SB248 by Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville). This legislation would allow students to earn elective credit for participation in religious “released time” programs – which must take place off school property and cannot be entered into without parental consent. This issue has been fiercely debated in recent legislative sessions. SB248 passed 29-0 and has received strong public support from Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth (R). As of this writing, it remains to be seen if local school superintendents and school boards will continue to advocate for changes to the bill in the House.

Bills of Interest to the Concrete Industry
SB 304 by Senator by Senator Greg Albritton would allow general contractors and subcontractors to deduct gross revenue for a business license calculation in their domicile city if the gross revenue was also used to calculate a business license in a city they performed a contract. Allowing the home city to account for the gross revenue of an out-of-town project effectively forces contractors to pay twice on the same revenue. The League of Municipalities has come out in opposition to this legislation.

Senate Bill242 by Senator Lance Bell would align state law with federal regulations regarding English proficiency standards for individuals holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Senator Bell has emphasized the highway safety aspects of the bill and its reasonable penalty requirements. SB342 passed the Senator last week 34-0. One provision of the bill would require a truck driver to be proficient in English if they are pulled over by law enforcement. If the driver is not proficient, the truck could be impounded on site.

The Alabama Legislature will reconvene on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. If you have any questions on this report, please contact our office. To view a list of bills the association is tracking, click here.