Today marks the 20th meeting day and the two-thirds point of the 2026 regular legislative session, providing an opportunity to review its progress with only 10 meeting days remaining.

A total of 905 bills have been introduced, with 565 originating in the Alabama House and 340 introduced in the Senate.

As of Thursday, 383 bills have received final passage, including 94 local bills and 289 with statewide application. Of those, 229 originated in the House and 154 in the Senate.

A total of 122 bills have been sent to Gov. Kay Ivey and await her signature.

Lawmakers have also passed 271 resolutions and joint resolutions.

Major pieces of legislation already signed into law include the Child Predator Death Penalty Act, a bill limiting electronic screen time for public school students, a measure requiring app stores to help shield minors from inappropriate content, and a measure expanding the list of allowable expenses that can be covered using catastrophe savings accounts.

Because passing legislation through both chambers requires a minimum of five legislative days, the clock continues to tick for scores of bills as each meeting day passes.

Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law on Thursday a REALTOR®-supported bill by House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle (R - Mobile) that increases the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $56,400 for seniors older than 62 and individuals with disabilities if they are involved in bankruptcy or debt collection cases. 

The new law also makes other technical changes to better assist seniors and those with disabilities in keeping their primary homes during debt collection legal proceedings.

The Alabama House approved on Thursday sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle (R - Mobile) that extends the state’s existing tax credit for restoring historic properties.

Originally passed in 2013 and extended in 2021, the tax credit is set to expire in 2027 unless lawmakers take action and pass legislation to stop it from sunsetting.

House Bill 452 extends the tax credit to 2032, increases the annual limit on allowable credits, and provides additional credits to incentivize historic property rehabilitation in rural portions of Alabama.

The tax credit applies to Alabama properties that are at least 75 years old and are certified by the Alabama Historical Commission as being listed on the National Register of Historic Places, being eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, or contributing to the historic significance of a Registered Historic District.

The current law allows taxpayers to claim an Alabama income tax credit of up to 25 percent of actual expenditures directly related to the rehabilitation of a certified historic structure, but it may not be owner-occupied or used exclusively as a primary or secondary residence. Certain expenses, such as the cost of acquiring the historic structure, the personal labor of the owner, and others, are excluded from the tax credits.

Pringle’s legislation retains the current 25 percent tax credit for historic properties in urban areas, but increases the tax credit to 30 percent of allowable expenses for rehabilitating historic properties located in rural areas, which are defined as counties with populations of less than 175,000.

The bill also raises the annual statewide cap on historic rehabilitation tax credits to $25 million.

The measure now goes to the Senate for consideration.

A manufactured housing bill sponsored by newly elected State Rep. Cindy Myrex (R - Cullman), secured passage in the Alabama House on Tuesday.

House Bill 55 authorizes the Alabama Department of Revenue to issue certificates of title for manufactured homes made in 1999 or earlier upon the owner’s application. 

Myrex said the legislation is intended to bring older, previously untitled units into the current titling system and make it easier to sell and purchase such structures.

An attached fiscal note said $15 from the service fee of each application would be earmarked for the General Fund budget, and $5 would go to the Alabama Housing Foundation, a non-profit charitable foundation working to improve the quality of life for manufactured homeowners struggling with limited resources, health issues, natural disasters, or emergency situations. 

The House Judiciary Committee awarded a favorable report on Wednesday to a measure by Sen. Greg Albritton (R - Range) that sets clear time limits for actions related to real estate appraisals.

Under the provisions of Senate Bill 87, a civil action based on a real estate appraisal conducted by a licensed, certified, or registered appraiser much be filed within three years of discovery of the act or omission prompting the action.

It also limits civil actions to no more than five years after an appraisal was completed.

Likewise, complaints made against an appraiser with the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board must be filed within five years of completion of the appraisal prompting the complaint.

That bill proceeds to the full House, which will likely award final passage.

The House and Senate are scheduled to meet for three days this week rather than the traditional two, which is intended to help speed the session to its end so lawmakers with primary opposition may return to their districts and campaign.

The Legislature is expected to meet for three days again next week before legislators begin their annual week-long Spring Break recess on March 23.

Legislative leaders have indicated that the session is scheduled to end on April 8, though that target adjournment date is not set in stone.

The Education Trust Fund budget, which funds K-12 public schools, community colleges, and public universities, and the General Fund, which allocates dollars to non-education state agencies, are expected to begin moving this week with the ETF originating in the House and the GF starting in the Senate.