Current Bills

THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION 

The 2026 Alabama legislative session began on January 13, and it’s the final year before our legislators head into reelection mode. That means they will try to move fast and not make any waves so they can start campaigning since Alabama law bars campaigning during session. ARA staff and our partners are in Montgomery each week and are actively tracking any and all bills that affect clean water and a healthy community. 

ARA STRONGLY OPPOSES

HB 392 / SB 268

HB 392 and SB 268 would take the power to select the Alabama Public Service Commission out of voters’ hands and put it into the hands of the Governor and legislative leaders. This has been marketed as a way to protect the PSC from political influence, but nothing could be further from the truth. As it stands, regulated utilities cannot contribute to Public Service Commission campaigns. If this bill passes, legislators who receive donations from regulated utilities will be the ones making the choices about who sets utility rates, not Alabama’s voters. 

SB 360

Like SB 268, this is an attempt to change how the Alabama Public Service Commission is selected and conducts its business. Unfortunately, this law would also give virtually unlimited power to set the Public Service Commission’s agenda to a new cabinet position, the “Secretary of Energy.” Just like SB 268, this concentrates more power over energy policy in fewer people, and takes power away from Alabamians.

SB 354 / HB 617

This bill would create a one-year moratorium on most utility-scale solar projects in Alabama. Singling out a specific energy source without a comprehensive and robust solution to Alabama’s energy future is nonsensical. Deciding where to build electrical infrastructure and generation, whether that’s wind, solar, or other forms of power, is a process that requires a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. A one-year, statewide moratorium on a single form of electricity generation won’t help our state answer these questions.

HB 475

HB 475 was originally a bill that would have required monopoly utilities to open their books and justify rate increases to the Alabama Public Service Commission, the body that regulates utilities in our state. Unfortunately, late in the session, a Senate committee substituted new language that modified these requirements, and gives power to set the Commission’s agenda to an appointed and unaccountable Secretary of Energy. This would take power away from Public Service Commissioners and Alabama voters. While we recognize the need for reform at the Public Service Commission, because of these changes, Alabama Rivers Alliance cannot support this legislation.

ARA SUPPORTS

SB 270 / HB 403 

These bills from Sen. Andrew Jones and Rep. Leigh Hulsey bring our state’s tax abatement (or “forgiveness”) policies for data centers in line with other industrial tax abatement incentives. This is a good first step to ensuring that data centers pay their fair share of property taxes, just like any other development. ARA believes that hyperscale data centers deserve increased scrutiny and lower levels of tax abatement due to their short-lived nature, and their massive consumption of water and power.

HB 14

This bill would allow Alabama voters to initiate a referendum process for new laws and constitutional amendments. “Initiative petitions” are a common process in many states in the U.S., and allow voters to suggest new laws to the legislature, or to place a proposal for new laws or constitutional amendments on a statewide ballot. Initiative petitions in other states have allowed voters to vote on proposals that would expand voting rights, limit political campaign spending, protect water customers from billing overages, and allocate tax dollars to natural resource conservation.

HB 319

Sponsored by Rep. Randy Wood, this bill would lower the amount of lead allowable in pipes, fittings, joints, and liners from 8% to .25%, bringing Alabama’s Lead Ban Act in line with the new federal Lead & Copper Rule.

HB 38

Sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown, this bill would establish the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Taskforce to address and remediate the loss of seagrass beds in coastal waters. Signed by the Governor!

 

ARA IS MONITORING

HB 61

Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hammett, this bill would prohibit the sequestration of carbon dioxide and other non-hazardous materials underground. It would only apply in Covington County.

HB 69

Sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hammett, this bill would update the requirements for well-driller licensing, including continuing education and longer licensing periods.

HB 623

This legislation would create permitting requirements for utility-scale solar projects. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management would issue these permits. It would also require utility-scale solar projects to post a bond to cover the cost of decommissioning solar projects when they reach the end of their useful life. ARA is monitoring this legislation and will update our position as we learn more.

 

UNFORTUNATELY PASSED

SB 71

SB 71, the terrible bill from polluting industries that – amongst other things – takes away the state’s ability to protect Alabamians from cancer causing chemicals such as arsenic, cyanide and more, is now law. Rest assured this is not the end of this fight for our rivers. We are already in conversation with partners about how we continue to hold our state accountable for regulating pollution in our waterways in the face of this new obstacle. While this bill is very harmful, it is not the only tool in the toolbox of our strong movement to protect Alabama’s water, air, and land.