Friday Five: March 21, 2025
Alabama’s legislative session is underway, and the trail ahead is full of decisions that will shape the state’s future.
Each week, our #FridayFive maps out the key developments from the State House. We’ll track legislation that is gaining momentum, facing obstacles or coming to a halt. Stay informed as we break down what’s moving, what’s stalled and what it all means for Alabama.
For the full picture, explore our 2025 Alabama Legislative Guide and get ahead of the twists and turns this session.
THIS WEEK’S FRIDAY FIVE
-
The Alabama House advanced two major tax relief efforts this week with broad bipartisan support.
HB152, passed unanimously, would eliminate the state’s 4% sales tax on diapers, baby formula and menstrual products, saving taxpayers an estimated $13 million annually. The exemption would take effect September 1, 2025, and sunset in 2028.
The move came just days after lawmakers passed a four-bill, $192 million tax cut package, which includes a further reduction in the grocery tax from 3% to 2%, new income tax exemptions for retirees and increased deductions for low- to middle-income earners.
This year’s grocery tax cut builds on the unanimous passage of HB479 in 2023, which laid the groundwork to reduce the tax rate from 4% to 2% by 2026. Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville), who chairs the House Education Budget Committee, said the cut was sustainable and would not impact the Education Trust Fund.
While some lawmakers raised concerns about continued revenue loss, supporters cited the state’s strong reserves and budget growth. Both efforts now move to the Senate for consideration.
Read More: $192M tax cut package sails through Alabama House; likely spells end to overtime tax cut (Alabama Daily News); Alabama House votes to eliminate state sales tax on essential items (Alabama Political Reporter)
-
SB116, which bans Glock switches, is now law. Signed by Gov. Kay Ivey this week, the measure makes it a Class C felony under Alabama law to possess or sell a device that converts a handgun into a fully automatic weapon, carrying penalties of up to 10 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
While already banned under federal law, supporters said a state-level statute was needed to give local law enforcement clear authority to act. The bill gained urgency after a mass shooting in Birmingham last fall and was a centerpiece of Ivey’s Safe Alabama package, earning bipartisan support in both chambers.
SB116 is now the first firearm restriction to pass the Alabama House in over a decade.
Read More: Gov. Kay Ivey signs ‘Glock switch’ ban into law (Alabama Reflector)
-
SB199, a bipartisan bill to provide paid parental leave for Alabama’s state and education employees, has passed both chambers and is headed to Gov. Ivey, who has confirmed she will sign it.
The bill allows eight weeks of paid leave for mothers following a birth, stillbirth or miscarriage after 12 weeks, and two weeks for fathers. Adoptive parents of children under age 3 are also eligible for eight weeks.
The legislation builds on a prior proposal that applied only to educators and fell short late last session. This year, lawmakers broadened the scope, restored key provisions and advanced the bill with near-unanimous support — a coordinated effort to deliver meaningful support for working families.
Supporters say the measure will ease pressure on sick leave, improve workforce stability and give parents the time they need during life’s most important transitions.
Read More: Gov. Kay Ivey says she will sign parental leave bill for state employees, educators (Alabama Reflector)
-
The Alabama Senate has passed SB252, a bill aimed at protecting independent pharmacies from below-cost reimbursement rates set by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) — third-party companies that negotiate drug prices on behalf of insurers. The bill would prevent PBMs from paying pharmacies less than what Alabama Medicaid reimburses, including a $10.64 dispensing fee per prescription.
Supporters say the legislation responds to a wave of pharmacy closures, particularly in rural areas with limited access to care. More than 50 independent pharmacies have shut down in Alabama over the past two years. Opponents, including the Business Council of Alabama, argue the policy could raise costs for employers and consumers if PBMs pass on the additional expense.
The bill now moves to the House, with an effective date of Oct. 1, 2025, if passed and signed into law by Gov. Ivey. Unless extended, the measure would sunset in 2027.
The Senate also passed a resolution calling for a comprehensive study of PBM practices, including how they interact with drug manufacturers and insurers and how those relationships affect drug prices and patient access. If approved by the House and signed by Gov. Ivey, the state would hire a consultant to deliver a report by the end of the year.
This builds on previous efforts to increase PBM oversight. In 2021, lawmakers passed reporting and transparency requirements, also led by Sen. Tom Butler (R-Huntsville), a retired pharmacist who is sponsoring the current study resolution. A similar review of Alabama’s ethics laws was completed through the same process last year.
Read More: Pharmacy reimbursement bill passes Senate (Alabama Daily News)
-
After initially failing in a tie vote, SB156, known as the Second Chance Bill, was reconsidered and passed by the Alabama Senate this week. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.
The bill would establish a petition process for individuals sentenced to life without parole for nonviolent offenses under Alabama’s 1977 Habitual Felony Offender Act. Although sentencing reforms in 2000 gave judges more discretion, an estimated 150 to 200 people sentenced before those changes remain behind bars.
Eligible individuals could petition for resentencing, with victims and prosecutors notified and able to participate in the hearing.
Gov. Ivey, who voiced support for the bill in her State of the State address, called it a “commonsense reform [to] help us focus our taxpayer dollars on the most pressing public safety needs.” The bill does not guarantee release but creates a limited path for review, aimed at easing prison overcrowding while maintaining public safety.
Read More: Alabama Senate passes Second Chance bill (Alabama Political Reporter)
OUR PUBLISHED BY PERITUS TAKEAWAY
The session moves fast, and the path isn’t always clear. Some bills will race ahead, others will hit rough terrain and a few may never leave the trailhead.
That’s why Peritus PR is here with Friday Five—to help you stay oriented as the session unfolds. We’ll mark the milestones, flag the detours and keep an eye on what’s coming next.
Follow along on our socials and check back here every Friday to stay on course. Double-knot your laces—this session won’t wait for stragglers.
At Peritus Public Relations, we know you want to make an impact. To do that you need confidence and clarity to take action. Tell us what’s keeping you up at night and stop letting fear of a misstep get in the way of driving your mission forward. We believe you deserve to get it right. For over a decade, organizations like yours have trusted us to navigate the best path forward.
Peritus specializes in issue advocacy, stakeholder engagement, government affairs and strategic consulting. Let’s connect if you want to learn more about how state policy affects your mission and bottom line.
Check out the 2025 Peritus PR Alabama Legislative Guide here.