The Legislature’s 2026 regular session is well underway, and Alabama Arise is hard at work monitoring bills and advocating for better policy for the working people of Alabama. Below is an overview of some of that legislation and information about how Arise is working to build a better, more inclusive future for our state.

For a closer look at some of the major issues we’re tracking related to worker power, check out my colleague Dev Wakeley’s new fact sheet and be sure to share it around. And don’t forget to register for Alabama Arise Action’s Legislative Day on Feb. 24. Arise members and allies from across the state will gather at the State House in Montgomery that day to promote our agenda for a better Alabama for all. Space is limited, so please register by Feb. 12.

Icy weather may have slowed things down a bit in the early days of the legislative session, but we still have seen the introduction of numerous bills that are concerning for working folks. Some lawmakers are doubling down on a broken criminal justice system, attacks on food assistance and health coverage, and harmful proposals targeting our immigrant brothers and sisters. We are also seeing more proposed tax breaks for industry, even as our state continues to tax food and other necessities for families.

Bills of concern

We have seen multiple bills that would expand tax breaks for the poultry industry. Another industry-specific tax break proposal is HB 185 by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville. This bill would exempt certain general aviation aircraft and any machinery or equipment installed on these aircraft from ad valorem taxes. The fiscal note anticipates HB 185 would cost Alabama more than $11 million. For reference, it would only cost $14.3 million to provide no-cost school breakfast to every child in Alabama public schools.

The Alabama Rivers Alliance, Energy Alabama and other partners have been fighting HB 162 by Rep. Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, and SB 71 by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva. These bills would weaken the state's ability to implement the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act and protect workers and communities from toxic chemicals.

Another troubling proposal appears in HB 392 by Rep. Chip Brown, R-Mobile, and SB 268 by Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro. These bills would transform the Public Service Commission from a board elected by the public to one appointed by the governor and Legislature. This proposal is raising concerns among numerous Arise member groups and allies, and the House bill will be up for a committee vote on Tuesday.

HB 169 by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, and SB 27 by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Josephine, would restructure the Department of Archives’ board of trustees. This legislation has raised concerns among historians, academics and community members about potential impacts on the preservation and discussion of history related to movements for racial justice and workers’ rights, among other issues. SB 137 by Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, would establish a state Resilience Council to help prepare for and respond to disasters. If the bill becomes law, it is critical that working people be represented on this council.

Legislation to increase accountability for companies receiving tax incentives

The news isn’t all bad. Lawmakers also have filed many bills aimed at helping working folks.

Rep. Neil Rafferty, D-Birmingham, has filed two good bills related to worker power. The first is HB 346, which is the so-called clawback bill that you may have heard us talk about for the last couple years. This legislation would allow Alabama to claw back tax incentives from companies that violate child labor or human trafficking laws. Considering how few strings typically are attached to these incentive deals, this bill would be a critical step in the right direction. HB 346 is in the House State Government Committee.

Another good bill by Rafferty is HB 352, which is in the same committee. This bill would require any company receiving an economic tax incentive under the Alabama Jobs Act to guarantee numerous important worker protections. These companies would have to certify they do not require overtime or weekend work, do not practice shift rotation and do not require off-the-clock work. The companies also would have to confirm they guarantee a full work week, provide emergency leave and do not count the time an employee spends transitioning to or from a bathroom or breakroom to count toward the employee’s allotted break time.

Opportunities to improve workers’ rights and working conditions

Health equity and workers’ rights intersect with HB 290 by Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham. This bill would ensure employers are required to provide a location and break time for employees to express breast milk, building on important federal legislation passed a few years ago. HB 290 has received House committee approval and awaits a vote on the House floor.

Several other bills also caught my eye:

HB 14 by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Madison, would establish a process for citizen ballot initiatives, which have been an important avenue for advancing pro-worker policies in other states.
Public school employees may be interested in HB 62 by Rep. Ontario Tillman, D-Birmingham, which would allow for twice-a-month pay. (Public education workers are now paid monthly.)
Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Pleasant Grove, is sponsoring HB 21, the Parental Right to Participate in Schools Act. This bill would permit employees who are parents or guardians to take time off work to attend their children’s school-related activities.

A chance to increase the minimum wage

Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, has filed SB 171, alongside several Democratic co-sponsors. This bill would establish a state minimum wage, which Alabama does not have. SB 171 would set the minimum at $10 per hour starting on Jan. 1, 2027, with exemptions for businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

With no state minimum wage law, Alabama relies on the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 and $2.13 an hour for tipped employees since 2009. It’s been nearly 17 years since Congress raised the federal minimum wage. While many states and cities across the country have raised their minimum wages steadily since then, the only related action we’ve seen in Alabama was the Legislature preempting cities from raising it, in response to Birmingham’s efforts to increase the city’s minimum wage in 2016.

What you can do to help

I’m very grateful for my colleagues at Alabama Arise working on health equity, hunger relief, inclusive democracy, justice reform, tax reform and the budgets. You can follow our bills of interest to see exactly which bills Arise is monitoring and actively lobbying for or against. Make sure your membership is up to date so you can receive the full weekly legislative updates from our team, as well as timely action alerts on bills where we need your voice. You can join with a donation of any amount – or if you can’t afford to make a gift right now, you ask about joining for free through our gift membership program.

Be sure to stay in touch with your representative and senator. They hear from a lot of special interest groups, so it’s important they hear from everyday people as well. Please consider participating in Arise’s Legislative Day in Montgomery later this month. And if you can’t be there in person, please do what you can by contacting your lawmakers and educating your friends, neighbors and coworkers.

For more worker power updates, please note your interest here. Thank you for your support of Arise.

Solidarity forever,

Adam Keller

Worker Power Campaign director, Alabama Arise

P.S. Curious about how else Alabama lawmakers could increase worker power? Check out the Economic Policy Institute’s great resource on state solutions to protect workers!