The Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation on Tuesday that gives pregnant women presumptive eligibility for Medicaid. SB 102, sponsored by Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, is the companion bill for HB 89, sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville. Lands’ bill passed the House unanimously in February. The Alabama Reflector reports the legislation would allow pregnant women in Medicaid to receive health care coverage for up to 60 days before their formal application for the program. The legislation also says care received during the presumptive period cannot be retroactively denied. It goes to Gov. Kay Ivey to be signed into law.
Bills that would change Alabama’s sex education standards and restrict certain LGBTQ topics in the classroom are advancing in the state legislature once again. AL.com reports House and Senate committees approved Senate Bill 277, an abstinence-only sex ed bill, and House Bill 244, which aims to expand Alabama’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, after public hearings this month. They will head to their respective chambers for a full vote. Alabama already emphasizes abstinence in sex ed classes, but the new legislation would clarify what educators are allowed to talk about and outlaw any discussion of how students can obtain abortion services.
An Alabama Senate committee approved a nearly $10 billion education budget for 2026. The main budget bill would increase the education budget for the fiscal year 2026 by 5.81%, to $9.89 billion. The Alabama Reflector reports the budget includes $9.6 million to fund a new parental leave law for state and education employees, as well as $15.6 million for an injury compensation program for education employees. The budget also appropriates $2.5 million for a pilot project to provide mental health counseling via phone or video in schools and increased funding for prison education by $3.7 million.
Alabama is one of seven states that have until May 1 to file federal taxes. The IRS announced in October federal disaster tax relief for all individuals and businesses affected by Hurricane Helene. AL.com reports this includes the entire states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. According to a news release from the IRS, parts of Florida, Tennessee and Virginia are also included in the postponement period until May 1.
Students and parents will pay higher prices to attend a University of Alabama System school for the 2025-2026 academic year. Both in-state and out-of-state students at all three campuses can expect a tuition increase between 2.67% and 3.5%. The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees voted in favor of these tuition price increases after recommendation by the Finance Committee. WHNT TV reports UAH will have the largest percent change at 3.04%, or a semester tuition increase of $158. UAB will have the largest semester dollar increase of $165.
Members of Huntsville’s homeless population are expected to return to the camp on Derrick Street within the next few weeks. The camp has been shut down since it was damaged by a fire last September. The residents were moved to an adjacent site across from Glenwood Cemetery. Community Development Director Scott Erwin tells AL.com the city conducted listening sessions with the unsheltered population where the top concerns were safety and security around the camp. He says the renovated Derrick Street camp will provide a safe and secure location for the unsheltered to reside while they move toward a more permanent housing solution.
The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber, the Alabama Community College System, and other community agencies will host the next ReLaunch Job Fair Tuesday, April 15 at First Baptist Church of Huntsville. The ReLaunch Job Fair provides opportunities for individuals who are changing careers, unemployed, underemployed, have dropped out of high school, or are in need of a second career chance. More information is at www.hsvchamber.org.