Alabama legislature passes key immigration and healthcare bills including SB 63 and HB 86

The Alabama House of Representatives convened on May 6, 2025, to discuss a series of legislative bills, focusing on immigration, public works, and various amendments to existing laws. The session began with a discussion on Senate Bill 53, which addresses the reporting of illegal immigration status by jail administrators to federal authorities. The bill was adopted with a vote of 88 in favor and 18 against.

Following this, Senate Bill 63 was introduced, allowing law enforcement to expedite the processing of fingerprints and DNA from detained illegal immigrants. This bill aims to reduce the backlog at federal labs, which currently takes over two years, compared to just two and a half hours at the state level. The bill passed with a vote of 76 to 7.

The House then moved on to House Bill 320, which relates to contracts for public works. The Senate's amendments were accepted unanimously, with a vote of 100 in favor and none against. This was followed by House Bill 84, concerning the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, which also passed with full support.

A significant message from the governor was presented regarding House Joint Resolution 273, which was returned without a signature but included proposed amendments to involve the executive fire chief of the Alabama Fire College. The House concurred with these amendments.

Further discussions included House Bill 52, which pertains to tax exemptions for disabled adults, and House Bill 158, which addresses cost-of-living raises for retired state employees. Both bills were passed with unanimous support.

The session also covered House Bill 163, which modifies tax credits for research and development, and House Bill 386, which merges two grocery tax reduction bills into one, allowing for a 1% reduction in grocery taxes while enabling local governments to adjust their rates as needed. This bill received overwhelming support as well.

Overall, the meeting was marked by a series of legislative advancements, with all discussed bills passing with significant majority votes, reflecting a productive session focused on improving state governance and addressing key issues affecting Alabama residents.