Alabama's legislative session kicked off energetically, with lawmakers adopting 15 bills in the first week and filing hundreds more, according to ABC3340. Key measures include HB50 establishing the Imagination Library of Alabama for free books to young children, HB95 mandating post-election audits, and SB19 expanding no-cost prostate cancer screenings, sponsored by senators like Arthur Orr. Governor Kay Ivey, in her final State of the State address, touted economic momentum, highlighting thriving legacy industries and new giants like Lilly Medicine and Space Command headquarters in Huntsville, as detailed in her official remarks.

Business buzzes with innovation, as a Canadian blockchain firm builds a data center in Shelby County and HudsonAlpha boosts agtech in the Wiregrass, per Business Alabama Magazine. Governor Ivey emphasized Rebuild Alabama's $2 billion for 500 road and bridge projects statewide, lifting broadband rankings to 24th nationally with full coverage in sight, reports Calhoun Journal. Education shines brighter, with math and reading gains, pre-K expansion, and a record college readiness rate; Ivey proposed the largest-ever Education Trust Fund budget, including 2% teacher raises and more CHOOSE Act funding, confirmed by her executive order joining the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program starting 2027.

Public safety advances via bills like SB114 easing out-of-state felony arrests, while Innovate Alabama scales grants to 86 firms, fostering jobs and $1 billion in startup value. No major weather disruptions hit recently.

Looking Ahead: Watch for commission extensions, teacher pay votes, and Innovate Alabama's 2026 push on small businesses and talent retention. Alabama Public Television's PBS ties face review next week.

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Alabama's 2026 legislative session kicked off with momentum as lawmakers adopted 15 bills in the first week, including HB50 to fund Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for young children and HB95 mandating post-election audits, according to ABC3340. The Senate unanimously passed SB12 repealing a controversial 2025 annexation law for a Smith Lake resort, addressing local concerns over expansion in a dry county, as reported by Maynard Nexsen. Governor Kay Ivey, in her final State of the State address, touted $69 billion in investments creating over 100,000 jobs, robust education gains like doubled specialty schools, and Rebuild Alabama's $2 billion for 500 road and bridge projects statewide, per her office and Calhoun Journal.

Economically, Eli Lilly plans to break ground this year on a $6 billion pharmaceutical plant in Huntsville, part of a $27 billion U.S. expansion, Manufacturing Dive reports. In Hoover, an $11.75 million federal grant supports Broad Metro's Stadium Trace Village Phase 2, promising 300 construction jobs and 200 permanent ones on reclaimed mine land, alongside Signature Homes' parkway extension creating over 1,600 jobs total, according to the Alabama Department of Workforce. Governor Ivey proposed teacher pay raises and the largest-ever Education Trust Fund budget, with HB235 introducing supplemental funds for reading programs and career tech.

Community efforts shine too: a Saturn 1B rocket replica nears installation at the I-65 welcome center after $7 million in state funding, WBHM headlines note. Alabama Public Television commissioners will discuss PBS ties next week amid conservative pushback. No major recent weather events disrupt progress.

Looking Ahead: Watch for Governor Ivey's child sexual assault penalties bill, flood notification system, and ongoing infrastructure pushes like broadband to full coverage. Alabama Inno's 2026 Startups to Watch signal innovation ahead.

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Alabama Governor Kay Ivey declared the state of our state is strong in her final State of the State address this week, highlighting record economic growth with sixty-nine billion dollars in investments creating one hundred thousand jobs since 2017, according to ABC3340. She pointed to major projects like U.S. Space Command in Huntsville, Meta and Novelis expansions, and an eleven million dollar federal grant for Hoovers Stadium Trace Village, expected to add over three hundred construction jobs and two hundred permanent positions, as reported by the Alabama Department of Labor.

The 2026 legislative session began Tuesday, focusing on balanced budgets, rural development through the Rural Roadmap Initiative, and education reforms amid an election year, per Alabama Realtors. Ivey proposed the largest Education Trust Fund ever, with two percent pay raises for teachers and state employees, expanded CHOOSE Act school choice funding to two hundred fifty million dollars, and protections for student athletes, drawing praise from the Alabama Policy Institute. Public safety priorities include tougher penalties for child sex crimes, more state troopers, and school safety investments.

Infrastructure advances continue via the Rebuild Alabama Act, funding over two billion dollars in road and bridge projects across all sixty-seven counties, alongside broadband progress ranking Alabama twenty-fourth nationally. Community developments abound, with twenty-one projects like UABs Biomedical Building in Birmingham, a new multi-purpose stadium in Florence, and Mobiles International Airport eyed for 2026 completion, according to The Bama Buzz. An eleven million dollar grant also supports water and sewer upgrades in places like Carbon Hill and Sumiton.

A brief severe weather event struck early this month, with thunderstorms bringing wind gusts up to sixty miles per hour, heavy rain of two to four inches, and an EF-zero tornado in Cleburne County on January tenth, as detailed by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency and National Weather Service.

Looking Ahead, watch for budget debates, AHSAA reforms, rural health funding, and the new Alabama State House opening in fall as lawmakers wrap the session before May primaries.

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Alabama's 2026 legislative session kicks off today in Montgomery, marking the final one for Governor Kay Ivey ahead of her term's end and fall elections. According to Alabama Daily News, lawmakers face a healthy budget outlook, with State Superintendent Eric Mackey noting improvements in education metrics. WBHM reports optimism for teacher pay raises and subsidies for rising insurance costs, alongside pushes for career-technical education in middle grades. Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, aim to revive overtime wage tax cuts, while Republicans eye reforms to the High School Athletic Association and West Alabama Corridor funding. Meanwhile, State Representative Debbie Wood plans to resign her seat by month's end, per Alabama Daily News, and Steve Flowers highlights brewing 2026 races.

Economically, Alabama's unemployment rate dipped to 2.7 percent in November, with weekly wages hitting record highs, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. Major developments include an $11 million federal grant for Hoover projects like Broad Metro's Stadium Trace Village, creating over 300 construction jobs and 200 permanent ones, as announced by the Alabama Department of Workforce. Jefferson County saw over $400 million in 2025 announcements, bringing 900 jobs via initiatives like the Alabama Farm Center and CMC Steel expansion, Bham Now reports, with more than $814 million in projects eyed early this year.

Communities buzz with infrastructure progress. Cullman County Schools advance expansions at Hanceville Middle, Good Hope Elementary, and a child development center, all targeting 2026 completion to meet enrollment surges, per ABC 3340. Huntsville broke ground on a $70 million Chapman Middle STEM campus, and statewide, 21 projects like UAB's biomedical building, Meta's Montgomery data center expansion, and Mobile's international airport loom large into 2026, as tracked by The Bama Buzz.

Tragically, eight-year-old Sarah Marsh from Mountain Brook perished in Texas floods, with searchers still hunting missing campers, Alabama Daily News reports. No major local weather events hit Alabama recently.

Looking Ahead: Tune in tonight for Governor Ivey's 6 p.m. State of the State address. Primaries loom May 19, and projects like Novelis' low-carbon plant in Bay Minette near completion.

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Alabama is entering 2026 with a busy political calendar, major economic developments, and visible changes in local communities. Alabama Daily News reports that State Rep. Debbie Wood plans to resign her House seat at the end of the month, opening a vacancy in east Alabama even as campaign activity accelerates for the 2026 election cycle.[5] News From The States notes that Montgomery Democrat Phillip Ensler has launched a campaign for lieutenant governor, signaling an early, competitive down-ballot race.[1]

According to Governor Kay Ivey’s office, lawmakers will return to Montgomery on January 13 for the new legislative session, with the governor set to deliver her State of the State address and highlight recent wins, including a roughly six billion dollar Eli Lilly manufacturing investment she says will “further strengthen Alabama’s future.”[6] The ACLU of Alabama says its 2026 agenda will push legislators on voting access, criminal justice reform, and maternal health, including defending early voting efforts and seeking reforms to the state’s overcrowded prisons and high death-row rate.[2] Alabama Retail Association reports that legislators are also expected to debate reforms to the Board of Pharmacy, restrictions and changes to SNAP purchases, and tighter regulation of hemp and alcohol in response to recent public safety concerns.[10]

On the economic front, the Alabama Department of Labor reports that Alabama’s unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in November, with weekly wages hitting a record high, underscoring a tight labor market heading into the new year.[13] The Department of Workforce notes an 11 million dollar federal grant for the Alabama Farm Center at Hallmark Farms in Warrior, a project expected to generate up to 850 jobs and an estimated 2.2 billion dollars in economic impact over 20 years.[11] Bham Now reports that more than 400 million dollars in new development was announced in Jefferson County in 2025, including the Alabama Farm Center, a major steel expansion, and a new national accessibility park.[15]

Community infrastructure is also changing. Business Alabama reports that Tuscaloosa has begun a 21 million dollar overhaul of University Boulevard East, adding lighting, security, pedestrian paths, and landscaping, part of a long-term recovery and reinvestment in the Alberta area after the 2011 tornado.[12] The Cullman Tribune says Cullman County Schools are advancing multiple construction projects: a new addition at Hanceville Middle School, a Child Development Center expansion, and a new Good Hope Elementary campus, all designed to relieve crowding and add storm shelters.[8] Elmore Autauga News reports that a new 483 area code will overlay the 334 region starting in 2026, requiring 10-digit dialing but preserving existing numbers.[9]

Significant weather events have not dominated the latest statewide headlines, but Alabama Daily News notes that an Alabama child was among those killed in recent deadly floods in Texas, a reminder of the region’s broader vulnerability to extreme weather.[5]

Looking ahead, Central Alabama Inc. and The Bama Buzz highlight a long list of projects scheduled to open or break ground in 2026, from a new YMCA on Alabama State University’s campus to a new Mobile International Airport terminal and a Meta AI data center in Montgomery, positioning the state for growth in logistics, tourism, and technology.[3][7]

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Alabama is beginning the new year with a mix of political maneuvering, economic momentum, and continued focus on public safety and infrastructure. Governor Kay Ivey is preparing to deliver her State of the State address to open the 2026 legislative session, highlighting major recent wins such as Eli Lilly’s roughly 6 billion dollar manufacturing investment and signaling a push to “get good work done for the people of Alabama,” according to the governor’s office.12 At the same time, the ACLU of Alabama has outlined its 2026 legislative priorities, focusing on voting rights, criminal legal reform, First Amendment protections, and maternal health and reproductive justice, including support for early voting and restoring voting rights to people who have completed their sentences, as reported by the Alabama Political Reporter and ACLU of Alabama.72

Economically, the state is riding historically strong numbers. The Alabama Department of Labor reports that the unemployment rate fell to 2.7 percent in November, with average weekly wages at a record high, underscoring a tight labor market and rising earnings for workers.6 Local economies are also seeing significant new investment. Jefferson County officials told the Birmingham Times that more than 400 million dollars in economic development projects were announced in 2025, tied to nearly 900 jobs across manufacturing, automotive, logistics, IT, and health care, with additional large-scale projects expected to be unveiled in early 2026.8

Community and education projects are reshaping several cities. Central Alabama Inc. notes that a new Pike Road High School is under construction and expected to be completed in late 2026 or early 2027, adding more than 55 classrooms and a career tech center.3 In Demopolis, the Black Belt News Network reports that the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences is rising on a 10 acre site, set to become the state’s fourth free residential specialty school and a draw for students across Alabama.4 In Montgomery, city officials highlight progress on public safety, with Mayor Steven Reed touting continued efforts to reduce violent crime and offer recruitment incentives to retain experienced officers, according to the City of Montgomery.1

Public safety and infrastructure remain closely tied to weather this week. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency warns of dense fog, heavy rain, and the potential for strong to severe storms from Friday into Saturday, with 2 to 5 inches of rain and localized flooding possible in the northern half of the state.10 ABC 33/40’s Weather Authority echoes that a slow moving front could bring heavy downpours, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes before much colder, drier air moves in by Sunday.14

Looking ahead, listeners can watch for the governor’s State of the State address, key voting rights and criminal justice bills in the upcoming session, and the rollout of major industrial and school projects that are set to shape Alabama’s economy and communities through 2026 and beyond.

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enters 2026 amid significant political transitions and economic momentum. NBC 15 reports that six of the seven Alabama Constitutional offices lack incumbents running, marking one of the largest leadership shake-ups in recent years. State Representative Terri Collins announced her retirement from the Decatur district, according to WHNT News 19. The legislature convenes January 13 for its regular session, focusing on budgets amid rising costs for prisons, Medicaid, and mental health, as noted by Alabama Daily News publisher Todd Stacy. New laws effective now include tighter hemp product regulations and the Move on When Ready program allowing high school juniors and seniors to earn dual credits, per Tuscaloosa Thread.

Economically, optimism prevails with projects like Owens Corning's asphalt shingle plant breaking ground in Prattville, creating nearly 100 jobs, and Meta's $1.5 billion AI data center launching in Montgomery by late year, according to CentrAL Inc. Demopolis sees growth from the Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences campus and Brasfield & Gorrie's West Alabama Corridor office, while Mobile advances Cooper Riverside Park rebuild and other initiatives under new leadership, as covered by The Bama Buzz. Education expansions include a new YMCA at Alabama State University, Pike Road High School construction, and Birmingham's McWane Economic Education Center.

Public safety benefits from $2.25 million in grants for law enforcement upgrades. No major recent weather events dominate headlines, though communities monitor routine Gulf Coast conditions.

Looking Ahead: Watch the legislative session for potential regulatory and ethics reforms, alongside completions like Jasper Lumber's $135 million sawmill upgrade and Mobile Arena. Federal lawmakers, including Senator Tommy Tuberville, prioritize fiscal accountability and healthcare, per Yellowhammer News.

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Alabama enters 2026 with a wave of new laws taking effect today, headlining the state's evolving regulatory landscape. According to STL.News, key changes include stricter licensing and testing for consumable hemp products under House Bill 445, managed by the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which imposes a 10 percent excise tax and aims to enhance consumer safety by limiting intoxicating cannabinoids and improving labeling. Alabama Reporter confirms this comprehensive framework restructures the hemp market, allowing sales only by licensed retailers like specialty shops and pharmacies. Additional measures mandate age verification on digital platforms to protect minors and refine tax codes for the 2026 filing year, while bolstering state agencies' enforcement powers.

In politics, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong highlighted 2025 successes, including securing Space Command's permanent home in Huntsville and over $4.2 billion for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center via the Working Families Tax Cut Act, per 256 Today. He also delivered $24.7 million in community funding for infrastructure like water treatment in Ardmore and sewer upgrades in Triana. Statewide, candidate qualifying for 2026 elections opens January 5, with races for lieutenant governor drawing contenders like Rep. Phillip Ensler, who vows to push gambling reform, as noted by GoSpinNow and a local YouTube political update.

Economically, Central Alabama Community College broke ground on a Center of Excellence for advanced manufacturing, cyber, and AI training at its Prattville Campus, aligning education with Manufacturing 4.0 demands. Environmentally, concerns persist over Alabama Power's coal ash ponds at sites like Plant Barry, which could inundate 25 square miles of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta if breached, according to WBHM.

Communities see progress too: Talladega City Schools proposes a $50 million new high school and football complex at the former Zora Ellis site, seeking city sales tax support for construction starting summer 2026, Sylacauga News reports. No major recent weather events have dominated headlines.

Looking Ahead: Watch 2026 election qualifiers, the ASCE Winter Meeting on February 26 in Mobile focusing on infrastructure, and ongoing hemp compliance adjustments.

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Alabama wraps up 2025 with key legislative wins and economic momentum amid federal funding challenges. Lawmakers banned Glock switches, devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns, following a deadly Birmingham shooting that killed four and injured seventeen, according to Alabama Public Radio. They also cut the sales tax on groceries by one percent effective September first, eliminated taxes on infant supplies and feminine hygiene products, and restricted cell phones in public schools. Governor Kay Ivey announced over 203 million dollars in federal funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program, targeting initiatives like maternal health, mental health, and rural workforce development, as reported by the Governor's office and ABC3340.

Economically, growth shines in rural and urban areas. Daleville secured a 120 thousand dollar grant for a new Roberts Grocery store, creating 15 jobs, per Wiregrass Daily News. Athens landed 300 thousand dollars for infrastructure to support a 57 thousand square foot food city project bringing 100 jobs, according to Hville Blast. Baldwin County saw expansions like Buttigs 61 million dollar manufacturing facility and Kaishan Compressors 11 million dollar upgrade, boosting jobs and logistics, as noted by Gulf Coast Media. Construction booms with University of Alabama projects topping 54 million dollars for medical facility upgrades and research centers, via The Bama Buzz, alongside Auburns technology park and school expansions.

Community efforts advance education and infrastructure. Russell County Schools builds a multiplex sports facility by summer 2026, while Auburn opens pickleball courts and plans a 400 million dollar school master plan, from Business Alabama. Public safety sees a proposed parole criteria bill from Representative Chris England. Federal SNAP cuts threaten rural grocers reliant on the program for 40 percent of revenue, warns Feeding Alabama.

No major recent weather events reported.

Looking Ahead: Alabamas 2026 legislative session begins soon with health cost debates and rural strategy rollout. Watch Foileys new fire station, public works campus, and coastal restoration grants.

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Alabama listeners are following several key developments this week across politics, the economy, and community life.

In Montgomery, Alabama Daily News reports that State Rep. Debbie Wood will resign her House seat representing parts of Lee and Chambers counties at the end of the month, setting up a forthcoming special election and reshaping the House lineup ahead of the 2026 races.[Alabama Daily News] NBC 15 in Mobile notes that Sen. Greg Albritton has pre-filed two bills for the 2026 session that would prevent cities from collecting certain sales taxes from non-residents, a move that could significantly affect municipal revenues while responding to an ongoing lawsuit over how the state distributes online sales tax, known as the Simplified Sellers Use Tax.[NBC 15]

On criminal justice, ABC 33/40 reports that new bills HB70 and HB76 would mark major death-penalty reforms.[ABC 33/40] HB70 would allow resentencing for some death-row inmates whose judges overrode jury life recommendations before judicial override was abolished in 2017, while HB76 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the death penalty statewide, subject to voter approval in 2028.[ABC 33/40]

Economically, rural and small-city investment continues to be a bright spot. According to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant to support a new Ace Hardware in Tallapoosa County, with associated road improvements aimed at boosting safety and commerce along a major highway corridor.[ADECA] Yellowhammer News reports that Bad Boy Mowers plans a $10.5 million tractor assembly plant in Monroeville, expected to produce about 9,000 tractors a year and reinforcing rural manufacturing growth.[Yellowhammer News] In Athens, city officials say a $300,000 grant approved by Gov. Ivey will support infrastructure and a 57,000‑square‑foot food distribution facility projected to bring around 100 jobs, with the city committing additional local funds.[Hville Blast]

Community and education initiatives are also advancing. The Cullman Tribune highlights that Cullman County Schools secured an $18 million grant for a new STEM academy and career center focused on workforce readiness, alongside record report-card scores for both city and county systems.[The Cullman Tribune] Business Alabama reports that Auburn City Schools have launched a 10‑year, $400 million facilities plan that includes a second high school, a new middle school, and multiple campus rebuilds, while the city of Auburn continues major investments in parks and an expanded technology park to attract industry.[Business Alabama] ABC 33/40 adds that Main Street Alabama communities such as Anniston, Calera, and Leeds are seeing dozens of new businesses, hundreds of jobs, and tens of millions of dollars in downtown public and private investment, supported by federal and state grants for historic revitalization.[ABC 33/40 Main Street report]

Weather-wise, ABC 33/40’s Weather Authority notes that Alabama is experiencing unusually warm, foggy conditions heading into the weekend, with dense fog advisories in parts of the state and only modest improvement in widespread moderate drought, as more than half of Alabama remains abnormally dry or in drought status.[ABC 33/40 Weather]

Looking Ahead, listeners will want to watch how the legislature handles proposed tax changes and death-penalty reforms, track hiring and construction timelines for new industrial and retail projects from Monroeville to Athens, and monitor evolving drought and winter weather patterns as the new year approaches.

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