The 2026 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature has come to an end. Since January, our dynamic team of legal experts, policy strategists, and organizers have flooded the halls of the People’s House doing the People’s Work of advancing and protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of all Alabamians.
Over our 61-year history, the ACLU of Alabama has continued to work with lawmakers, community leaders, and coalition partners to ensure that the communities that we serve are educated on the bills that we believe in—and this session was no different. This session we focused on defending the right to vote, fighting for criminal legal reform, protecting First Amendment Rights, and ensuring maternal health and reproductive justice.
Our Big Wins
This session, we secured meaningful wins across many of our key issue areas—namely voting rights and criminal legal reform. HB86 updates parole consideration to include an inmate’s employment status and education gained while incarcerated. SB240 would allow a person who is incarcerated to attend their parole hearing virtually. These bills and others like them—namely SB254—are proof that, while Alabama’s prison system is still in need of major repair, there are advances being made to make the parole process more equitable and transparent. These legislative wins did not happen in isolation; they are the direct result of sustained advocacy from lawmakers, partners, and Alabamians who remain committed to parole reform through our Smart Justice programs, lobby days, and continued public pressure.
We also saw bills introduced that attempted to expand and support the rights of Alabamians. Bills like HB14, a ballot initiative bill that would allow citizens to propose general laws and amendments, and HB486, a bill that would restore the voting rights of convicted felons, ensure no-excuse absentee voting, allow pre-Election Day voting, and create an Alabama Voting Rights Commission. HB486 passed out of committee for the first time since its original filing in 2024. This session made it abundantly clear that our communities want to see better access to the polls for 2026 and beyond.
Bad Bills We Fought Against
Unfortunately, much of this session has required a strong defensive posture. Coalition advocacy and lobby days have been a critical part of our strategy. In partnership with Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice and URGE, we rallied with organizers and trained directly impacted individuals to push back on harmful bills like HB13 and SB209. HB13 would have allowed local law enforcement to detain, investigate, and transport individuals suspected of being undocumented, effectively deputizing state and local officers as immigration agents. The continued efforts of immigration advocates led to the defeat of this legislation. We celebrate this victory and remain diligent to our commitment to building a safer Alabama for all.
The passage of SB209 is a troubling step backward for both reproductive freedom and honest, comprehensive education in Alabama. By restricting what young people can learn about their bodies, relationships, and health, this bill prioritizes ideology over information—leaving students without the tools they need to make informed decisions. It reinforces barriers to reproductive autonomy while silencing critical conversations that belong in our classrooms and communities. But let’s be clear: this moment does not define the future—it sharpens our resolve. This bill doesn’t end the fight for reproductive justice in Alabama; it deepens it.
How You Showed Up
From our Werk the Lege Community Teach-In to the Voting Rights Advocacy Day, you reminded us that we are not fighting alone. As we continue in this work, we encourage each of you to stay informed and stay engaged—keep showing up, keep speaking out, and keep demanding better from people in power. Pay attention to how your lawmakers voted this session, uplift and champion those who fought for fair and just policies, and hold accountable those who did not. Most importantly, take this energy to the polls in this year’s midterm elections—because real change doesn’t just happen in the State House; it starts with us. We will keep fighting for a better and safer Alabama—and we need you to fight with us.
The ACLU of Alabama holds sacred our clarion call to be freedom’s watchdog. The work that we do each day is a direct reflection of our organization’s North Star—an unwavering commitment to equity and justice for all Alabamians. This session, each of you proved that you all share that commitment. Thank you, Alabama, for refusing to be silenced. You showed up and made your voices heard and your presence known. May your resilience and dedication community continue to undergird you in the work. The fight is not over, but we are never fighting alone.
