The 2026 Alabama Regular Legislative Session ran from January 13 to April 9/10, 2026 (adjourned sine die). Several bills touched on Second Amendment/firearms issues, but most pro-2A measures had limited success. Alabama already has strong gun laws, including constitutional carry (permitless concealed carry for eligible adults since 2023).
Major Second Amendment-Related Bills
• HB 360 (Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday): Sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells (R). This would have created an annual tax exemption (last weekend in August) for firearms (shotguns, rifles, pistols, revolvers), ammunition components (cartridge cases, bullets, primer, gunpowder), silencers, holsters, hearing protection, and related hunting supplies. It passed the House (party-line vote) in late February 2026 and cleared a Senate committee on April 7, but did not receive a floor vote in the Senate before adjournment. It died.
• SB 267 (Reinstating Pistol Carry Permits): Sponsored by Sen. Bobby Singleton (D). This sought to reverse constitutional carry by requiring a permit again for carrying a pistol in a vehicle or concealed on the person, with new criminal penalties. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee but saw no further action.
Other Firearms-Related Measures
• HB 420 / Related bills: Increased penalties (to Class A felony) for shooting into occupied schools or buses. These advanced as part of public safety efforts.
• HB 612 (Covington County): Allowed the sheriff to sell abandoned/stolen/unclaimed firearms (constitutional amendment). Passed legislature and headed to ballot.
• SB 156 (Gun Violence Protective Order / Red Flag): Sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman (D). Would have allowed protective orders restricting firearm possession. Assigned to committee with no hearing reported.
• HB 450: Targeted local restrictions or enforcement in certain cities (Birmingham, Montgomery, Huntsville). Limited progress.
Other proposals (e.g., assault weapon restrictions like HB 206 from prior context) did not advance significantly.
Outcomes and Context
The session prioritized other issues, with Republican-led pro-2A efforts (like the tax holiday) stalling late and Democratic-backed restrictions failing to gain traction. No major expansions or rollbacks of gun rights passed. For full bill texts and history, check the official Alabama Legislature site (ALISON) or trackers like LegiScan/BillTrack50.
Voters may see related constitutional amendments on ballots (e.g., in May 2026 primaries), but none directly altered core 2A rights in 2026. Future sessions could revisit the tax holiday. For the latest, monitor ALISON or NRA-ILA/Alabama-specific trackers.
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