SB198 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Sam GivhanSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: National Guard; legal services office and legal assistance program created
Summary: SB198 creates the Alabama National Guard Legal Services Office and the Alabama National Guard Legal Assistance Program to provide free legal help to Guard members and their families, and lets judge advocates and paralegals perform notary acts under certain conditions.
What This Bill Does
The bill adds two chapters to Title 31 to establish the Legal Services Office and the Legal Assistance Program for the Alabama National Guard and State Military Department. It sets up the office structure, supervision, duties, policy guidance, training, and resources, with state staff judge advocates directing legal services and coordinating with the Office of General Counsel. It authorizes judge advocates and paralegals to perform notary acts in specified circumstances, including when not on duty, and allows reimbursement of notary costs with no client fees. It provides for a no-cost legal services program for eligible clients (Guard members, retirees, and dependents) and requires preventive law, training, manuals, and coordination with bar associations and other agencies.

Who It Affects
Alabama National Guard members, retirees, employees, and their dependents who would receive free legal assistance on a wide range of matters and preventive legal services.
Judge advocates, paralegals, and other legal staff in the Alabama National Guard and the State Military Department who would operate the new Legal Services Office and Legal Assistance Program, and who would have authority to perform notary acts under the bill.

Key Provisions
Creates the Alabama National Guard Legal Services Office as a joint office shared by the Army and Air National Guard, with state staff judge advocates.
Creates the Alabama National Guard Legal Assistance Program to help eligible clients with personal legal affairs at no cost, modeled after Army Regulation 27-3, Air Force Instruction 51-304, and Air National Guard Instruction 51-504.
authorizes judge advocates and paralegals to perform notary acts under specified federal law (10 U.S.C. 1044a) and allows reimbursement of notary commissions or related costs with approval; no fees may be charged for notary services.
Defines detailed governance and staffing roles (General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, associate general counsels, and various mission-specific counsels) and requires supervision, training, and professional standards.
Requires provision of legal services across multiple areas (military justice, administrative and civil law, contract and fiscal law, environmental and labor law, etc.), plus management of legal research resources and office procedures.
Stipulates logistical support requirements (private workspace, secure records, IT resources, staff, training, and continuing education) and authorizes creation and maintenance of legal assistance manuals and training programs.
Establishes preventive law activities (publications, website presence, outreach, and coordination with agencies and bar associations) to educate eligible clients and reduce legal problems.
Sets eligibility, scope, and limitations (eligible clients include Guard members, retirees, dependents; services provided at no cost to clients; emergencies and resource constraints may lead to limits).
Provides that federal regulations control when Guard personnel are in federal service, with state law prevailing otherwise, and requires compliance with Army and Air Force regulations in appropriate contexts.
Effective date is October 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Military