House Bill 280 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Rural health care; Alabama Health Command established to designate an AI-assisted health platform in rural communities

Summary

HB280 would create the Alabama Health Command to designate and oversee a statewide avatar-based AI health platform that provides rural residents with virtual health services, with privacy protections and bid-law exemptions for participating providers.

What This Bill Does

The bill would establish the Alabama Health Command as an independent agency led by a Governor-appointed director to oversee a uniform avatar-based AI platform. It would designate a state-based business to develop this platform, enabling virtual encounters, health management services, wellness education, and follow-up for rural residents. The command would set privacy and safety standards, ensure the platform does not diagnose or treat medical conditions, and include guardrails against misinformation. Rural hospitals, clinics, and state health institutions contracting to use the platform would be exempt from competitive bid laws. The act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Rural residents in Alabama, who would gain access to virtual health services, education, and follow-up without traveling to distant facilities.
• Rural hospitals, clinics, and other rural health care providers (and state health institutions that contract to use the platform), who would be exempt from certain competitive bidding requirements when adopting the platform.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Health Command as an independent agency directed by a Governor-appointed director to administer the program.
• Designates a state-headquartered business to develop a uniform, interoperable avatar-based virtual health platform for rural communities.
• Defines Avatar-Based Virtual Encounter System and Health Management Services, including education, navigation, scheduling, and telehealth-related features, while prohibiting AI from diagnosing or treating medical conditions.
• Establishes standards for patent/licensing rights, data sharing and interoperability, privacy protections, and guardrails to prevent misinformation and inappropriate medical practice; requires algorithm transparency where applicable.
• Exempts rural health care providers and state health institutions contracting to use the platform from certain competitive bid laws.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health