House Bill 323 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Parker MooreRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

State military; awards criteria revised, new awards established, authority to present prescribed

Summary

HB323 would revise Alabama National Guard award criteria, add numerous new awards, and specify which awards the Governor or the Adjutant General may present.

What This Bill Does

The bill updates how eligibility for Governor’s and Adjutant General’s awards is determined, including allowing posthumous awards and requiring complete factual nominations with proposed citations. It creates a long list of new awards and ribbons with specific service or performance criteria, such as years of service, meritorious acts, or special duties. It also assigns presentation authority (Governor or Adjutant General), states that awards are funded by the state, and adds an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Alabama National Guard and Naval Militia members who meet revised or newly created award criteria and could receive these awards (often with posthumous eligibility) and whose eligibility would be determined under the updated rules.
• Civilians and non-Guard personnel who may qualify for certain honors (e.g., Certificate of Appreciation) or for recognition tied to Guard activities (e.g., Honor Guard, extension/career awards), as well as state officials responsible for presenting awards.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 31-2-41 to revise Governor’s awards (Governor's Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Alabama Commendation Medal) including criteria for exceptional heroism, meritorious or distinguished service, posthumous awards, and citation requirements; requires Adjutant General concurrence to present unless initiated by the Governor; awards are presented at state expense.
• Allows the Governor to present the Governor's Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, and Alabama Commendation Medal; requires complete factual nomination information and appropriate citations; cooperation from the Adjutant General is required unless the Governor initiates the award.
• Creates Adjutant General–presented awards with defined criteria and presentations (e.g., Exceptional Service Ribbon for 30 days in state active service during emergencies; Faithful Service Ribbon for six years; Special Service Ribbon for 30 days of state service; Veterans Service Medal for 21 years; and other named ribbons).
• Adds numerous specific awards (e.g., Phenix City Civil Disturbance Medal, Operation Desert Storm Ribbon, National Emergency Service Ribbon with Berlin Crisis and 9-11 Clasps, First Sergeant Service Ribbon, Honor Guard Service Ribbon, Recruiting and Lead Generation Ribbons, Basic Training Ribbon, Certificates of Appreciation and Extension) with detailed eligibility conditions, presentation by order of the Governor, and state funding.
• Includes crediting provisions for active federal service and retroactive applicability where relevant, and designates a Bronze St. Andrews Cross embellishment for certain service counts; clarifies posthumous eligibility and required nomination details.
• Effective date set for 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

Military