Hearing
House Insurance Hearing
Room 617 at 10:30:00
SB170 Alabama 2026 Session
Updated Apr 6, 2026
Notable
Summary
- Primary Sponsor
Dan RobertsSenatorRepublican- Session
- 2026 Regular Session
- Title
- Health insurance, safe harbor created
- Summary
Alabama SB170 creates a state safe harbor to protect Health Savings Account qualified HDHPs from state cost-sharing rules that could disqualify them under federal law.
What This Bill DoesIt adds a new Health Savings Account State-Federal Regulatory Coordination Act as Article 5 to Chapter 19, Title 27, to preserve the effectiveness of HSA-qualified plans by exempting them from certain state cost-sharing mandates or copay rules that could affect HDHP status. If applying a state cost-sharing rule would make an HSA plan no longer qualify as an HDHP under federal law, that cost-sharing would only take effect after the federal minimum deductible is met. The Alabama Insurance Commissioner may adopt implementing rules, and the act updates related sections to reference the new article and address self-funded plans and HMOs.
Who It Affects- Enrollees in Health Savings Account–qualified HDHPs in Alabama, whose HSA status is protected from state rules that would jeopardize qualification
- Insurers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and plan sponsors administering health benefit plans in Alabama, who must align with the safe harbor and may implement rules to carry it out (including self-funded plans)
Key ProvisionsAI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 31, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.- Creates Article 5: Health Savings Account State-Federal Regulatory Coordination Act
- Defines terms: enrollee, HSA-qualified plan, HDHP, preventive care, zero-cost-sharing
- Implements safe harbor: state cost-sharing rules that would jeopardize HSA qualification’re applied only after minimum federal deductible
- Allows Commissioner to adopt rules to implement the article
- Amends Sections 10A-20-6.16 and 27-21A-23 to reference Article 5 and clarify applicability to self-funded plans and HMOs
- Effective June 1, 2026
- Subjects
- Insurance
Bill Actions
S
Enacted
S
Enacted
S
Delivered to Governor
H
Signature Requested
S
Enrolled
S
Ready to Enroll
S
Roberts Concur in and Adopt- Adopted Roll Call 801
H
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 860
H
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 859 RBRKINM-1
H
Insurance Engrossed Substitute Offered RBRKINM-1
H
Third Reading in Second House
H
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
H
Reported Out of Committee Second House from House Insurance RBRKINM-1
H
Pending House Insurance
H
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Insurance
S
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 430
S
Third Reading in House of Origin
S
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
S
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
S
Pending Senate Banking and Insurance
S
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance
Calendar
Hearing
Senate Banking and Insurance Hearing
Committee Room 320 at 09:30:00
Bill Text
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Votes
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Roll Call 430
Yes
34
Absent
1
Third Reading in House of Origin
Yes
34
Absent
1
SBIR: Passed by House of Origin
Yes
34
Absent
1
Roberts Concur in and Adopt- Roll Call 801
Yes
29
Abstained
1
Absent
5
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Roll Call 860
Yes
105
Motion to Adopt - Roll Call 859 RBRKINM-1
Yes
101
Absent
4
Third Reading in Second House
Yes
104
Absent
1
HBIR: Passed by Second House
Yes
104
Absent
1
Documents
Bill Text (Enrolled)
SB170 Alabama 2026 Session - Enrolled
Bill Text (Introduced)
SB170 Alabama 2026 Session - Introduced
Amendment
House Insurance Reported Out of Committee Second House
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note - Introduced
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note - Passed First Chamber
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note - Reported by Second Chamber Committee
Source: Alabama Legislature