SB8 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Feb 17, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald H. AllenSenator
Republican
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Title: Emergency Management Agency; authorization to use public funds for educational materials for the public
Summary: SB8 would authorize the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to spend public funds on promotional and educational materials to raise public awareness of emergency preparedness, update the agency’s governing language, and set the director’s role with an effective date of October 1, 2026.
What This Bill Does
The bill allows the Emergency Management Agency to purchase promotional and educational materials from public funds to educate the public about emergency preparedness and the agency’s work. It also makes non-substantive, technical revisions to update the code language and remove duplicative text. It clarifies staffing and funding provisions, including the director’s full-time status, authority to hire necessary personnel under the Merit System Act, and limits on state compensation for certain emergency-management personnel and for personnel employed by local emergency management organizations.

Who It Affects
Emergency Management Agency and its Director and staff, who gain authority to spend funds on educational materials and hire personnel as part of emergency management work
The general public benefits from expanded educational materials, while local emergency management personnel and certain EM roles may have compensation limitations under state funding

Key Provisions
Authorization to purchase promotional and educational materials from appropriated funds to promote EMA functions and educate the public on emergency preparedness
Updates to the emergency management code: deletion of duplicative language and non-substantive technical revisions; director to be a full-time position appointed by the Governor; staffing and funding provisions; and an effective date of 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: Public Safety & Emergencies