Senate Bill 153 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Children First Trust Fund, appropriations from for fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, use of allocation pursuant to Section 41-15B-2.2, Code of Alabama 1975 and this act, tobacco settlement revenues deposited in fund within 30 days of receipt

Summary

SB153 would appropriate funds from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2027, require tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited there, and set rules for how those funds are allocated and overseen.

What This Bill Does

SB153 allocates $36,635,222 from the Children First Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027 to specified agencies for designated child-related purposes. It requires tobacco settlement revenues to be deposited into the fund within 30 days of receipt and to be allocated quarterly once funds are available, with allocations conditioned on revenue receipts. It also transfers the portion of CFTF receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund in FY2027 and adds $43,789,530 from other tobacco settlement funds to various programs, while allowing additional conditional appropriations subject to approvals. The bill establishes investment plans, quality assurance/measurement requirements, and reporting duties to oversight bodies, with funds directed to meet evolving needs of children.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: State agencies and programs listed in Section 1(a) (e.g., Department of Human Resources, Medicaid Agency, Department of Mental Health, Department of Public Health, Department of Youth Services, Juvenile Probation Services Fund, and others) that receive specified allocations to support child-related services.
• Group 2: State finances and governance, including the transfer of funds from the Children First Trust Fund to the State General Fund, allocation and reporting processes overseen by the Director of Finance and legislative committees, and eligibility for additional tobacco-revenue appropriations for programs like Early Childhood Education, Medicaid, and debt service.

Key Provisions

• Appropriation of $36,635,222 from the Children First Trust Fund for FY2027 to named agencies for designated purposes under 41-15B-2.2.
• Deposits of tobacco settlement revenues into the Children First Trust Fund within 30 days of receipt and mandatory quarterly allocations when funds are available.
• Transfer in FY2027 of the portion of CFTF receipts currently allocated for the State Board of Education to the State General Fund.
• Additional appropriation of $43,789,530 from other tobacco settlement funds for FY2027 to specific programs (Early Childhood Education, 21st Century Debt Service, Senior Services Trust Fund, Medicaid, Medicaid Waiver).
• Conditional authorization for additional tobacco revenue appropriations based on recommendations of the Director of Finance, the chairs of the House and Senate budget committees, and Governor approval.
• Investment planning and accountability requirements, including a plan of investment with minimum quality assurance items, standard measurements, and notification to legislators 10 days before funds reach recipients.

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

Subjects

Appropriations