Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
A new year brought new laws in Alabama for 2024, with a handful that will bring noticeable changes for many residents. Thankfully, none of these seem anywhere close to making our state’s list of strange laws throughout history.
Instead, these new laws range from lifting taxes on overtime pay to making available many more options among specialty license plates. As with most laws, all affect the bottom line, whether for individuals, special causes, or state agencies. We’ll take a deeper dive into how so.
1. The state won't tax overtime pay that workers receive between Jan. 1, 2024, and June 29, 2025.
Alabama workers who work overtime will see a slight bump in their take-home pay, depending on their total hours and timing. Starting the first of the year, all pay issued for overtime hours – even if logged before that date – is exempt from the state's five percent individual income tax. The law extends to June 29, 2025, after which any pay issued for overtime hours will again be subject to state taxation if the law is not renewed. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels sponsored the bill, which Governor Kay Ivey signed into law in early November.
2. An extensive overhaul to the adoption code aims to make the process smoother.
After more than three decades, the state's adoption code underwent changes – and significant ones, at that. The most noticeable revisions are creating separate processes for adult and child adoptions, reducing the overall window for terminating parental rights, and guidelines for more efficient and secure electronic communications between courts.
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3. Law enforcement officers will train every other year on interacting with people who have special sensory needs or invisible disabilities.
The bill specifies classes will be provided to officers by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission in collaboration with a nonprofit that specializes in working with people with invisible disabilities. For example, autism is one of the many disorders associated with special sensory needs or other considerations. Just a few others are chronic pain, brain injuries, lupus, and psychiatric disabilities – almost any inhibiting factor that isn't obvious to the eye, hence the term "invisible." Law officers are required to retrain every other year. The classes are to be provided by the nonprofits at no charge.
This bill rolls up several changes that will impact Alabama boaters, including shortening the window of when you can waterski to sunlight. Even more notable, it establishes a new class of criminal offense, "boating violations," for infractions that are less severe than the felony or misdemeanor categories. The boating violations will be penalized similar to traffic law violations. As for the name changes, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency already oversaw the Marine Police Division of the Department of Public Safety. However, this bill makes that explicitly clear with a name change to Marine Patrol Division and the officers will be reclassified as state troopers.
5. More causes will benefit from new license plate options.
There will be a handful of new options among the state's distinctive license plates, including a tag that benefits brain cancer research via the Blazer Bolt organization. Other choices include a new design for the US Marine Corps and brand new tags for the US Space Force, Air Medal recipients, and veterans of Operation Inherent Resolve. Most distinctive plates cost an additional $50 beyond standard taxes and fees, with the proceeds going toward specified funds related to each organization. Starting this year, funds from Emergency Medical Service plates will be allocated away from a state fund and instead split between the Alabama Association of Ambulance Services and the Alabama Emergency Medical Services Association.
6. There's one less test for most insurance professionals.
A state exam is still required to get a license for insurance producers, independent adjusters, apprentice independent adjusters, and title insurance agents. However, the state removed a previous requirement that they take a pre-licensing course before taking that exam.
Are you interested in learning more about our lawmaking process or looking for a good learning experience for kids? Our state legislature welcomes visitors regardless of whether it’s in session. Check the Alabama Legislature visitor policy webpage for hours and guidelines. The capital city has so many excellent historical, educational, and recreational things to do, that you’d not only be wise to stay for a day or two in Montgomery but leave even wiser for it.
What do you think about Alabama’s newest laws taking effect in 2024? We’d love to hear your perspectives.
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