Legislative Update: April 14-18, 2025
The legislative session has entered its final stretch. The House and Senate have been busy working on pending legislation, though the introduction of new bills has slowed. The week of April 14-18 consisted of two legislative days and one day of committee meetings. So far, 23 of the 30 session days are complete. A total of 601 bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives and 333 in the Senate. Most bills introduced this week were local in nature. The 2025 regular session will continue as follows:
- The Senate has adjourned until Tuesday, April 22, at 2:00 P.M.
- The House has adjourned until Tuesday, April 22, at 1:00 P.M.
The Alabama Legislature has recently introduced and progressed several bills that may affect the real estate and title insurance sectors. Below is a summary of notable legislation:
HB 539 – Randolph County: Special Transaction Fee for Map Recordings
This bill proposes that the Randolph County Commission impose a $50 special transaction fee for each map recorded and copied in the office of the judge of probate. The collected fees would be deposited into the County General Fund and used at the discretion of the county commission for costs associated with processing, digitizing, and laminating maps of plats.
HB 545– Escambia County: Probate Court Fees Adjustment
HB 545 aims to further provide for probate court fees in Escambia County. While specific details are limited, the bill has been introduced and is pending in the Senate Local Legislation Committee.
HB 428 – Houston County: Tax Sale and Redemption Procedures
This legislation seeks to further provide for the sale or redemption of lands for taxes in Houston County. The bill has passed the House and is currently pending in the Senate Local Legislation Committee.
SB 329 – Lee County: Revenue Commissioner’s Authority
SB 329 authorizes the Lee County Revenue Commissioner to perform duties related to selling and redeeming land for taxes. The bill has been read for the second time and placed on the Senate calendar.
Note: These bills are specific to their respective counties and, if enacted, will directly impact local real estate transactions and title recording processes. Professionals in the real estate and title insurance industries should monitor these developments closely to understand their implications fully.
