What passed and failed in the 2023 Alabama legislative session

The 2023 Alabama legislative session came to a close Tuesday, with leaders on both sides of the political aisle calling it historic.More than 800 pieces of legislation were introduced this session; the following is a list of some of the more prominent and controversial bills discussed.What Passed:House Bill 1: Fentanyl PenaltiesThis bill will provide mandatory sentencing guidelines for anyone that sells, makes, delivers, or possesses more than one gram of fentanyl. It will also impose additional penalties for any subsequent violations.Senate Bill 1: "Good Time" Policy ChangesThis bill, also known as The Deputy Brad Johnson Act, will lower the amount of time a prisoner may earn for good behavior. It also adds new circumstances in which a prisoner would be forced to give up said time.House Bill 24: PanhandlingThis bill would prohibit loitering or panhandling on any public roadway or in the right-of-way of any public roadway. It would also make two or more arrests for loitering carry jail time of up to 30 days and a maximum $500 fine.House Bill 29: Street Racing PenaltiesThis bill would impose greater penalties for anyone caught participating in illegal street racing.Senate Bill 143: Gang Violence PenaltiesThis bill increases the severity of punishments for felonies carried out to support any criminal group or gang. The bill also sets mandatory minimums for the use of guns during certain crimes and ensures that people as young as 16 will be charged as an adult if their crimes are deemed gang-related.House Bill 261: Trans Athletes in CollegeThis bill extends a 2021 ban on transgender athletes in K-12 sports teams to include collegiate teams as well. The bill states that sports teams “designated for females, women, or girls shall not be open to a biological male.” Similarly, a “biological female” would also not be allowed to participate on teams for boys and men. The legislation now moves to the Alabama Senate.Senate Bill 284: Dam SafetyThis bill is a substitute for a recently scrapped dam safety bill. It would not require dams to be inspected, instead allowing dam owners to opt-in if they please.House Bill 479: Grocery Tax CutThis bill will gradually reduce the sales tax on food from 4% to 2% — taking off .5% each year — provided there is more than enough state revenue to offset the loss to the education budget, which relies on sales and income taxes.What Failed:House Bill 7: "Divisive Concepts" in SchoolsThis bill would have prohibited schools and school boards from promoting, endorsing, or requiring the teaching of certain concepts relating to race, sex, or religion. It also would have allowed the termination of employees found in violation of the act.House Bill 298: Pornography FiltrationThis bill would have required phone and tablet manufacturers to automatically enable existing filters that prevent the viewing of pornography or sexually explicit content. The purchaser of the phone would have to use a password to disable the filter if they wanted to view the content.House Bill 401: Drag Show BanThis bill would have banned public drag shows and canceled festivals or events featuring drag performers.House Bill 405: "What is a Woman"This bill would have provided strict definitions of the terms "man" and "woman" based on reproductive organs.For a full list of bills discussed during the 2023 legislative session, click here.