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SB46 • 2026

Motor vehicles; driver licenses; designation of certain medical conditions, provided for

Motor vehicles; driver licenses; designation of certain medical conditions, provided for

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Coleman (M)
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
Read Second Time in Second House
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the law becomes effective on October 1, 2026.

Driver Communication and Safety Enhancement Act

This law requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to let people add a special symbol showing the state flower to their driver license or ID card if they have certain medical conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires ALEA to create a way for individuals to voluntarily mark their licenses with a designation for invisible medical conditions.
  • Mandates that ALEA use a discrete symbol depicting the state flower on cards that include this designation.
  • Defines 'invisible medical condition' as issues like autism, hearing loss, blindness, or cognitive disabilities that may interfere with communication with first responders.
  • Requires individuals to provide proof of diagnosis from a physician licensed in Alabama to receive the designation.
  • Prohibits ALEA from charging an extra fee just for adding this medical condition symbol.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Alabama residents who hold driver licenses or nondriver identification cards and have specific diagnosed invisible medical conditions.
  • The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), which must create the system to issue these designations.
  • Physicians licensed in Alabama, whose proof of diagnosis is required for individuals seeking this designation.

Terms To Know

Invisible medical condition
A physical or mental health issue that may interfere with an individual's ability to communicate with a first responder, including communication impediments, hearing loss, blindness, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia, or cognitive disabilities.
Nondriver identification card
An official state ID card for people who do not drive but need government-issued photo identification.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify exactly how ALEA will create the method or symbol, only that it must be done.
  • It is unclear if this designation provides any legal protection or specific instructions for first responders beyond identifying a condition exists.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

NR1AG8T-1

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Public Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute

Plain English: This amendment requires Alabama to create a free, voluntary option for people with specific invisible medical conditions to add a discreet mark on their driver's license or ID card.

  • The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency must set up a way for individuals to voluntarily show they have an 'invisible medical condition' on their license or ID.
  • A special, quiet symbol will be placed on the card of anyone who requests this designation so first responders can see it easily.
  • People cannot be charged any extra money just to get this medical mark added to their identification.
  • To qualify for the mark, a person must provide proof from a doctor licensed in Alabama that they have one of the listed conditions.
  • The text does not explain exactly what the discreet symbol or mark will look like on the card.
  • It is unclear how first responders are expected to be trained to recognize and respond to this new designation.
  • The amendment lists specific conditions but uses 'or' at the end, which might mean other similar disabilities could qualify if defined later.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  2. 2026-02-04 House

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  3. 2026-02-04 House

    Public Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute

  4. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 135 (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  5. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  6. 2026-01-22 House

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  7. 2026-01-22 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

  8. 2026-01-21 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  9. 2026-01-21 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  10. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  11. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on State Governmental Affairs

Official Summary Text

Motor vehicles; driver licenses; designation of certain medical conditions, provided for

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB46 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB46
DGXEKTH-1
By Senator Coleman
RFD: State Governmental Affairs
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 09-Jan-26
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DGXEKTH-1 01/08/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-101
Page 1
PFD: 09-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Existing law provides for the requirements for
the contents of a driver license and nondriver
identification card.
This bill would require the Alabama State Law
Enforcement Agency to establish a method for an
individual to voluntarily designate on a driver license
or nondriver identification card that the individual
has been diagnosed with certain medical conditions.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to motor vehicles; to amend Section 32-6-6,
Code of Alabama 1975, to require the Alabama State Law
Enforcement Agency to establish a method for an individual to
voluntarily designate on a driver license or nondriver
identification card that the individual has certain medical
conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the Driver Communication and Safety Enhancement Act.
Section 2. Section 32-6-6, Code of Alabama 1975, is
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SB46 INTRODUCED
Page 2
Section 2. Section 32-6-6, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§32-6-6
(a) Each driver license issued by the Alabama State Law
Enforcement Agency (ALEA) , except temporary permits or other
special circumstances as determined by the Secretary of the
Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, shall contain a
distinguishing number assigned to the licensee and a color
photograph of the licensee, the name, birthdate, address, and
a description of the licensee ., who, for For the purpose of
identification and as a condition precedent to the validity of
the license, immediately upon receipt of the license, the
licensee shall endorse his or her usual or regular signature
upon the license in the space provided, unless a facsimile of
the licensee's signature appears on the license.
(b) A photo driver license and photo nondriver
identification card as provided in Section 32-6-4 shall have a
photo core that meets the minimum width and length dimensions
specified in ANSI standards X4.13-1971 and ANSI standard CR80,
plus or minus 1/4 inch. In addition to all current and
existing fees, the agency ALEA may charge an additional fee to
recover the cost of producing and issuing photo driver
licenses and photo nondriver identification cards. The fee may
not exceed ten cents ($.10) ($0.10) over the actual cost of
producing and issuing the license or card , including the cost
of materials, labor costs, telecommunications costs, computer
costs, postage, and any other costs incurred in producing and
issuing a license or card.
(c)(1) ALEA shall provide a method for an individual to
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SB46 INTRODUCED
Page 3
(c)(1) ALEA shall provide a method for an individual to
voluntarily designate on his or her driver license or
nondriver identification card that the individual has been
diagnosed with an invisible medical condition. ALEA shall
create a discrete symbol depicting the state flower, as
designated in Section 1-2-11(a), to place on the license or
card of the individual requesting the designation. ALEA may
not charge a fee solely for the designation.
(2) To receive the designation, the individual shall
provide proof of the diagnosis from a physician licensed to
practice medicine in this state.
(c)(d) A driver license issued to a qualifying student
described in Section 16-28-40(b) shall be exempt from any fees
under this section.
(d)(e) Revenues collected under this section shall be
used by the agency ALEA for the sole purpose of this program,
and any excess shall revert to the State General Fund at the
end of each fiscal year.
(f) For the purposes of this section, the term
"invisible medical condition" means a physical or mental
condition that may interfere with an individual's ability to
communicate with a first responder, including:
(1) A communication impediment;
(2) Hearing loss;
(3) Blindness or a visual impairment;
(4) Autism spectrum disorder;
(5) Traumatic brain injury;
(6) Schizophrenia; or
(7) A cognitive disability. "
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SB46 INTRODUCED
Page 4
(7) A cognitive disability. "
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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