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SB8 • 2026

Emergency Management Agency; authorization to use public funds for educational materials for the public

Emergency Management Agency; authorization to use public funds for educational materials for the public

Education
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Allen (G)
Last action
2026-03-31
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how much money will be allocated for purchasing educational materials or what types of materials can be purchased.

Emergency Management Agency; Public Education Funds

This law allows the Emergency Management Agency to use public funds for purchasing materials that educate the public about emergency preparedness.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes a part of Alabama's laws to give the Emergency Management Agency permission to buy items like books and videos to help educate the public on emergencies.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Director of the Emergency Management Agency
  • Residents of Alabama who will receive educational materials about emergency preparedness

Terms To Know

Emergency Management Agency
A state agency responsible for managing emergencies and disasters.
Director
The head of the Emergency Management Agency who is appointed by the Governor.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what types of educational materials can be purchased.
  • Does not detail how much money will be allocated for these purchases.
  • Does not outline specific requirements for educating the public beyond promoting emergency preparedness.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Enacted

  2. 2026-03-11 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 857 (Yeas 105, Nays 0)

  3. 2026-03-11 House

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 105, Nays 0)

  4. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Delivered to Governor

  5. 2026-03-11 House

    Signature Requested

  6. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Enrolled

  7. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Ready to Enroll

  8. 2026-02-05 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  9. 2026-02-04 House

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  10. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 125 (Yeas 32, Nays 0)

  11. 2026-01-22 Senate

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

  12. 2026-01-22 House

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  13. 2026-01-22 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government

  14. 2026-01-21 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  15. 2026-01-21 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  16. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  17. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation General Fund

Official Summary Text

This act amends Section 31-9-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the Director of the Emergency Management Agency to purchase materials that promote the functions of the agency, including educating the public on emergency preparedness.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB8 ENROLLED
Page 0
SB8
G3PFY6C-2
By Senator Allen
RFD: Finance and Taxation General Fund
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 17-Jun-25
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SB8 Enrolled
Page 1
PFD: 17-Jun-25
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to the Emergency Management Agency; to amend
Section 31-9-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the
Emergency Management Agency to purchase promotional and
educational materials from the funds appropriated to its use;
and to delete duplicative language and make nonsubstantive,
technical revisions to update the existing code language to
current style.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 31-9-4, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§31-9-4
(a) There is hereby created within the executive branch
of the state government a department of emergency management,
hereinafter called the "Emergency Management Agency," with a
Director of Emergency Management, hereinafter called the
"director," who shall be the head thereof. The director shall
be appointed by the Governor. The director shall devote his or
her entire time to the duties of the office of director shall
be a full-time position . The director shall not hold another
office under the government of the United States or any other
state, or of this state , or any political subdivision thereof,
during his or her incumbency in such tenure in the office , and
shall not hold any position of trust or profit, or engage in
any occupation or business the conduct of which shall that
would interfere or be inconsistent with the duties of Director
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SB8 Enrolled
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would interfere or be inconsistent with the duties of Director
of Emergency Management under the provisions of this article.
The director shall hold office during serve at the pleasure of
the Governor.
(b)(1) The director may employ, subject to the
provisions of the Merit System Act Article 1, Chapter 26, Title
36, such technical, clerical, stenographic, and other all
necessary personnel and may make such expenditures expend
within the appropriation therefor, or from other funds made
available to him or her for purposes of emergency management ,
as may be the funds necessary to carry out the purposes of this
article; provided, that the state shall not pay the
compensation, if any, of block wardens, fire guards, first aid
specialists, auxiliary firemen, auxiliary policemen, and
similar emergency management personnel, nor shall it pay the
compensation of personnel employed by or for a local
organization for emergency management.
(2) The director's authority pursuant to this
subsection includes the use of appropriated funds to purchase
items that are reasonably necessary to promote the functions
assigned to the Emergency Management Agency by this article,
including materials to educate the public on emergency
preparedness.
(c) The director and other personnel of the Emergency
Management Agency shall be provided with appropriate office
space, furniture, equipment, supplies, stationery, and
printing in the same manner as provided for personnel of other
state agencies.
(d) The director, subject to the direction and control
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SB8 Enrolled
Page 3
(d) The director, subject to the direction and control
of the Governor, shall be the executive head of the Emergency
Management Agency and shall be responsible to the Governor for
carrying out the program for emergency management of this
state. The director shall coordinate the activities of all
organizations of emergency management within the state, and
shall maintain liaison with and ; cooperate with major
commanders of the armed forces within the state , the Alabama
State Law Enforcement Agency, the State Military Department,
and with emergency management agencies and organizations of
other states and of the federal government ,; and shall have
such additional authority, duties, and responsibilities
authorized by this article as may be prescribed by the
Governor.
(e) The director shall also hold the position of
Assistant Director of Homeland Security for Emergency
Preparedness and Response."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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SB8 Enrolled
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1, 2026.
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
SB8
Senate 22-Jan-26
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Passed: 11-Mar-26
By: Senator Allen
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