Retail Report: Week 4 Legislative Recap | Alabama Retail Association

While this legislative week may have felt a bit like Groundhog Day, with fewer bills directly impacting retailers, the Legislature continues to move at a steady pace. Below is a summary of the key measures Alabama Retail Association is tracking as the session progresses.

At the conclusion of this report, you’ll also find information from Alabama Retail PAC on its candidate endorsements as we work to Make the Retail Vote Count.

SNAP Waiver Bill Clears Senate Committee
SB57, sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, would require the Alabama Department of Human Resources to seek a federal waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits.

During consideration in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee, the bill was amended to more narrowly define the affected products, specifying “candy” as a food product that lists sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as a primary ingredient. It includes any confectionery items primarily composed of sugar or sweeteners; while excluding baked goods, prepared desserts, bakery items, baking ingredients/mixes, dessert toppings, frosting, jellies, jams, marshmallows and items intended for cooking or meal preparation.

“Soda” is defined as beverages containing carbonated water and sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup, or high fructose corn syrup as the first two ingredients. The term excludes drinks with low or non-caloric sweeteners.

The amendments also place the Alabama Department of Revenue in charge of coordinating implementation with SNAP-authorized retailers, including providing guidance on SNAP-eligible and SNAP-ineligible purchases. After extensive discussion on implementation and retailer impacts, the committee adopted both amendments and gave the bill a favorable report.

Sen. Orr noted that 18 other states have requested or been granted similar waivers.

Committee Delays Consideration of SSUT Bills
SB36 and SB37 were scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee but were carried over due to time constraints. The bills were introduced in response to litigation filed by several of Alabama’s largest municipalities challenging the state’s Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT) structure and the distribution of online sales tax revenue. Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Chairman Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, has characterized the lawsuit as a challenge to legislative authority over tax policy and positioned the legislation as a response.

SB36 would allow Alabama residents to seek annual refunds of municipal sales and use taxes paid on purchases made outside their city of residence, while SB37 would exempt residents from municipal sales and use taxes at the point of sale for purchases made outside their city, shifting residency verification and compliance responsibilities to retailers. Both bills are expected to reappear on the committee’s agenda next week.

Consumer Protection Bill Passes the Senate
Alabama lawmakers moved closer Thursday to final passage of legislation establishing new consumer protection requirements for mobile app stores and app developers related to age verification and parental consent for minors. The Senate added a minor amendment and gave passage to the bill. HB161 will now return to the House for consideration of the amended bill.

If enacted, the law will take effect on January 1, 2027.

Ivermectin Bill Held for Further Revisions
Rep. Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, requested that his bill related to the dispensing of ivermectin by pharmacies be carried over as he continues working with stakeholders to address outstanding concerns. The bill would permit a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to give a pharmacist a standing order to dispense ivermectin to individuals without an individual prescription. Rep. Rigsby previously noted that this legislation does not make ivermectin available over the counter but serves more as a mechanism and access bill.

For legislative and other news of relevance to retailers,
read This Week in Retail News.