On June 1, a comprehensive package of ten new laws to benefit active-duty military service members, veterans, and their families went into effect.
Passed by state legislators during the 2024 legislative session, signed into law by Governor Kay Ivey, and announced on Monday by Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, the new laws include measures providing tax exemptions for deployed troops, improving educational and occupational opportunities for military dependents, and modernizing mental health services for veterans.
These laws, proposed by the Alabama Military Stability Commission, will advance a commitment to being one of the nation’s most welcoming states for military personnel and their families and secure the state’s military presence for the future, Ainsworth says from his role as chairman of the commission.
“Improving the lives of the men and women who currently wear our nation’s uniform, those who served, and the family members who support them has always ranked high on my list of priorities as lieutenant governor,” Ainsworth said.
“The bills we enacted will provide tax cuts for deployed troops, enhance the educational and occupational options for dependents of active armed forces personnel, and implement guidelines that make Alabama even more welcoming for those who serve.”
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Among the laws enacted include measures that create tax exemptions for military pay earned by Alabama service members while deployed, provide occupational licensure reciprocity for military dependents, ease school registration and athletic participation rules for children of military families, and begin reforming and improving mental health services provided by the Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs.
The full list of measures that have become law includes:
- HB103 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 442) Provides technical corrections and modernizes ADVA’s statute. Sponsored by State Rep. Kenneth Paschal in the House. State Sen. Gerald Allen sponsored the bill in the Senate.
- HB251 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 397) Allows dependents of military service members to enroll in athletics programs even if they move outside of the established registration cycle. Sponsored by State Rep. Chad Robertson in the House. State Sen. Andrew Jones sponsored the companion bill in the Senate.
- HB284 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 399) Provides uniformity and conformance to federal standards for the provision of benefits under the Alabama GI and Dependents Education Benefit Act. Sponsored by State Rep. Jerry Starnes in the House. State Sen. Clyde Chambliss sponsored the bill in the Senate.
- SB135 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 358) Requires the Department of Mental Health and Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a plan to address Alabama veterans’ behavioral health needs and consider pilot programs to address gaps for specific veterans’ behavioral services. Sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Jones in the Senate. State Rep. Chip Brown sponsored the companion bill in the House.
- SB207 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 366) Enrolls Alabama into the Dietician Interstate Compact to assist with military and military spouse occupational licensure. Sponsored by State Sen. Kirk Hatcher in the Senate. State Rep. Mark Gidley sponsored the companion bill in the House.
- SB208 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 298) Enrolls Alabama into the Social Work Interstate Compact to assist with military and military spouse occupational licensure. Sponsored by State Sen. Keith Kelley in the Senate. State Rep. Kenyatté Hassell sponsored the companion bill in the House.
- SB209 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 170) Exempts all overseas deployment pay from state income tax for all service members and exempts National Guard and Reserve state-side mobilization pay from state income tax. Sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Jones in the Senate. State Rep. Kenneth Paschal sponsored the companion bill in the House.
- SB210 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 327) Provides for concurrent state/federal jurisdiction for crimes committed by juveniles on Alabama military installations if the crime is also a state offense and the federal prosecutor waives exclusive jurisdiction. Sponsored by State Sen. Rodger Smitherman in the Senate. State Rep. Kenyatté Hassell sponsored the companion bill in the House.
- SB211 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 328) Allows for remote and early enrollment of military dependents into special education services when moving from out of state. Also requires parental notification and consent before changing a dependent’s Individual Education Plan. Sponsored by State Sen. Donnie Chesteen in the Senate. State Rep. Patrice McClammy sponsored the companion bill in the House.
- SB287 (ACT NUMBER 2024 – 329) Modernizes the Alabama Code of Military Justice at the request of the Alabama National Guard. Sponsored by State Sen. Sam Givhan in the Senate. State Rep. Cynthia Almond sponsored the companion bill in the House.
Lt. Governor Ainsworth also noted that enacting the package will provide assurances that the state’s current military presence will remain secure.
“The federal military bases located in our state play an important role in our state’s economy and job climate, so we are making every effort to retain and expand that footprint whenever possible,” Ainsworth said.
“Virtually every city, county, and state across the nation competes to attract military infrastructure and the jobs and investment that comes with it, and this package makes a strong and convincing case to federal officials that bases and assets currently operating in Alabama should stay in Alabama for many years to come.”
Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270