FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alabama Policy Institute Celebrates June 1st Enactment of Critical Workforce and Free Enterprise Protections
BIRMINGHAM, AL — The Alabama Policy Institute (API) today marks the implementation of two vital pieces of legislation that enhance economic liberty and expand career opportunities across the state. Championing free enterprise and reforming state regulatory barriers were central priorities established in the 2026 API BluePrint for Alabama.
Through a strong partnership with legislative leadership, courageous sponsors, and an engaged legislative membership, these new laws create a more welcoming environment for out-of-state professionals and protect the religious liberties of local business owners:
- HB520 (Sponsored by Rep. Marcus Paramore): Streamlines Alabama’s educational talent pipeline by creating an expedited career and technical teaching certification pathway for qualified individuals who hold an equivalent certification issued by another state.
- SB138 (Sponsored by Sen. Dan Roberts): Safeguards the intersection of faith and business by prohibiting corporate franchisors from forcing local franchisees to operate on a religious day, providing common-sense protections and exceptions for business owners.
These measures bring an immediate positive impact to the state. HB520 directly addresses critical workforce shortages in our K-12 classrooms by removing redundant, bureaucratic hurdles for skilled technical instructors moving to Alabama. Concurrently, SB138 reinforces bedrock constitutional principles, ensuring that local entrepreneurs are not penalized or coerced by corporate entities for honoring their faith.
“June 1st marks a major step forward in our mission to untangle red tape and preserve fundamental freedoms,” said Stephanie Smith, President & CEO of Alabama Policy Institute. “By opening smoother pathways for technical teachers and securing the rights of franchise owners to observe holy days, our leaders have signaled that Alabama honors both hard work and deep convictions. We extend our sincere appreciation to Representative Paramore and Senator Roberts for their exceptional leadership, and we thank the entire legislative body for partnering with API to bring these 2026 BluePrint priorities to life.”
This milestone represents the first wave of momentum in a session that delivered historic conservative victories derived directly from API’s policy framework.
For more details on the statutory language of these new acts, visit the Alabama Legislature’s portal at https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/. For more information on ongoing state policy initiatives, visit alabamapolicy.org.
For more information contact admin@alabamapolicy.org
