New laws taking effect on July 1 in Alabama: What you need to know

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Some new laws go into effect on July 1 and 2, 2026 in Alabama. Here’s what you need to know.

Local school boards are now permitted to decide whether to allow volunteer chaplains to provide support, services, and programs on public school campuses. Chaplains would be required to complete a recognized chaplain training program and certain people would be prohibited from serving. 

Beginning July 2, food truck operators will no longer need to schedule separate health and fire inspections when moving to a different city. Under a law signed in April, a single statewide health and fire inspection certification will be recognized across Alabama.

This law makes it easier for food trucks to operate in multiple cities and counties, a change welcomed by many operators.

Making a credible, first-degree terrorist threat against schools, hospitals, or nursing homes now carries tougher criminal penalties. Students charged with this offense will be suspended pending a hearing, and expelled if found guilty. How these threats are reported is also spelled out.

A credible threat is defined as, “A knowing and willful statement or course of conduct which, based on the totality of the circumstances, would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of another.”

A first degree threat is defined as, “When he or she makes a credible threat to commit a violent act against a person or to damage any property by use of a bomb, explosive, weapon of mass destruction, firearm, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, or other mechanism, and that threat does or is intended to do any of the following occurs: Cause the disruption of a school, church, hospital, nursing home, or other building housing disabled or immobile individuals.” This is a Class B felony, upgraded from a Class C.

A second degree threat is defined as “When he or she makes a credible threat to commit a violent act against a person or to damage any property by use of a bomb, explosive, weapon of mass destruction, firearm, deadly weapon, dangerous instrument, or other mechanism. This is a Class A misdemeanor or a Class D felony, depending on the person’s previous criminal record.