The Alabama Legislature begins its annual session Tuesday and will be ready to vote on bills as early as Thursday. A bill to make rape of a child younger than 12 a death penalty offense is near the front of the line. It will be up for consideration in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

With elections approaching, lawmakers are focused on passing the budgets and finishing quickly. But major issues are looming.

State financial experts have highlighted a challenging economic landscape for lawmakers considering the state of Alabama's budget for 2026. The primary concern

LGBTQ advocacy groups are slamming the re-filing of a so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill ahead of the upcoming Alabama 2026 legislative session. Statewide and national LGBTQ organizations say the bill violates First Amendment rights and does nothing to advance public school education.

Education, rural healthcare, and workforce topped lawmakers’ agendas as they prepare for their final session before the campaign trail.

Right now, anyone convicted of raping or sodomizing a child 5 years old or younger in Alabama can be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.