Alabama House approves package of bills on primary dates, consumer protections, school measures and other items

The Alabama House of Representatives on the floor approved a series of bills and resolutions on multiple topics, including election scheduling, consumer protections, school safety provisions and tax exemptions for baby supplies.

Among the measures passed were changes to the primary election calendar, consumer-protection language extending warranties with home sales, statewide restrictions matching federal prohibitions on contributions by foreign nationals, amendments on school safety funding and several local and technical bills. Several items were adopted with committee substitutes or floor amendments before final passage.

Votes and key outcomes (selected): - HB 258 (Representative Karnes) — Primary election date moved from the fourth Tuesday to the second Tuesday of May to avoid falling immediately after Memorial Day; BIR and final passage adopted (vote on final passage recorded as 99 ayes, 0 nays). The bill also keeps the runoff four weeks after the primary. (See transcript at ~2917–3219.)

- HB 95 (Representative Sales, substituted) — Consumer protection: warranty transfer when a home with a newly installed air-conditioning unit is sold; committee substitute adopted and final passage recorded (100–3 recorded as adopted as substituted in…