Alabama bill aims to let professors profit from research

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton has introduced legislation that he said would transform research and innovation at state institutions in Alabama, according to a Thursday press release from his office.

Senate Bill 237 would allow researchers and universities to share intellectual property and would let professors benefit personally from their research.

“If one of our professors came up with a cure for cancer today, right now he could not use his intellectual property to profit from that because under our current ethics law that would be considered double-dipping,” Singleton, D-Greensboro, said. “I have received so many calls and emails from professors from all over the state thanking me for bringing this bill.”

If passed, the new law would take effect June 1, 2026.

“This law will expand university technology transfer and commercialization efforts, encourage university partnerships and collaboration with industry, and increase the opportunities that researchers and graduates have in this state. We are grateful for Senator Singleton’s leadership,” Auburn University said in a statement.

“Because of the current ethics rule, we are losing professors and researchers every day to other states and other universities,” Singleton said. “We need to change the law to increase economic development and technological innovation.”

Singleton’s district includes the University of Alabama, Stillman College and the University of West Alabama.

The bill has been assigned to the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee, which is scheduled to take it up at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Room 418 of the Alabama State House.