Public Health

Legislature

House passes bill that will limit state environmental regulations

The House approved SB71, locking state environmental regulations to federal standards, despite Democratic opposition and concerns about public health protections.

February 18, 2026

Lawmakers advance bill tying environmental rules to federal standards

The Alabama House Agriculture and Forestry Committee advanced a bill limiting state environmental rules to federal standards.

February 6, 2026

Senate advances bill limiting environmental rules beyond federal standards

Alabama Senate passed SB71, limiting state environmental rules to federal standards despite Democratic warnings about reduced protections for certain communities.

February 4, 2026

House passes bill that would criminalize protesting in a mask without a doctor’s note

Anti-masking laws have never been taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court and have had mixed results in lower courts.

January 28, 2026

Stethoscope tied in a knot around a fist full of money

Report featuring ADPH head highlights threats to public health funding

A new report raised concerns about proposed federal funding cuts impacting public health. The head of the Alabama Department of Public Health shared insights.

September 19, 2025

RFK Jr.’s war on science endangers America’s health, history, and future

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump, HHS, Vaccines, Alabama politics, Public health, UAB, COVID-19, Conspiracy theories

September 8, 2025

Vaccines matter to you, me and Alabama

When you vaccinate, you protect your grandmother with asthma, the coworker in chemotherapy and the preemie next door who is still too small for shots.

August 1, 2025

Mayor tied campaign sign swap to cancer event catering in controversial email

An email from Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird appears to tie support for a cancer awareness event to the removal of a rival’s campaign sign.

July 22, 2025

Alabama Senate passes bill loosening regulations for religious vaccine exemptions

SB85 simplifies religious vaccination exemptions, which raised concerns about public health risks.

April 4, 2025

Update Alabama’s tax code to improve public health

More than 28 million adult Americans continue to smoke cigarettes, including more than 500,000 Alabamans.

April 2, 2025