Legislative session opens Jan. 13; Kiel prefiles 2 bills
RUSSELLVILLE — State Rep. Jamie Kiel has prefiled two bills ahead of the 2026 Alabama legislative session.
The bills, which will be considered when lawmakers return to Montgomery on Jan. 13, address how voter registration information is shared and how missing or damaged state property is investigated.
Kiel represents District 18, which includes parts of Franklin and Colbert counties. He said both bills were written to address issues he believes many Alabamians don’t know exist under current law.
House Bill 67 deals with voter registration lists, which contain information about registered voters and their participation history. Under current law, the cost to purchase a statewide voter list is not capped. The list may include personal information such as phone numbers. The law also does not clearly prohibit commercial use of the data.
Kiel said the bill grew out of frequent complaints from constituents about unwanted calls.
“I get contacted probably as much as anything about spam calls,” said Kiel.
He said many voters do not realize their personal information is included in voter files that can be purchased.
“Most people don’t even know their phone number is in the voter file,” Kiel said.
HB67 would cap the cost of purchasing an electronic voter list at $1,000. At the same time, it would prohibit the release of confidential data, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, voter ID numbers, full birth dates, email addresses and certain telephone numbers. The bill would also make it illegal to use voter data for commercial purposes.
Kiel said the bill is intended to balance election transparency with voter privacy.
“It’s important people can inspect voter rolls,” he said, “but we don’t want to expose personal information.”
The second bill, House Bill 94, focuses on state property and the authority of the State Auditor. Under current law, the auditor is responsible for tracking stateowned, nonconsumable property but the auditor has limited power to investigate when items go missing.
HB94 would require state agencies to report the loss or theft of certain property, and it would create a Division of Property Investigations within the Office of the State Auditor. That division would be authorized to investigate missing, stolen or damaged state property and determine whether negligence was involved.
Kiel said the bill would give the auditor the ability to determine where property went and who may be responsible.
If negligence is found, the auditor could seek repayment for the value of the property and refer the matter to the attorney general. Kiel said constitutional protections for state employees would remain in place unless wrongdoing is established.
The bill also modifies how inventory audits are conducted at Department of Corrections and Department of Youth Services facilities, allowing alternative methods for auditing property located behind security barriers.
Kiel said he also plans to refile TJ’s Law, which would require law enforcement officers to notify parents when a minor receives a traffic citation.
The bill is named for a young man who later died in a crash. Kiel said his mother only learned after her son’s death that he had received seat belt citations as a minor.
The bill has passed the House twice but has not made it through the Senate either time.
“All we’re asking is for law enforcement to contact the parent,” said Kiel.
He also said he plans to refile legislation that would allow deputies and state troopers outside city limits to tow vehicles when a driver does not have a valid license.
Kiel serves as vice chair of the House Education Ways and Means Committee. He also serves on the Insurance Committee, the State Government Committee, and the Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit Committee.
He confirmed he plans to seek re-election in November and expects to qualify soon.
