Jim Carns, a Republican, has represented Alabama House District 48 since 2011; his current term ends November 4, 2026.[1]
He ran for re-election and lost the Republican primary on May 19, 2026.[1]He received a B.S. in engineering from the University of Alabama.[1]His professional experience includes serving as president pro tempore of the Jefferson County Commission.[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Republicans voted. How topics are assigned
›Rights & public safety130 with · 23 against153 votes
Requires voters, from 2027, to register a party affiliation to vote in countywide or statewide primaries and runoffs (requesting a party ballot at the polls counts); bars changing parties from 60 days before a primary until the general election; repeals the runoff crossover ban.
Mar 19, 2026 · Passed 63–35 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Bars youthful offender status for people who were 16 or older at the time of the offense and are charged with capital murder or intentional murder; they are charged, arrested and tried as adults.
Mar 4, 2025 · Passed 67–33 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act is the Alabama Post-Election Audit Act. This act: (1) requires the judge of probate of each county to audit at least one countywide or statewide race in at least one precinct as selected by the county canvassing board after each general election; (2) establishes the procedures for such audits, including that the audit shall begin not later than 31 days after the election, be done in the presence of an inspector and poll watchers, and at least 30 ballots shall be manually compared to ballot counter results; and (3) requires the Secretary of State to report audit findings to the…
Jan 15, 2026 · Failed 29–73 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
"This act amends Sections 28-4A-1 through 28-4A-6, Code of Alabama 1975, and redesignates those sections as Article 1, Chapter 4A, Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, adds Sections 28-4A-7, 28-4A-8, and 28-4A-9 to Article 1, Chapter 4A, Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, adds Articles 2, 3, and 4 to Chapter 4A, Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, and amends Section 28-3A-13.1, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) rename the Alabama Brewpub Act as the Alabama Small Craft Alcoholic Beverages Act; (2) authorize the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to issue hybrid craft alcoholic beverage complex licenses to…
Mar 31, 2026 · Passed 61–35 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As introduced, creates an annual sales tax holiday, the last Friday through Sunday of August, exempting ammunition, firearms and hunting supplies from state sales and use tax; counties and municipalities may opt in for their own taxes.
Feb 24, 2026 · Passed 73–29 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act: (1) requires the Alabama Department of Human Resources, upon the approval of a request submitted to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to exclude candy and soda from the definition of “eligible foods” for purposes of SNAP benefits, to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits, subject to one month's notice provided by retailers before becoming effective; (2) requires the Governor to designate an agency to publish a list of items included and excluded under the waiver, including standard point-of-sale identifiers; (3) requires the waiver request to be resubmitted if…
This act transfers up to $455,000,000 from the Education Opportunities Reserve Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, as follows: (1) $375,000,000 to the Renewing Alabama's Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Fund; and (2) $80,000,000 to the Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act Fund.
Apr 24, 2025 · Failed 29–74 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
As introduced, exempts wearing a medical or surgical mask at a protest or public assembly, to follow a health care provider's documented guidance, from Alabama's masked-loitering crime; lets school boards and public colleges set mask rules for protests on their property.
Jan 27, 2026 · Passed 71–27 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama 2022, to require each local board of education to adopt a policy requiring public K-12 schools to broadcast a recording or school-sanctioned performance of the first stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner as archived in the Library of Congress during school hours, at least once a week.
Allows off-road vehicles on public roads in unincorporated areas with speed limits of 45 mph or less if they are registered, insured, and equipped, and operated by a licensed driver.
This act is the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act. This act: (1) authorizes the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority and the Alabama Department of Transportation to install certain automated photographic speed enforcement systems, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to use manually operated photographic speed enforcement systems, in active work zones to monitor motor vehicles to assure safety; (2) authorizes ALEA to issue civil traffic citations for speeding violations recorded by photographic speed enforcement systems and to mail notice of citations or warnings to a…
Apr 7, 2026 · Passed 51–41 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lets officers impound a vehicle when the driver cannot show a license and licensing cannot otherwise be verified; sets owner redemption requirements, requires sale of vehicles unclaimed after 60 days, and bars local government ID cards without driver-license-level proof of identity.
This act: (1) requires the Alabama Department of Human Resources, upon the approval of a request submitted to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to exclude candy and soda from the definition of “eligible foods” for purposes of SNAP benefits, to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits, subject to one month's notice provided by retailers before becoming effective; (2) requires the Governor to designate an agency to publish a list of items included and excluded under the waiver, including standard point-of-sale identifiers; (3) requires the waiver request to be resubmitted if…
This act substantially amends Chapter 11 of Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) impose a $150 fee to obtain a retail permit to sell tobacco, tobacco products, and non-vapor based alternative nicotine products, which permit also authorizes the permitholder to sell certain FDA-approved electronic nicotine delivery systems and e-liquids; (2) increase the fines and administrative penalties for retailers who violate the sale, advertising, and permitting requirements; (3) further provide for the ABC Board’s authority to seize and dispose of prohibited tobacco and ENDS products; (4) establish…
May 6, 2025 · Passed 52–43 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act amends Sections 40-25-1, 40-25-2, 40-25-4, 40-25-8, 40-25-8.1, 40-25-14, 40-25-18, 40-25-25, and 40-25-29, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) define the terms "heated tobacco product," "cigarette," and "cigarette intended to be heated"; (2) levy a license or privilege tax on heated tobacco products and cigarettes intended to be heated at a rate of $0.017 per unit; (3) levy an additional county and municipal license or privilege tax on these items in those counties and municipalities with a local tobacco tax; and (4) add heated tobacco products to other tobacco tax provisions regarding a…
Apr 10, 2025 · Passed 58–37 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act prohibits a state agency from adopting or amending a rule that establishes numeric limitations or criteria for certain substances relating to environmental protection that: (1) is more stringent or extensive than federal requirements on the same topic; and (2) if there are no federal requirements on the same topic, is not based on the best available science and weight of scientific research for each substance to which the rule applies.
Feb 17, 2026 · Passed 68–34 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act amends Section 11-50-300, Code of Alabama 1975, and adds Sections 11-50-300.01 through 11-50-300.10 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) recompose certain municipal water works boards; (2) further provide for qualifications, term lengths, duties, unlawful actions, and restrictions of board members; (3) convert these boards to regional boards by requiring amendments to their articles of incorporation; (4) subject board members to the ethics laws of Alabama and require they are trained on certain topics; (5) require these boards to assure their operation is in accordance with industry…
This act is the Power to the People Act. This act amends Sections 17-14-2, 17-14-3, 36-3-1, 37-1-1, 37-1-3, 37-1-5, and 37-1-12, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) expand the Public Service Commission from three to seven members from each congressional district as of 2024; (2) require the Governor to appoint four members to the commission by July 15, 2026, for two two-year terms and two four-year terms; (3) require elections of commissioners at the general elections in 2026, 2028, 2030, and 2032 to replace the current and appointed commissioners; (4) extend the length of commissioners' terms from…
Apr 1, 2026 · Passed 68–31 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act: (1) prohibits any public K-12 student from using or possessing any wireless communication device on school grounds during the instructional day, with exceptions; (2) requires each local board of education to adopt a wireless communication device policy and an Internet safety policy; (3) requires the Department of Education to assess compliance with this act and local wireless communication device policies via a survey, the results of which must be published.
Requires public high school students, starting with the class of 2031, to earn a credit in an approved computer science course to graduate, without raising total credits, and lets it count as a math, science, career-tech or elective credit.
As passed by the House, requires residential real estate wholesalers to be licensed and disclose that they do not own the property, requires disclosures on unsolicited investor offers, lets sellers without an agent or attorney cancel such contracts within seven days, and adds fines and Securities Commission enforcement.
Mar 19, 2026 · Passed 82–14 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lets current owners of manufactured homes from model year 1999 or earlier ask the state Department of Revenue for a certificate of title, which those older homes are otherwise not issued. Takes effect January 1, 2027.
This act authorizes counties and municipalities to levy an additional $20 fee for issuing residential building permits to be deposited into the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund. This act also amends Section 34-14A-20, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) provide the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund is non-reverting; and (2) further provide for the scope of grants awarded from the fund and related procedures and limitations.
This act substantially amends Chapters 5 and 5A of Title 31, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) require the Governor to appoint the Commissioner of the State Department of Veterans Affairs to serve at his or her pleasure; (2) authorize the commissioner to prescribe qualifications for the officers and employees authorized to be appointed to the department; (3) remove the requirement that the commissioner receive approval from the board before engaging in certain actions; (4) further provide for the membership of the board; (5) revise the duties of the board to that of an advisory capacity; and (6)…
Mar 6, 2025 · Passed 56–39 · against most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Lowers from 40% to 30% the disability rating that makes veterans' dependents eligible for the state G.I. dependent tuition scholarship, and for 2026-2027 lets up to 100 dependents a year qualify despite residency rules if the veteran is at least 50% disabled and lived in Alabama five years.
Apr 22, 2025 · Passed 100–2 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
This act is the Disabled Veterans Property Tax Debt-To-Income Ratio Exemption Act. This act: (1) requires tax assessing officials to issue a tentative certificate of exemption from ad valorem taxation for a homestead to veterans with a 100 percent disability rating and who qualify for a permanent ad valorem homestead exemption due to disability upon the veteran providing certain information; (2) prohibits settlement agents from considering homestead ad valorem taxes in determining a borrower's debt-to-income ratio upon receiving a tentative certificate; and (3) provides that a tentative…
Jan 20, 2026 · Passed 101–1 · with most RepublicansOfficial record ↗
Voted against most of their party on 6 of 136 party-divided votes on file.
Most often on: Rights & public safety (3), Transportation (3), Jobs & cost of living (1)
Alabama Work Zone Safety Act; pilot program to establish photographic speed enforcement system in a work zone on interstate highway, provided; civil penalties for violations, provided
What it does: This act is the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act. This act: (1) authorizes the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority and the Alabama Department of Transportation to install certain automated photographic speed e…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 21–0, Republicans 30–41
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, regulation of retail sale of certain tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems, further provided
What it does: This act substantially amends Chapter 11 of Title 28, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) impose a $150 fee to obtain a retail permit to sell tobacco, tobacco products, and non-vapor based alternative nicotine products, whi…
Voted yes · most Republicans voted no · Democrats 23–2, Republicans 29–41
Veterans Affairs, board membership revised, appointment and duties of commissioner provided for
What it does: This act substantially amends Chapters 5 and 5A of Title 31, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) require the Governor to appoint the Commissioner of the State Department of Veterans Affairs to serve at his or her pleasure;…
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 9–16, Republicans 47–23
Youthful offender status, to prohibit a judge from granting youthful offender status to any person who is 16 years of age and older and charged with murder
What it does: Bars youthful offender status for people who were 16 or older at the time of the offense and are charged with capital murder or intentional murder; they are charged, arrested and tried as adults.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 0–28, Republicans 67–5
Motor vehicles, child passenger restraint systems, use further provided
What it does: As introduced, raises child car seat age and weight requirements (rear-facing until age 2 or 35 pounds; forward-facing until 5 years or 65 pounds) and increases penalties for violations.
Voted no · most Republicans voted yes · Democrats 4–17, Republicans 34–29
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
SB57 · AL HOUSE
Public assistance; Department of Human Resources required to request waiver to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, implementation of prohibition provided for
YesVOTED
Motion: In Conference Committee
This act: (1) requires the Alabama Department of Human Resources, upon the approval of a request submitted to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to exclude candy and soda from the definition of “eligible foods” for purposes of SNAP benefits, to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits, subject to one month's notice provided by retailers before becoming effective; (2) requires the Governor to designate an agency to publish a list of items included and excluded under the waiver, including standard point-of-sale identifiers; (3) requires the waiver request to be resubmitted if…
Education; CHOOSE Act's athletic-eligibility nondiscrimination provision, enforcement mechanism established; private right of action established
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass
This act adds Section 16-6J-10 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) authorize schools, students, and parents of such students, participating in the CHOOSE Act to bring a civil action to have an interscholastic athletic association enjoined from enforcing rules limiting CHOOSE Act students' participation in sports solely due to their CHOOSE Act participation and enjoined from punishing a CHOOSE Act student for participating in sports pursuant to a court's injunction under this act or for supporting such a student's participation; (2) provide rules governing actions for such injunctions; and…
Alabama Work Zone Safety Act; pilot program to establish photographic speed enforcement system in a work zone on interstate highway, provided; civil penalties for violations, provided
NoVOTED
Motion: Kirkland motion to Concur In and Adopt in Conference Committee
This act is the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act. This act: (1) authorizes the Alabama Toll Road, Bridge, and Tunnel Authority and the Alabama Department of Transportation to install certain automated photographic speed enforcement systems, and the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) to use manually operated photographic speed enforcement systems, in active work zones to monitor motor vehicles to assure safety; (2) authorizes ALEA to issue civil traffic citations for speeding violations recorded by photographic speed enforcement systems and to mail notice of citations or warnings to a…
Food enrichment; corn masa folic acid requirements, corn masa flour added, exempt products revised
YesVOTED
Motion: Crawford motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment
This act amends Sections 20-1-71 and 20-1-79, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) add that corn masa flour sold for human consumption must contain 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound, within acceptable industry standards of deviation of error; (2) provide that the 0.4 milligrams of folic acid required to be in corn masa products is per pound of end product, within acceptable industry standards of deviation of error; and (3) exempt snack foods from these enrichment requirements.
Ten Commandments; required to be displayed in certain public schools, subject to the availability of donations
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass
This act: (1) beginning January 1, 2027, and subject to the availability of donated funds or displays, requires each local board of education to display a document approved by the State Superintendent of Education that contains the Ten Commandments and other specified historical information in every fifth through twelfth grade history classroom and at least one entryway or other common area, except in schools serving kindergarten through fourth grade students; (2) requires the State Department of Education to identify resources for local boards of education to comply with this act and provide…
Public K-12 schools, broadcast of the Star-Spangled Banner required weekly, proposed statewide constitutional amendment
YesVOTED
Motion: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass
This act proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama 2022, to require each local board of education to adopt a policy requiring public K-12 schools to broadcast a recording or school-sanctioned performance of the first stanza of the Star-Spangled Banner as archived in the Library of Congress during school hours, at least once a week.
Public K-12 education; violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation instruction required before graduation from high school beginning in sixth grade, State Board of Education required to adopt standards
Not votingNO VOTE
Motion: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass
This act adds Section 16-40-13 to the Code of Alabama 1975 to: (1) beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, require public school students in grades 6 through 12 to complete a course in violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation, including specified topics, before graduating from high school; and (2) require the State Department of Education, before June 30, 2027, to prepare and make available instructional material guidelines for use by local boards of education in developing and determining the curriculum for satisfying the course.
Public assistance; Department of Human Resources required to request waiver to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, implementation of prohibition provided for
YesVOTED
Motion: Ingram motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report
This act: (1) requires the Alabama Department of Human Resources, upon the approval of a request submitted to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to exclude candy and soda from the definition of “eligible foods” for purposes of SNAP benefits, to prohibit the purchase of candy and soda with SNAP benefits, subject to one month's notice provided by retailers before becoming effective; (2) requires the Governor to designate an agency to publish a list of items included and excluded under the waiver, including standard point-of-sale identifiers; (3) requires the waiver request to be resubmitted if…
Dogs; tethering and confinement requirements provided; persons and activities exempted; criminal penalties for, animal control officer enforcement of, violations established
NoVOTED
Motion: Third Reading in Second House
This act: (1) prohibits tethering a dog to a stationary object unless a trolley system is used in accordance with specified criteria, including the tether is not unreasonably heavy, only one dog is connected to the tether and is attached to a properly fitted collar or harness using swivels on each end, and the tether allows access to food, water, and shelter; (2) prohibits using a logging chain or choke or pinch collar to tether a dog; (3) prohibits restricting a dog within an enclosure unless in accordance with specified criteria, including the enclosure must have space for the dog to freely…
Dogs; tethering and confinement requirements provided; persons and activities exempted; criminal penalties for, animal control officer enforcement of, violations established
NoVOTED
Motion: Motion to Adopt
This act: (1) prohibits tethering a dog to a stationary object unless a trolley system is used in accordance with specified criteria, including the tether is not unreasonably heavy, only one dog is connected to the tether and is attached to a properly fitted collar or harness using swivels on each end, and the tether allows access to food, water, and shelter; (2) prohibits using a logging chain or choke or pinch collar to tether a dog; (3) prohibits restricting a dog within an enclosure unless in accordance with specified criteria, including the enclosure must have space for the dog to freely…
