Alabama SB138 Restricts Franchise Religious Day Operating Requirements
Summary
Alabama Governor signed SB138 into law on April 9, 2026, prohibiting franchisors from requiring franchisees to operate their businesses on a religious day. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers (Senate 30-1, House 105-0) and provides exceptions for certain circumstances. Franchisors with franchise agreements in Alabama must now accommodate franchisee religious observances.
What changed
Alabama enacted SB138, a new law prohibiting franchisors from requiring franchisees to operate on a religious day. The legislation, signed by the Governor on April 9, 2026, passed with near-unanimous support in both chambers. The bill was amended during the House Commerce and Small Business Committee process before final passage.
Franchisors operating franchise systems in Alabama must ensure their agreements do not mandate operation on days that conflict with franchisee religious beliefs. This law fundamentally alters the operational requirements that franchisors can impose, requiring review of standard agreement terms and potentially renegotiation of existing franchise contracts to include religious day accommodation provisions.
What to do next
- Review all existing franchise agreements for provisions requiring operation on religious days
- Identify religious days recognized under the new law
- Amend franchise agreements to provide religious day accommodations where needed
Archived snapshot
Apr 9, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Alabama / SB138 Signed by Governor SB138 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-09
Franchises; prohibit franchisor from requiring franchisee to operate on a religious day, exceptions provided
Bill Details
State Alabama
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Dan Roberts (Sen - R)
Action History
2026-04-09 H Signature Requested 2026-04-09 S Delivered to Governor 2026-04-09 S Enrolled 2026-04-08 S Ready to Enroll 2026-04-08 S Gudger Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1260 2026-04-08 H Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1306 2026-04-08 H Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1305 11JCJLZ-1 2026-04-08 H Blackshear 1st Amendment Offered 11JCJLZ-1 2026-04-08 H Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1304 DG8QQTN-1 2026-04-08 H Commerce and Small Business Engrossed Substitute Offered DG8QQTN-1 2026-04-08 H Third Reading in Second House 2026-02-19 H Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar 2026-02-18 H Reported Out of Committee Second House from House Commerce and Small Business DG8QQTN-1 2026-02-12 H Pending House Commerce and Small Business 2026-02-12 H Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Commerce and Small Business 2026-02-12 S Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 388 2026-02-12 S Third Reading in House of Origin 2026-01-29 S Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar 2026-01-28 S Reported Out of Committee House of Origin 2026-01-14 S Pending Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development 2026-01-14 S Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development
Votes
2026-02-12 SBIR: Passed by House of Origin Yea: 33 Nay: 0 2026-02-12 Third Reading in House of Origin Yea: 33 Nay: 0 2026-02-12 Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Roll Call 388 Yea: 30 Nay: 1 2026-04-08 Gudger Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Roll Call 1260 Yea: 33 Nay: 0 2026-04-08 HBIR: Passed by Second House Yea: 105 Nay: 0 2026-04-08 Third Reading in Second House Yea: 105 Nay: 0 2026-04-08 Motion to Adopt - Roll Call 1304 DG8QQTN-1 Yea: 105 Nay: 0 2026-04-08 Motion to Adopt - Roll Call 1305 11JCJLZ-1 Yea: 105 Nay: 0 2026-04-08 Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Roll Call 1306 Yea: 101 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2026-01-14 S Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development 2026-02-12 H Commerce and Small Business
Amendments
2026-02-18 House Commerce and Small Business Reported Out of Committee Second House 2026-04-08 House Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1305
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-14 Introduced 0000-00-00 Enrolled
Subjects
Businesses & Financial Institutions Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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