The Alabama Senate on Tuesday approved a bill that would prohibit the state from having stricter environmental regulations than the federal government.
Senate Bill 71, sponsored by Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, drew sharp criticism from Democrats in the upper chamber, marking some of the first significant debate of the 2026 legislative session.
“This bill would also provide that upon the absence of federal law or regulations on an environmental matter, no state agency may adopt a rule unless the rule is based on the best available science and the way to scientific evidence,” Chesteen said.
If a federal regulation does not exist, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management cannot make a rule unless it is backed by “best available science,” Chesteen said.
Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, argued that the bill would put Alabama environmental regulations at risk if the Trump administration weakened any current regulations.