MONTGOMERY — The 2026 legislative session ended on Thursday, thus bringing the quadrennium to a close.
During a Wednesday press gaggle with reporters, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said the quadrennium "has been really strong for Alabama," citing the passage of tax cuts, the CHOOSE Act, the Back the Blue Act and more.
"It's been a great run," Ledbetter stated. "I mean, this quadrennium has been really strong for Alabama, and certainly it's a pleasure and honor to be speaker, that the body voted for me to be for this quadrennium. And I feel good about what we've been able to accomplish. You know, we've helped families across the state, whether it's with tax cuts or giving the chance for children to go to school with the CHOOSE Act, or if it's the Back the Blue, what we've done for police officers. Certainly, career tech has been a priority of mine. We've moved it further this quadrennium than ever before. And the tax cuts of over $1.5 billion, as I keep saying over and over and over was good for the taxpayers in this state, capping the property tax.
"I go back, and a ton of things come to my head about what we've been able to do that makes our state better, and I think it shows by the number of industries that have moved into this state. Alabama ranks top 10 as far as the place to locate a new business, so I think it just proves a point that this body has worked extremely hard, and it's showing for the state," he added.
In a statement at the conclusion of the session on Thursday, Ledbetter echoed a similar sentiment, adding that Alabama was on an "entirely different trajectory" than when it convened in 2023 for the beginning of this quadrennium.
Full statement as follows:
When the Legislature convened in 2023 for the first session of the quadrennium, Alabama was a very different state. We ranked near the bottom in public education and did not have a school choice program. Over $1.5 billion in taxes—including a grocery tax with no end in sight—were still on the books. From a public safety perspective, law enforcement officers needed additional support, and our laws—specifically on fentanyl, human trafficking, and child molestation—were not strong enough. And in 2023, Alabama did not boast a top-20 economy that was the envy of the Southeast.
As we close the 2026 Legislative Session, the collective work of the men and women of the Legislature has the state of Alabama on an entirely different trajectory. Our state’s education system proudly stands as the most improved in the nation, thanks to historic investments and a renewed focus on restoring common sense in the classroom.
We have delivered over $1.5B in meaningful tax relief to working families, charting a clear path toward eliminating the grocery tax while easing financial burdens on seniors and small businesses. We have strengthened public safety by backing our law enforcement officers and enacting tougher, more effective laws to hold fentanyl traffickers, human traffickers, and those who harm children fully accountable. And we have positioned Alabama’s economy as one of the strongest in the Southeast, driven by pro-growth policies, workforce development, and strategic investments that are attracting jobs and opportunity to every corner of our state.
The difference between where our state was four years ago and where we find ourselves today is no accident—it is the result of principled, conservative leaders leaving excuses at the door, rolling up their sleeves, and putting in the hard work today to secure a stronger, more prosperous Alabama of tomorrow.
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