The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama HB 401 increases mortgage recording fees and allocates dedicated revenue to the Housing Trust Fund
Last action · February 5, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of OriginSponsor: Kelvin Datcher
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
This bill doubles the mortgage recording privilege tax rate from 15 cents to 30 cents per $100 of indebtedness and establishes a permanent dedicated revenue stream for the Alabama Housing Trust Fund. Effective October 1, 2026, the legislation restructures fee distributions among probate judges, county treasuries, the State Treasury, and the housing trust fund.
Property buyers and borrowers statewide will pay higher recording fees on mortgages, deeds of trust, and s contracts, while state housing programs receive a new dedicated funding source.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
mortgagors and debtors
Mortgagors and debtors must pay an increased mortgage recording tax rate of thirty cents for each $100 of initial indebtedness.
judges of probate
Judges of probate retain five percent of collected taxes as compensation and handle tax collections, certifications, and county distributions.
financial institutions
Banks, savings and loan associations, and insurance companies may use simplified annual reporting procedures subject to State Banking Department audits.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the mortgage recording fee increase?
Where do the collected mortgage recording taxes go?
When does this change take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 5, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Feb 5, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means General Fund
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Dedicated Revenue for Housing Trust Fund
The legislation introduces a structural change by carving out 25 percent of mortgage recording taxes specifically for the Alabama Housing Trust Fund.
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy45Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools