# Alabama HB159: Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, renamed the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission, participation of other public and private partners in providing facilities authorized; Governor to serve as ex officio nonvoting member; funds kept outside of State Treasury Alabama HB159, Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, renamed the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission, participation of other public and private partners in providing facilities authorized; Governor to serve as ex officio nonvoting member; funds kept outside of State Treasury, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Joe Lovvorn (Republican); status enacted, last action 2025-04-02 (Enacted) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB159-2025rs - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama HB159 - State: Alabama - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission, renamed the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission, participation of other public and private partners in providing facilities authorized; Governor to serve as ex officio nonvoting member; funds kept outside of State Treasury - Status: enacted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-04 - Last action: 2025-04-02, Enacted - Sponsor: Joe Lovvorn (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Authorities, Boards, & Commissions - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 5 (359 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 4 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Space center gains more visitor facility options: benefit, low. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission can work with the Army and other public or private partners where feasible. It can make agreements to provide exhibit facilities and choose sites. It can also build or acquire visitor lodging, parking, and meeting space without the former one-mile locatio… - Space center can expand science education: benefit, low. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission can create and run more science and technology education programs. Topics include rocketry, space exploration, astronomy, aviation, aeronautics, robotics, computer programming, and cybersecurity. It can choose other topics that fit its educational mission… - Space center controls staff benefits and holidays: mixed, low. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission chooses whether staff participate fully or partly in state health insurance and retirement plans. The commission and its staff are exempt from the specified state calendar and benefit rules. Instead, the commission can set its own calendar, holidays, and… - New diversity and term rules for commissioners: mixed, low. The Governor must make commission appointments reflect Alabama's racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity, without set quotas. As terms expire beginning October 1, 2025, members receive six-year terms, limited to two full terms in a row. Service before or on October 1, 2025,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Joe Lovvorn (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-03-18 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 342 | pass | 30 | 0 | | | 2025-03-18 | Senate | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 30 | 0 | | | 2025-02-25 | House | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 98 | 0 | 1 | | 2025-02-25 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 203 | pass | 101 | 0 | | | 2025-02-25 | House | Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 202 | pass | 100 | 0 | | ## Actions (23) - 2025-04-02: Enacted (House) - 2025-03-19: Signature Requested (Senate) - 2025-03-19: Delivered to Governor (House) - 2025-03-19: Delivered to Governor (House) - 2025-03-18: Third Reading in Second House (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 342 (Senate) - 2025-03-18: Ready to Enroll (House) - 2025-03-18: Ready to Enroll (House) - 2025-03-18: Enrolled (House) - 2025-03-05: Reported Out of Committee Second House (Senate) - 2025-03-05: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Third Reading in House of Origin (House) - 2025-02-25: Boards, Agencies and Commissions Engrossed Substitute Offered (House) - 2025-02-25: Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 202 (House) - 2025-02-25: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 203 (House) - 2025-02-25: Engrossed (House) - 2025-02-25: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on State Governmental Affairs (Senate) - 2025-02-25: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Senate) - 2025-02-12: Boards, Agencies and Commissions 1st Amendment (House) - 2025-02-12: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (House) - 2025-02-12: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2025-02-04: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Boards, Agencies and Commissions (House) - 2025-02-04: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB159-int.pdf) - Engrossed: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB159-eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB159-enr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB52: Income Taxes; to make technical changes to the funding provisions of the CHOOSE Act credits and increase funding, and to extend the sunset date for deductions… (enacted) - SB331: Barbour County, compensation of the judge of probate further provided for (enacted) - SB102: Medicaid; providing presumptive eligibility to pregnant women (enacted) - HB445: Cannabinoids found in hemp; licensure and regulation of sale of consumable cannabinoid products by Alcoholic Beverage Control Board imposed (enacted) - HB357: Tobacco products, heated tobacco product definition and tax provided for (enacted) - HB349: Russell County; sheriff, salary further provided (enacted) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB159-int.pdf) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB159-eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2025RS/HB159-enr.pdf) ## Related - [HB52: Income Taxes; to make technical changes to the funding provisions of the CHOOSE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB52-2025rs) - [SB331: Barbour County, compensation of the judge of probate further provided for](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB331-2025rs) - [SB102: Medicaid; providing presumptive eligibility to pregnant women](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB102-2025rs) - [HB445: Cannabinoids found in hemp; licensure and regulation of sale of consumable cann…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB445-2025rs) - [HB357: Tobacco products, heated tobacco product definition and tax provided for](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB357-2025rs) - [HB349: Russell County; sheriff, salary further provided](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB349-2025rs) - [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills) - [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB159-2025rs (as of 2026-10-19).