02/17/2026
🚨ALABAMA AUTISM FAMILIES🚨
*copied from a concerned caregiver*
A bill affecting autism service providers was filed and fast-tracked without real notice to the autism community. It was dropped last week, amended on the Senate floor, pushed ahead of other bills, and passed before most families even knew it existed.
And who sponsored it?
Senator Chris Elliott of Baldwin County.
This is the same legislature that didn’t understand what ABA therapy was when we were pushing HB284 in 2017-2018, yet now somehow they know exactly how to restructure oversight of autism services?
That’s laughable if it wasn’t so dangerous.
SB113 strips real authority away from the independent professional board that regulates autism therapy and instead puts oversight under the Alabama Department of Mental Health: a department that both provides and pays for services. That looks like self-regulation and a major conflict of interest to anyone paying attention.
We already live in a state with:
• a severe shortage of autism therapy providers
• waitlists for evaluations and treatment that stretch for months or longer
• families driving hours for access
And now lawmakers think the solution is to take independent oversight away without stakeholder input?
This is political maneuvering, and for what!?
If this move actually improved access, they could have explained it, engaged professionals, and given families time to weigh in.
Instead, they chose to rush it.
Find your House Representative and call them. Demand answers from Senator Chris Elliott and anyone who helped fast-track this bill.
Ask:
• Why was this rushed without notice?
• How does this help with provider shortages?
• How are conflicts of interest prevented?
• Why dismantle independent oversight in the first place?
We earned coverage in this state through hard work and advocacy. We will not quietly watch it get shuffled behind closed doors.
🌟 What You Can Do Right Now
✔ FIND YOUR Alabama House Representative here:
➡️ https://alison.legislature.state.al.us → “Find Your Legislator” → enter your address
This bill now moves to the house. Call and email your house representatives (state level NOT federal.) I’ve pinned a call and email script in comments.
Please share far and wide.
Contact Albright, Myrex, Gudger
https://www.wbrc.com/2026/02/13/alabama-senate-passes-bill-shifting-autism-therapy-oversight-state-mental-health-department/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQBUTZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeTplV0864drZUgtKyGif8QlU-WuBqCcUn4HQSZQf0N_FnPzyLGJCUflMzoJQ_aem_jZIBmfLcuyHzvIen7ud5zg
Senate Bill 113 changed and gives licensing power to the state Department of Mental Health, a conflict of interest to some.
