State desk
Ranks 11th of 50 on the Liberty Index.
Where Alabama stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 15 Alabama outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · Alabama in red. Free to cite with attribution.
No permit needed to carry a concealed handgun since 2023; optional permits remain available for reciprocity.
Alabama is 1 of 29 states with this rule
15 · Shall-Issue Permit6 · Restrictive: Permit Required
Alabama taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 5.00 percent across 3 brackets, ranking 22 of 41 among the states that tax income.
Alabama is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
Alabama charges 31.00 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 25 of 50, which is near the middle nationally. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 49.40 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 32.75 cents.
Alabama is 1 of 16 states with this rule
17 · Among the Highest17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty.
Alabama is 1 of 23 states with this rule
4 · Retains it, executions paused23 · Abolished
Right-to-work by statute since 1953; also enshrined in the state constitution in 2016.
Alabama is 1 of 26 states with this rule
24 · No Right-to-Work Law
No state minimum wage law; the federal $7.25 floor applies to covered employers.
Alabama is 1 of 5 states with this rule
30 · Above the Federal Floor12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies
Voters are asked for photo ID; those without one can still cast a counted ballot via affidavit or poll-worker verification.
Alabama is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)14 · No Document Required
CHOOSE Act ESA launched 2025, income-capped at first and phasing to all K-12 students by 2027.
Alabama is 1 of 17 states with this rule
16 · Limited Program17 · No Private-Choice Program
NCSL lists Alabama among states recognizing, by statute or court case, that there is no duty to retreat in any place where a person is lawfully present.
Alabama is 1 of 31 states with this rule
7 · Recognized by Court Decision12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Voters must cite a qualifying excuse such as illness, absence, or work to receive an absentee mail ballot.
Alabama is 1 of 13 states with this rule
8 · All-Mail29 · No-Excuse Absentee
Alabama's unemployment rate was 3.5% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, up 0.1 percentage points from 3.4% in August. It ranks 18th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), down from 15th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 2.8%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
Alabama is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court