Senator Arthur Orr (R)
Profile
Bio
Senator Arthur Orr was elected to the Alabama Senate, November 7, 2006. He was born in 1964 in Decatur. Senator Orr received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law. He was a partner in one of the oldest and largest North Alabama law firms and is now executive vice president over finance and accounting, human resources, property management, legal, technology, marketing and advertising for Cook’s Pest Control, Inc. Senator Orr is married to the former Amy Wallace Bethshares of Decatur. They are members of First Bible Church in Decatur and have one son, Jack and a daughter, Anna.
A former U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal, Senator Orr also served as a new country developer (Bangladesh) and staff attorney for Habitat for Humanity International in the Asia/Pacific area for years. He has been active in the Decatur-Morgan County area serving in leadership capacities for numerous boards and organizations. He also helped start the Community Free Clinic for the working poor and serves on its board.
In addition to his local service, Senator Orr serves as Chairman or member of many state boards and commissions. He is also Past President of the Wake Forest Alumni Association. He has received numerous national, state and local awards from education, business, agriculture and other organizations. He is a graduate of Leadership Alabama and a Henry Toll Fellow. He enjoys reading, jogging and travel - having lived in or visited over 60 countries.
| Committee | Position |
|---|---|
Finance and Taxation Education | Chairperson |
Finance and Taxation General Fund | Member |
Judiciary | Member |
Madison County Legislation | Member |
Rules | Member |
State Governmental Affairs | Member |
Alabama Research and Development Enhancement Oversight Committee | Member |
Alabama Rural Broadband Oversight Committee | Member |
Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee | Member |
Information Technology Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee | Member |
Joint Legislative Advisory Committee on Community Service Grants | Member |
Legislative Committee On Public Accounts | Member |
Permanent Joint Legislative Advisory Committee on Economic Incentives | Member |
Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Finances and Budget | Member |
| Legislation | Title | Status | Last Action | Last Action Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SJR122026 Regular Session | United States Postal Service, 250th anniversary, celebrated | Enacted | Enacted | 1/29/2026 |
SJR132026 Regular Session | Alabama Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American revolution, commended | Enacted | Delivered to Governor | 1/22/2026 |
SB572026 Regular Session | Public assistance; Department of Human Resources required to request waiver to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, implementation of prohibition provided for | Enacted | Enacted | 4/16/2026 |
SB582026 Regular Session | Public Corruption; convicted public servant's retirement contributions forfeited to pay restitution; convicted public servant's compensation while on leave with pay forfeited | Enacted | Enacted | 4/2/2026 |
SB59 (c. HB165)2026 Regular Session | Higher education, to require public colleges and universities to submit annual report on the amount of state and federal funds received and expended, and plans for operating if federal or state funding reduced | Enacted | Enacted | 4/17/2026 |
SB602026 Regular Session | Criminal procedure; Department of Corrections, outstanding warrant check procedures on inmates, provided; virtual hearings on inmates, required under certain conditions | Read Second Time in Second House | Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar | 2/12/2026 |
SB612026 Regular Session | Public assistance; regular cross-checks required for Medicaid and food assistance eligibly, categorical eligibly for food assistance prohibited, eligibility for food assistance further provided for | Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin | Currently Indefinitely Postponed | 4/7/2026 |
SB622026 Regular Session | Alabama Charter School Finance Authority, bonding authority established, legislative findings, board membership, powers, contracts, investments | Enacted | Enacted | 4/17/2026 |
SB632026 Regular Session | Health care plans; to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in determinations of coverage | Enacted | Enacted | 4/17/2026 |
SB83 (c. HB249)2026 Regular Session | Guardianships and conservatorships; notice requirements further provided for, procedures to remove proceeding to circuit court revised, duties of guardian ad litem of a minor further provided for and training required, court representative required to be appointed for allegedly incapacitated adults in certain circumstances, appointment of temporary or emergency guardian or conservator authorized in certain circumstances | Read Second Time in Second House | Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar | 3/5/2026 |
SJR832026 Regular Session | Mr. Jim America, commended | Enacted | Enacted | 4/2/2026 |
SJR842026 Regular Session | Alabama specialty public high schools, consortium encouraged | Enacted | Enacted | 4/2/2026 |
SB922026 Regular Session | Campaign contributions; contributions made with credit card with billing address outside U.S. prohibited, exceptions provided | Enacted | Enacted | 4/17/2026 |
SR1082026 Regular Session | Senate Rules amended | Passed by House of Origin | Waggoner Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1094 | 4/2/2026 |
SJR1132026 Regular Session | Seriousness of the national debt and its threat to national security, recognized | Enacted | Enacted | 4/15/2026 |
SJR122026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
United States Postal Service, 250th anniversary, celebrated
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 1/29/2026 Enacted
SJR132026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Alabama Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American revolution, commended
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 1/22/2026 Delivered to Governor
SB572026 Regular Session
Health
Public assistance; Department of Human Resources required to request waiver to prohibit the purchase of soda and candy with SNAP benefits, implementation of prohibition provided for
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/16/2026 Enacted
SB582026 Regular Session
Government Administration
Public Corruption; convicted public servant's retirement contributions forfeited to pay restitution; convicted public servant's compensation while on leave with pay forfeited
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/2/2026 Enacted
SB592026 Regular Session
Education
Higher education, to require public colleges and universities to submit annual report on the amount of state and federal funds received and expended, and plans for operating if federal or state funding reduced
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/17/2026 Enacted
Companion: HB165 - Garrett
SB602026 Regular Session
Criminal Procedure
Criminal procedure; Department of Corrections, outstanding warrant check procedures on inmates, provided; virtual hearings on inmates, required under certain conditions
Status: Read Second Time in Second House
Last Action: 2/12/2026 Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar
SB612026 Regular Session
Health
Public assistance; regular cross-checks required for Medicaid and food assistance eligibly, categorical eligibly for food assistance prohibited, eligibility for food assistance further provided for
Status: Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
Last Action: 4/7/2026 Currently Indefinitely Postponed
SB622026 Regular Session
Education
Alabama Charter School Finance Authority, bonding authority established, legislative findings, board membership, powers, contracts, investments
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/17/2026 Enacted
SB632026 Regular Session
Insurance
Health care plans; to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in determinations of coverage
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/17/2026 Enacted
SB832026 Regular Session
Family Law
Guardianships and conservatorships; notice requirements further provided for, procedures to remove proceeding to circuit court revised, duties of guardian ad litem of a minor further provided for and training required, court representative required to be appointed for allegedly incapacitated adults in certain circumstances, appointment of temporary or emergency guardian or conservator authorized in certain circumstances
Status: Read Second Time in Second House
Last Action: 3/5/2026 Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar
Companion: HB249 - Faulkner
SJR832026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Mr. Jim America, commended
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/2/2026 Enacted
SJR842026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Alabama specialty public high schools, consortium encouraged
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/2/2026 Enacted
SB922026 Regular Session
Elections, Voting, & Campaigns
Campaign contributions; contributions made with credit card with billing address outside U.S. prohibited, exceptions provided
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/17/2026 Enacted
SR1082026 Regular Session
Senate Resolution
Senate Rules amended
Status: Passed by House of Origin
Last Action: 4/2/2026 Waggoner Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1094
SJR1132026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Seriousness of the national debt and its threat to national security, recognized
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/15/2026 Enacted