Senator Merika Coleman (D)
Profile
Bio
Senator Merika Coleman was elected to the Alabama Senate in November of 2022. Serving her first term, Senator Coleman was elected by her colleagues as the Vice-Chair of the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus. Before serving in the Senate, Senator Coleman served 20 years in the Alabama House of Representatives. She was a member of the leadership of the 105-member body and served as the Assistant Minority Leader, the first person ever to serve in this position. A history maker elected first at 28 years old, to date, Senator Coleman is the youngest woman ever elected to the Alabama Legislature.
Known as a legislator who speaks truth to power, Senator Coleman currently serves on seven Senate Standing Committees and is the only female member of the Banking and Insurance Committee and one of only four women who serve in the entire 35-member Alabama Senate. In addition to Banking, Senator Coleman serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, Transportation and Energy, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development, and two Government Affairs Committees.
In addition to Senator Coleman's two degrees from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Public Administration, she completed her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Birmingham School of Law.
Senator Coleman is actively involved with numerous organizations, beginning with her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., where she helps develop programming for the Social Action Committee. Senator Coleman is also a member of the House of Electa Chapter #895, O.E.S., P.H.A., and the Bessemer Business and Professional Women's Organization, serving as the Chair of the Legislative Committee. Though on hiatus, Senator Coleman is also a member of Links Inc.
Professionally, Senator Coleman started her career as a community organizer and economic justice strategist and presently is a part-time Municipal Judge in the City of Birmingham. She is also the owner of the Law Offices of Merika Coleman, LLC, a law firm that focuses on domestic relations, family law, as well as estate planning and personal injury. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Judge U.W. Clemon Center for Economic and Social Justice at Miles College.
Nationally, Senator Coleman is a sought-after legislator by many women and political groups for her ideas on a range of issues, including eradicating human trafficking, the role of Black women in politics, healthcare reform, reproductive rights for women, pay equity, economic development, defense spending, and common-sense gun regulations.
Senator Coleman has been recognized by numerous organizations for her commitment to the poor and improving the quality of life for all Alabamians. Most recently, she was inducted into the U.A.B. M.P .A. Program's Hall of Fame for her contributions to public service.
Although she has accomplished many things politically and professionally, her greatest accomplishment is being a mother. She is the mother of Elexia, who was a member of the 2019 graduating class of Vanderbilt University. Elexia also graduated in 2024 with a dual Master of Public Health and Master of Business at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her son Xaviar, a former member of the UAB Blazer football team, graduated in May 2025 from Miles College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. He is currently pursuing a Master's of Artificial Intelligence from Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences and will pursue a career in finance. Senator Coleman is the proud daughter of a disabled veteran, retired USAF MSGT Arthur Williams and Paulette Williams.
| Committee | Position |
|---|---|
Banking and Insurance | Member |
County and Municipal Government | Member |
Finance and Taxation General Fund | Member |
Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development | Member |
State Governmental Affairs | Member |
Transportation and Energy | Member |
Jefferson County Legislation | Member |
Joint Legislative Committee On State Parks | Member |
Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Finances and Budget | Member |
| Legislation | Title | Status | Last Action | Last Action Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SJR72026 Regular Session | John R. Lewis Voting Right Advancement Act, Freedom to Vote Act, supported | Pending Committee Action in Second House | Pending Committee Action in Second House | 1/14/2026 |
SB432026 Regular Session | Child sexual abuse; Legislature authorized to revive certain time-barred civil claims, constitutional amendment | Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin | Currently Indefinitely Postponed | 4/7/2026 |
SB442026 Regular Session | Child sexual abuse; statute of limitations extended and further provided for, certain time-barred civil claims revived | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SB462026 Regular Session | Motor vehicles; driver licenses; designation of certain medical conditions, provided for | Read Second Time in Second House | Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar | 2/5/2026 |
SB472026 Regular Session | Child support; retroactivity provided for in certain circumstances | Pending Committee Action in Second House | Pending Committee Action in Second House | 3/12/2026 |
SB482026 Regular Session | Law enforcement; four-point restraint, use prohibited | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SB492026 Regular Session | Crimes and offenses; use of taser prohibited on restrained individual, penalties for violations | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SB502026 Regular Session | Criminal procedure; use of taser, prohibited on restrained individual | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SB512026 Regular Session | Contraception; guaranteeing access to in the state | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SB522026 Regular Session | Criminal and civil procedure; continuance of case when party, attorney, or witness is on active military duty, bail required to be set in such cases subject to conditions | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SB532026 Regular Session | Criminal and civil procedure; continuance of case when party, attorney, or witness is on active military duty; bail required to be set in such cases subject to conditions | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/13/2026 |
SJR792026 Regular Session | Alabama Legislative Study Commission on Child Sexual Abuse Laws and Policies, created | Enacted | Enacted | 4/9/2026 |
SB1562026 Regular Session | Firearms, Gun Violence, Protective Order Act, procedure for issuance of gun violence protective order, established | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/14/2026 |
SB1572026 Regular Session | Public records; footage from law enforcement body-worn cameras or dashboard cameras, designated as public record | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | Pending Committee Action in House of Origin | 1/14/2026 |
SB181 (c. HB227)2026 Regular Session | Administrative Office of Courts, creation of judicial education nonprofit | Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin | Currently Indefinitely Postponed | 4/7/2026 |
SJR72026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
John R. Lewis Voting Right Advancement Act, Freedom to Vote Act, supported
Status: Pending Committee Action in Second House
Last Action: 1/14/2026 Pending Committee Action in Second House
SB432026 Regular Session
Constitutional Amendments Statewide
Child sexual abuse; Legislature authorized to revive certain time-barred civil claims, constitutional amendment
Status: Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
Last Action: 4/7/2026 Currently Indefinitely Postponed
SB442026 Regular Session
Civil Procedure
Child sexual abuse; statute of limitations extended and further provided for, certain time-barred civil claims revived
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB462026 Regular Session
Motor Vehicles & Traffic
Motor vehicles; driver licenses; designation of certain medical conditions, provided for
Status: Read Second Time in Second House
Last Action: 2/5/2026 Read for the Second Time and Placed on the Calendar
SB472026 Regular Session
Family Law
Child support; retroactivity provided for in certain circumstances
Status: Pending Committee Action in Second House
Last Action: 3/12/2026 Pending Committee Action in Second House
SB482026 Regular Session
Crimes & Offenses
Law enforcement; four-point restraint, use prohibited
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB492026 Regular Session
Crimes & Offenses
Crimes and offenses; use of taser prohibited on restrained individual, penalties for violations
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB502026 Regular Session
Criminal Procedure
Criminal procedure; use of taser, prohibited on restrained individual
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB512026 Regular Session
Discrimination & Civil Protections
Contraception; guaranteeing access to in the state
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB522026 Regular Session
Courts & Judges
Criminal and civil procedure; continuance of case when party, attorney, or witness is on active military duty, bail required to be set in such cases subject to conditions
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB532026 Regular Session
Courts & Judges
Criminal and civil procedure; continuance of case when party, attorney, or witness is on active military duty; bail required to be set in such cases subject to conditions
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/13/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SJR792026 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution
Alabama Legislative Study Commission on Child Sexual Abuse Laws and Policies, created
Status: Enacted
Last Action: 4/9/2026 Enacted
SB1562026 Regular Session
Firearms
Firearms, Gun Violence, Protective Order Act, procedure for issuance of gun violence protective order, established
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/14/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB1572026 Regular Session
Government Administration
Public records; footage from law enforcement body-worn cameras or dashboard cameras, designated as public record
Status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Last Action: 1/14/2026 Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
SB1812026 Regular Session
Courts & Judges
Administrative Office of Courts, creation of judicial education nonprofit
Status: Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
Last Action: 4/7/2026 Currently Indefinitely Postponed
Companion: HB227 - Hill (J)