Bobby Singleton sponsors bill to retain university researchers by allowing intellectual property sharing

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) is sponsoring a bill that he says will help retain researchers at universities by allowing the sharing of intellectual property that professors can "personally benefit" from.

“If today one of our professors came up with a cure for cancer, right now he could not use his intellectual property to profit from that because under our current ethics law that would be considered double dipping,” said Singleton in a press release. “I have received so many calls and emails from professors from all over the state thanking me for bringing this bill.”

Titled SB237 it will go into effect on June 1, 2026 if it is passed. The press release stated that the legislation will help in economic development.

“Because of the current ethics rule, we are losing professors and researchers every day to other states and other universities,” Singleton said. “We need to change the law to increase economic development and technical logical innovations.”

The bill will be taken up by the House Ethics and Campaign Finance Committee at 10:30 a.m. on March 17 in Room 418 of the Alabama State House.

“This law will expand university technology transfer and commercialization efforts, encourage university partnerships and collaboration with industry, and increase the opportunities that researchers and graduates have in this state. We are grateful for Senator Singleton’s leadership,” said a statement from Auburn University.