SB 42 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Property; governmental body authorized to allow condemned abandoned state road to revert back to original landowner once deemed unusable

SB 42 allows a governmental body to return ownership of a condemned and abandoned state road back to its original landowner. This can happen unless granting the request would cause an adjacent property owner to lose road access. Additionally, the road cannot revert if it provides access to, or is part of, an existing or planned greenway trail recognized by state, county, or municipal authorities. This bill primarily affects original landowners seeking to reclaim such properties and the governmental bodies managing these roads.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Signed May 21, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Enrolled · 4 edits · May 21, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an enrolled act, changing the effective date from October 1, 2025, to June 1, 2025. The text was cleaned up to remove redundant language and clarify that the new rules do not apply to the State of Alabama or the Department of Transportation.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed to explicitly exclude the State of Alabama and the State Department of Transportation from the new petition process, which previously applied more broadly.
TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was moved forward from October 1, 2025, to June 1, 2025.

SCOPE

The law now explicitly states that it does not apply to the State of Alabama or the State Department of Transportation.

REQUIREMENT

Redundant and contradictory text regarding county acquisition of rights-of-way was removed to clarify the process.

The conditions for granting a petition to reclaim abandoned road land were clarified to include specific exceptions, such as if the road provides access to a greenway trail.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
11
Committee
4
Amendments
5
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Melson Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1047
upper
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1210
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1209
lower
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Crawford 1st Amendment Offered
lower
May 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1208
lower
May 7, 2025
Introduced
Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Engrossed Substitute Offered (Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure)
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House (Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure)
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Introduced
Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure 1st Amendment (Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure)
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure)
lower
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 128
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Stutts motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 127
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
Stutts 1st Amendment Offered
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Melson motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 126
upper
Feb 18, 2025
Introduced
Melson 1st Amendment Offered
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry)
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Tim Melson
Tim Melson
RRepublican
AL
1