HB 315 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Authorize the governing body of a Class 1 municipality to enact and enforce vacant property registration ordinances.

HB 315 authorizes Alabama's Class 1 municipalities (like Birmingham) to require property owners to register vacant residential or commercial buildings within 30 days of vacancy or ownership change. Owners must pay an initial registration fee and annual supplemental fees, while municipalities must establish a database and enforce maintenance standards to address blight, safety risks, and public costs associated with vacant properties. The bill aims to help cities identify vacant properties, reduce neighborhood deterioration, and offset expenses like inspections and nuisance abatement. This legislation is currently pending in the House Committee on Jefferson County Legislation.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Apr 16, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 6 edits · Apr 16, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as 'Enrolled' from its 'Engrossed' version, incorporating substantive changes to replace the focus on 'blighted' properties with 'vacant' properties. This shift broadens the bill's scope to include unoccupied commercial buildings and adds specific criteria for what constitutes an unkempt property, such as overgrown vegetation or broken windows. The changes also refine exemptions to ensure owner-occupied homes and active multi-unit buildings are not incorrectly flagged.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from targeting only 'blighted' properties to targeting 'vacant' properties, which now explicitly includes commercial buildings and structures with no lawful business operations.

DEFINITION

The term 'blighted' was replaced with 'vacant' throughout the text, changing the legal definition of the properties the bill regulates.

A new definition for 'Commercial Building' was added to clarify that structures used for business, retail, or storage are included in the bill's scope.

A new definition for 'Evidence of Unkempt Vacancy' was added, listing specific conditions like overgrown grass, trash, graffiti, and broken windows that trigger the ordinance.

The previous definition of 'Blighted' was removed, as the bill now relies on the new 'Vacant' and 'Evidence of Unkempt Vacancy' definitions.

ELIGIBILITY

The definition of 'Vacant' was updated to include commercial buildings and to specify that owner-occupied single-family homes used as second residences are exempt.

REQUIREMENT

The legislative findings were updated to reflect that unkempt vacant properties, rather than just blighted ones, create public health and safety risks.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Moore (M) Motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1251

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1161

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Coleman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1160

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

Coleman 1st Amendment Offered

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Chambliss motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1159

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

Jefferson County Legislation 1st Substitute Offered (Jefferson County Legislation)

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Jefferson County Legislation)

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 896

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 895

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Tillman 1st Substitute Offered

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

Moore (M) motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Jefferson County Legislation Engrossed Substitute Offered (Jefferson County Legislation)

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Jefferson County Legislation)

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Jefferson County Legislation)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors