HB 7 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Crimes and offenses, credible threat defined; penalties for crimes of making a terrorist threat in the first or second degree provided further for; principal to immediately contact law enforcement of terrorist threat, suspension of student, readmittance, and restitution provided

HB 7 increases penalties for making terrorist threats in Alabama, elevating the first-degree offense to a Class B felony (from Class C) and the second-degree offense to a Class D felony (from Class A misdemeanor). It also requires public school principals to immediately notify law enforcement when a student's conduct potentially involves such a threat and mandates a mandatory one-year school suspension for students charged with making a terrorist threat in either degree. The bill specifies conditions for student readmittance and requires convicted individuals to pay restitution to victims. This directly affects K-12 students, school administrators, law enforcement, and courts by tightening legal consequences for threats targeting schools, public spaces, or officials.

Issues: ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jun 25, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · Apr 8, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized for signing (Enrolled) after minor formatting corrections to the sponsor list. Substantively, the definitions for 'credible threat' and 'weapon of mass destruction' were expanded to include more specific criteria for what constitutes a threat and a broader range of destructive devices. The requirements for first-degree terrorist threats were significantly strengthened to include mandates for evacuating properties or disrupting specific facilities like schools and hospitals, and to cover threats made against witnesses or government officials.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on crimes and offenses related to terrorist threats, but the specific actions that trigger a first-degree charge were expanded to include threats causing evacuation or disruption of critical facilities.

DEFINITION

The definition of a 'credible threat' was modified to require the statement to be unequivocal, immediate, and specific, and to cause the victim to reasonably be in sustained fear.

The definition of 'weapon of mass destruction' was modified to explicitly include weapons designed to release radiation or radioactivity at dangerous levels.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added for first-degree terrorist threats, specifically mandating that the threat cause the evacuation of real property or the disruption of schools, churches, government activities, hospitals, or nursing homes.

New requirements were added to cover threats made with intent to retaliate against witnesses, parties in legal proceedings, or individuals who provided information to law enforcement.

New requirements were added to cover threats made against elected public officials or their staff.

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

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Lomax Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1116

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 955

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Woods motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 954

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Introduced

Judiciary 1st Amendment Offered (Judiciary)

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

Judiciary 1st Amendment (Judiciary)

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 289

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 288

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Introduced

Judiciary 1st Substitute Offered (Judiciary)

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Judiciary)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors