SB 20 amends Alabama's assault law to specifically criminalize assaults against public officials. It creates a new provision making it a Class C felony to intentionally cause physical injury to a current or former local, state, or federal public official while they are performing their duties. This change directly affects individuals who assault public officials, including police, judges, elected representatives, and other government workers. The bill updates existing assault statutes by adding this specific protection for public officials, alongside other existing categories like assaults on teachers, healthcare workers, and emergency personnel.
SB 17 amends Alabama law to make rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual torture capital offenses when the victim is under 12 years old. It also requires that individuals convicted of these crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The bill directly affects perpetrators of these specific sexual offenses against children under 12, altering their sentencing from Class A felonies to capital offenses. These changes would apply to cases involving victims younger than 12, as specified in the proposed amendments to Alabama's criminal code. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
HB 20 would amend Alabama law to add a new capital offense: murder committed when the defendant knowingly creates a great risk of death to multiple people. This change would expand the list of capital murder charges (under Section 13A-5-40) and also add this scenario as an aggravating circumstance in sentencing hearings (under Section 13A-5-49). The bill directly affects defendants charged with murder who intentionally cause widespread danger to multiple victims, such as in mass casualty incidents. It does not change existing penalties but specifies that this new category must be considered in death penalty eligibility determinations. The bill is currently pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
HB 37 would change Alabama's penalties for drivers who flee or attempt to elude law enforcement. If passed, courts must sentence convicted offenders to a minimum of 60 days in jail (replacing the prior requirement for license suspension only), and must also suspend their driver's license for six months to two years. The bill also requires that anyone arrested for this offense be held in custody for at least 48 hours without bond or release. This law directly affects drivers convicted of eluding police, increasing both the mandatory jail time and pretrial detention period. The changes apply to all cases where a driver intentionally flees an officer's attempt to stop them.
SB 24 requires Alabama's Pardons and Paroles Board to post clear instructions and an online application form on its website by September 2026, enabling individuals who lost voting rights due to criminal convictions to request restoration. The board must also publicly list names of people whose rights are restored and notify the Secretary of State with their details. The Secretary of State then informs county election registrars, who must add eligible individuals to voter rolls and notify them of their restored voting eligibility. This bill directly affects formerly incarcerated people seeking to regain voting rights under Alabama law, streamlining the process through mandated digital accessibility and interagency coordination.
HB 51 amends Alabama law to specifically protect current and former public officials from assault and harassment. It elevates assaults causing physical injury to public officials to second-degree assault (a Class C felony) instead of third-degree, and upgrades harassment or harassing communications targeting public officials to a Class B misdemeanor. The bill directly affects individuals who commit physical assault or threatening communications against public officials while they are performing their duties. These changes apply to all public officials as defined in Alabama law, including elected and appointed positions. The bill also includes minor technical updates to align the legal language with current style.
HB 60 requires Alabama courts to delay both criminal and civil cases when a party, their lead attorney, or a key witness is on active military duty. In criminal cases, the court must set bail for the defendant if the state gets a continuance for military absence, except for violent offenses (with court discretion) or capital crimes. The bill also mandates that Alabama’s Supreme Court update its rules to match these requirements. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 1 would require first-time DUI offenders in Alabama to install and operate an ignition interlock device on their vehicle for six months instead of 90 days to avoid a 90-day driver's license suspension. Currently, offenders can avoid the suspension by using the device for 90 days, but this bill extends that requirement to six months. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of a first driving under the influence offense in Alabama. It amends Alabama Code Section 32-5A-191 to change the duration of the ignition interlock device requirement for first-time convictions.
HB 11, titled "Jolee's Law," prohibits judges from granting youthful offender status to individuals aged 16 or older charged with capital murder (per Section 13A-5-40) or murder (per Section 13A-6-2(a)(1)). It directly affects defendants in these specific homicide cases, requiring them to be charged, arrested, and tried as adults rather than as youthful offenders. The bill amends Alabama law to block youthful offender status in these cases, though defendants may qualify if charges are later reduced to lesser offenses. It also adds victim notification requirements (10 days prior to hearings) and mandates courts to consider victim injury evidence before ruling on youthful offender status. The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee as of January 2026.
This bill bans "slap fighting" in Alabama, defined as unarmed combat where opponents stand at arm's length and take turns slapping each other in the face without moving or defending. It directly affects promoters, managers, and participants in such events, as well as the Alabama Athletic Commission, which now has expanded enforcement powers. The law authorizes the Attorney General to sue violators and imposes criminal penalties: Class C felonies for promoters/managers who knowingly violate the ban, and Class B misdemeanors for fighters. Violators may also face civil fines up to $25,000, with penalties applied alongside other relevant criminal laws. The bill amends existing athletic commission statutes and takes effect October 1, 2026.
