This bill authorizes law enforcement officers in Crenshaw County to take individuals with mental illness into protective custody when they pose an immediate danger to themselves or others. The officer must transport the person to a hospital or treatment facility for evaluation, and if the individual does not consent, reasonable force may be used. The person must be released within 72 hours unless a judge orders further treatment, and the custody is not considered an arrest or criminal charge. Law enforcement officers and medical providers acting in good faith under this bill receive immunity from civil liability.
This bill expands expungement eligibility in Alabama by allowing individuals with pardoned, vacated, or overturned convictions to petition for record sealing. It also clarifies hearing procedures for expungement petitions and adds specific circumstances under which misdemeanor charges can be expunged, including successful completion of drug court, mental health court, or other diversion programs. The legislation maintains restrictions on expunging violent offenses, sex offenses, and crimes involving moral turpitude while permitting expungement for certain non-violent misdemeanors after a three-year waiting period. Additionally, the bill specifies that expunged records remain accessible to criminal justice agencies for investigation purposes and to certain entities like utilities and child protection services.
This bill modifies Alabama's manslaughter laws to broaden the circumstances under which someone can be charged with manslaughter when providing controlled substances. It removes the requirement that the substance must specifically contain fentanyl, applying instead to any controlled substance that causes the recipient's death. The penalty for this offense would increase from a Class B felony to a Class A felony with a mandatory minimum life sentence. Medical professionals licensed to practice medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry are excluded from these provisions. The changes would take effect on October 1, 2026.
This bill modifies Alabama's child-care licensing rules by removing exemptions for facilities that operate on a for-profit basis or provide 24-hour care, requiring these entities to obtain licenses regardless of their previous status. It expands the Department of Human Resources' authority to create regulations specifically governing video surveillance and data retention in child-care settings. Additionally, the bill grants law enforcement agencies the power to enter child-care facilities without notice during child abuse investigations and allows private individuals to file lawsuits against facilities that violate child-care laws.
This bill would allow Winston County to collect an eight percent lodging tax on overnight stays at hotels, motels, inns, and short-term rentals, with the tax paid by guests and collected by lodging providers. The collected funds would be distributed to road and bridge improvements, the sheriff's office for law enforcement, and the county general fund for tourism development and debt repayment on the judicial building and jail. Additionally, the bill imposes a five dollar per night fire protection fee on transient accommodations, with the proceeds distributed equally among volunteer fire departments in the county. Both the lodging tax and fire protection fee would only take effect if approved by voters in a referendum held during the next state or local election.
This bill requires individuals convicted of driving under the influence to pay child support if their offense causes the death of a child's parent or guardian. The support obligation applies until the child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever comes later, and begins accruing from the date of the parent's death. Courts can calculate payments using existing child support guidelines or determine a reasonable amount based on the child's needs, the surviving parent's resources, and the standard of living the child would have had. The law includes provisions for income withholding to enforce payments and allows a one-year grace period for incarcerated offenders to begin paying after release.
SB 285 amends Alabama's marijuana possession laws by redefining offenses based on the amount possessed. It creates a new "second-degree" offense for possessing less than one ounce (previously covered personal use only), reducing this to a fine-only violation (down from a Class A misdemeanor). For one ounce or more, it establishes a "first-degree" offense with tiered penalties: fines for first/second offenses within five years, and a felony for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also adds an expungement process for eligible cases, allowing records to be sealed if the person has no recent felony, misdemeanor, or violation convictions (excluding minor traffic offenses). This bill is pending committee review and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.
HB 461 creates a new program at Marion Military Institute (MMI) that allows students to earn an associate's degree and complete the required basic training to become Alabama law enforcement officers. Graduates of this program receive provisional certification from the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission (APOST) upon graduation, which becomes full certification if they are hired by an Alabama law enforcement agency within six months. The bill requires APOST to recognize MMI as an official training academy and exempts students from needing full-time law enforcement employment while enrolled. This directly affects MMI students pursuing law enforcement careers by streamlining their certification path without requiring additional training after graduation.
SB 318 expands Alabama's definition of sexual torture to include penetration of the penile opening and touching of the breast or scrotum, in addition to existing provisions covering vaginal, anal, or oral penetration. The bill specifies four scenarios where this crime applies: using objects with intent to sexually torture, targeting victims incapable of consent, involving children under 12 with age restrictions, or inflicting physical injury on intimate body parts. It classifies sexual torture as a Class A felony. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, and is pending committee review in the Alabama Senate.
SB 290 revises Alabama's voting rights restoration process by automatically restoring voting rights for most individuals with felony convictions (excluding murder, rape, or other serious offenses) upon completion of their sentence, eliminating the need for a separate application. It removes barriers to absentee voting, adds an advance voting period before elections with specified hours and dates, and establishes the Alabama Voting Rights Commission to review election actions that could discriminate against protected voter groups. The bill also requires the Secretary of State to maintain a statewide election database and publicize election-related information. These changes directly affect formerly incarcerated voters, election administrators, and protected voter classes.
