HB 367 establishes a $30 booking fee for defendants convicted or who plead guilty in Randolph County circuit or district court cases. This fee is collected alongside other court costs and cannot be waived unless all other case-related fees are waived. The revenue from this fee must be sent monthly to the Randolph County Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund for use in local law enforcement. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 263 establishes a new crime for abandoning animals in Alabama, defined as intentionally leaving an animal without care (risking injury, starvation, or death). It creates misdemeanor penalties for first offenses (Class A), escalating to felony charges (Class D) for repeat violations, animal injury/death, or abandoning five or more animals. Law enforcement can seize abandoned animals or order owners to provide care, with courts required to hold a hearing within 20 days to determine if the owner can safely regain custody. If the owner is unfit, the court may order euthanasia, transfer to a shelter, require payment for care costs, or impose a five-year ban on owning animals. The bill excludes lawful hunting, farming practices, veterinary care, and pest control from its provisions.
SB 306 authorizes Alabama's Class 1 municipalities (largest cities) to require property owners to register vacant residential or commercial buildings. Owners must register within 30 days of vacancy or ownership change, providing owner details and property information, and pay an initial registration fee plus annual supplemental fees. The law aims to address issues like blight, crime, and reduced property values by creating a city-wide database, enforcing maintenance standards, and compensating municipalities for costs linked to vacant properties. It excludes federal, state, and public property from the requirement.
SB 273 revises Alabama's stalking law by upgrading penalties for repeat offenders. Specifically, it changes the penalty for a second or subsequent violation of "stalking in the second degree" from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C felony. This directly affects individuals convicted of stalking who commit a second or later offense after being warned to stop. The bill does not change the definition of stalking itself but increases the criminal consequences for those with prior convictions. The amendment takes effect on October 1, 2026.
SB 267 requires most Alabamians to obtain a permit to carry a pistol in a vehicle or on their person starting January 1, 2027, replacing the current no-permit requirement. Exceptions include carrying on personal property, at home, at a fixed business location, or with an unloaded pistol locked in a vehicle compartment. Violating this requirement would be a Class A misdemeanor. Existing concealed carry permits remain valid until the effective date, and the bill also revises employer property carry rules and makes minor code adjustments.
HB 386 adds a $20 fee for pistol permits issued by Elmore County, effective October 1, 2026. The fee is split: $1 goes to the county general fund, and $19 is deposited into a new Sheriffs' Law Enforcement Fund. This fund must be used exclusively for law enforcement purposes by the sheriff's office, with no impact on existing sheriff funding sources. The bill directly affects individuals applying for pistol permits in Elmore County.
SB 293 would create a new criminal offense for interfering with first responders, including police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel, while they are performing their duties. The law prohibits approaching or remaining within 25 feet of a first responder after being explicitly told to move away, if the person then impedes the responder’s work, threatens them with physical harm, or makes physical contact. Violating this law would result in a Class A misdemeanor charge, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine. The bill excludes actions related to obstructing an arrest and is currently pending in the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee.
SB 322 amends Alabama law to remove reservoirs meeting the definition of public waters (as defined in Section 9-11-80) from the list of critical infrastructure facilities. This means unauthorized entry to such reservoirs would no longer be considered a crime under the statute governing entry to critical infrastructure facilities. The bill directly affects reservoirs managed as public waters, typically used for drinking water supply, clarifying they are excluded from this specific criminal provision. The change eliminates ambiguity about whether public water reservoirs fall under the statute’s scope.
HB 437 modifies Alabama's parole violation procedures. It requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles to revoke parole and send individuals to prison for violations involving violent crimes, sex offenses, firearm possession, or aggravated theft. For other violations, the board may choose to impose up to 45 days in a specialized facility or county jail instead of revoking parole, considering the "totality of circumstances." The bill also creates a new Parole Revocation Hearing Officer position and allows parole officers to impose short-term sanctions like GPS monitoring or treatment. This directly affects parolees who violate their release terms.
This bill requires Alabama's smallest cities (Class 3 municipalities) to maintain at least two full-time police officers for every 1,000 residents, based on the 2020 census. Cities not meeting this standard by October 1, 2026, receive a five-year grace period to gradually increase staffing by at least 10% annually. If a city fails to comply after the grace period, Alabama's law enforcement agency (ALEA) can take operational control, create a correction plan, deploy state officers, or appoint a chief officer. The state may also seek reimbursement from the city for costs incurred during oversight. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026.
