Criminal Justice (Courts)

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 58 requires Alabama courts to delay (continue) criminal and civil cases when a party, their lead attorney, or a key witness is on active military duty. It mandates that in criminal cases, bail must be set for defendants when the state secures such a delay, except for violent offenses or capital charges. The bill also requires courts to delay cases if a military witness is unavailable, provided they're material, outside the state, and a request was made per federal law (5 U.S.C. § 301). Civil cases follow similar delay rules but do not require bail setting. The Alabama Supreme Court must update its rules to align with these changes, effective October 1, 2026.

HB 29 amends Alabama's manslaughter law to include cases where sexual extortion of a minor under 18 directly causes the victim's death. The bill specifically adds that if a person commits sexual extortion (as defined in Section 13A-6-241) against a minor and the victim dies, the perpetrator can be charged with manslaughter if the court finds the sexual extortion was the proximate cause of death. It clarifies that a victim's suicide following sexual extortion is deemed a foreseeable consequence, not an independent cause. This change elevates such cases to a Class A felony (the highest penalty for manslaughter), directly affecting minors subjected to sexual extortion and those who commit such acts. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.