This bill prohibits individuals from carrying firearms in specific Alabama municipalities without a valid form of identification. It applies only to Class 1 municipalities and Class 3 municipalities organized under Act 618, requiring people to produce ID when asked by law enforcement. The law allows individuals to avoid penalties if they can verify their identity to an officer even without physical ID, and courts must dismiss charges and expunge records if valid ID is later produced. Violations would result in a Class C misdemeanor charge. The bill would take effect on October 1, 2026.
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.
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 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 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 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.
SB 321 reclassifies psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp (including Delta-8, Delta-9, and Delta-10 THC) as Schedule I controlled substances, effectively banning them under state law. This directly affects consumers who use these products and businesses selling consumable hemp products containing psychoactive compounds. The bill repeals existing laws allowing the sale of such products to adults over 21 and adds criminal penalties: possession for personal use becomes a Class A misdemeanor, while other possession carries felony charges. These changes align penalties with those for marijuana possession. The bill is pending committee review in Alabama's Senate Healthcare Committee.
HB 420 increases penalties for discharging a firearm into an occupied school bus or school building to a Class A felony, the highest level of felony in Alabama. It also establishes a Class B felony for firing a gun on school property during school hours or activities, and a Class C felony for other discharges on school property. The bill includes exceptions for self-defense, organized firearm competitions, and school-sanctioned events involving firearms. The law will take effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 405 creates a new offense called "bail jumping in the third degree" for individuals released from custody (with or without bail) who violate court-ordered electronic monitoring conditions. This bill directly affects people under electronic monitoring as a release condition, making such violations a Class C misdemeanor punishable by law. Key provisions include defining the offense, setting penalties, and allowing a defense for unintentional violations due to circumstances beyond the defendant's control (though the defendant must prove this). The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, if passed.
