Rep. Ernie Yarbrough

Maddy summaryHB 510 modifies several aspects of the Lawrence County Community Corrections and Court Services Fund and related programs. It changes the reporting year for distributing surplus funds from a calendar year to a fiscal year. The bill also revises the timeframe for court clerks to remit a portion of appearance bond deposits to the fund, extending it from 10 to 30 days. Additionally, it adjusts the effective date for Lawrence County municipalities to join temporary release programs, aligning it with the fiscal quarter instead of the calendar quarter. Finally, the bill repeals an older act from 1979 concerning a rehabilitation board and work release.

Maddy summaryHB 7, known as the Laken Riley Act, establishes procedures for state and local law enforcement agencies concerning illegal immigration. It permits these agencies to enter agreements with federal authorities to enforce federal immigration laws and outlines guidelines for the arrest, detention, and transportation of individuals identified as "illegal aliens." The bill requires county and municipal jails to make reasonable efforts to determine a confined person's nationality and contact federal agencies like ICE for status verification. Jails must also honor immigration detainer requests for up to 48 hours in specific circumstances and report information regarding foreign nationals.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Sheriff of Lawrence County to use credit and debit cards for official purchases of tangible personal property and services. The sheriff must establish written policies, including monetary limits for individual and monthly spending, procedures for card access, and requirements for accurate record-keeping and timely bill payment. Any rewards or rebates earned from card use must be deposited into the Sheriff's Office discretionary account. Purchases are to be paid from the Sheriff's Discretionary Fund, with travel expenses potentially covered by the general fund budget, without exceeding appropriated amounts or creating debt for the county commission.

Maddy summaryHB 325 allows the Lawrence County Commission to establish and administer fire districts within Lawrence County. It enables volunteer fire departments to incorporate as fire districts, following approval from the Lawrence County Firefighters and Rapid Responders Association and the County Commission. These fire districts would be funded through fire protection fees, which require voter approval for collection by the revenue commissioner. The bill also defines the boundaries of these districts, outlines their governance, and details how they can interact with municipalities.

Maddy summaryHB 518, the Prenatal Equal Protection Act, changes Alabama criminal law to define an "unborn child" as a person from the moment of fertilization, enabling homicide or assault charges for harm to an unborn child at any developmental stage. It removes exemptions that previously protected medical providers from prosecution for fetal death caused by lawful medical care or medication, and deletes the prohibition against prosecuting women for harm to their own unborn child. The bill allows "duress" as a defense for mothers facing charges related to their unborn child's death, while requiring such cases to be treated identically to cases involving a born child. Exceptions include spontaneous miscarriages and medical procedures taken to save the mother's life with reasonable efforts to save the unborn child. The bill is pending in the House Health Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 520 prohibits employers, public accommodations (like restaurants or hotels), hospitals, health insurers, and occupational licensing boards from discriminating against individuals who refuse certain vaccines, drugs, or facial coverings for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. It allows affected individuals to seek court orders, damages, and attorney fees for violations, and authorizes the Alabama Attorney General to enforce the law or defend entities facing federal penalties for complying with it. The bill specifically exempts surgical masks during medical procedures. This law creates a legal remedy for discrimination based on health-related choices while maintaining medical safety standards.

Maddy summaryHB 519, known as The Adaline Deal Act, prohibits hospitals, transplant centers, insurance providers, and healthcare professionals from requiring individuals to be vaccinated (or unvaccinated) to donate or receive organs. It directly affects organ donation processes by banning vaccine status as a condition for either donation or transplantation. The bill authorizes Alabama’s Attorney General to enforce this rule, seek court orders to stop violations, and impose $50,000 fines on violators. The law takes effect on October 1, 2025, and is currently pending in the House Health Committee.

Maddy summaryHB 475 changes Alabama's property tax assessment cap from a fixed 7% annual increase to a cap tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for inflation. This affects homeowners and property owners with Class II and III properties (typically residential and commercial) by linking annual tax assessment increases to actual inflation rates instead of a flat percentage. Key provisions include applying the CPI-based cap starting October 1, 2024, while exempting new construction, property transfers between family members, and property in tax increment districts. The bill retroactively applies to assessments beginning October 1, 2024, and will remain in effect through the 2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summaryHB 409 prohibits Alabama state and local agencies, including law enforcement, from enforcing any "red flag law" (temporary firearm removal orders based on perceived risk). It creates a legal cause of action allowing individuals harmed by such enforcement to sue for $50,000 per violation, plus damages and attorney fees, and requires courts to expedite related injunctions. The bill directly affects residents who might face firearm removal orders, law enforcement agencies, and local governments. It explicitly excludes existing firearm restrictions based on criminal convictions (like Section 13A-11-72) from its scope. The bill would take effect October 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 408 would change Alabama's self-defense law by creating a presumption that a person's use of physical force in defense is reasonable, directly affecting defendants in criminal cases claiming self-defense. It shifts the burden of proof: the state must now prove a defendant's force was unreasonable using "clear and convincing evidence," rather than the defendant proving it was reasonable. The bill also clarifies that justified self-defense immunity protects individuals from criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits, unless force was used against a law enforcement officer acting in their official duties. It makes minor technical updates to align the law with current legal writing style. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee for review.