Beaches and coastal areas; to establish a public alert system when sharks are detected.

HB 198 establishes a shark alert system for beaches and coastal areas in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, Alabama. The bill requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to create a system that sends text alerts to mobile devices and notifies first responders when a shark is spotted near shorelines, including private beaches. It mandates private beach owners and managers to participate and sets fines up to $5,000 for noncompliance. The system activates during shark attacks or when sharks pose an imminent threat, using wireless alerts and beach flag signals to prohibit water access. The bill takes effect October 1, 2025.