HB 285 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

Traffic infractions, requires law enforcement to contact parent or guardian when citing minor for traffic violation

HB 285 requires law enforcement officers to notify a parent or guardian when a minor receives a traffic citation. This bill directly affects minors cited for traffic violations and their parents or guardians. The notification mechanism specifies that contact can be made via a telephone call, text message, or a letter sent through United States mail to the driver's emergency contact.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action May 1, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 20, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the focus from notifying parents/guardians of minors for tobacco violations to notifying emergency contacts for traffic infractions. The language now requires law enforcement to attempt notification of a driver's emergency contact rather than specifically targeting parents or legal guardians of minors.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from tobacco violations to traffic infractions, and the notification requirement was broadened from parents/guardians to any emergency contact.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the notification requirement from parents/legal guardians of minors for tobacco violations to emergency contacts for traffic infractions.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the age restriction (under 19 years) and emancipation exception, applying the notification requirement to all traffic infractions.

DEFINITION

Added specific definition of reasonable effort to notify emergency contact (single phone call, text, or letter).

TECHNICAL

Updated bill title and tracking numbers from introduced version to engrossed version.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Apr 30, 2025

Introduced

Judiciary 1st Amendment (Judiciary)

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 528

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 527

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Holk-Jones 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 526

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Introduced

Children and Senior Advocacy Engrossed Substitute Offered (Children and Senior Advocacy)

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Children and Senior Advocacy)

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Introduced

Children and Senior Advocacy 1st Amendment (Children and Senior Advocacy)

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Children and Senior Advocacy)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors