SB 7 would automatically restore voting rights for most Alabamians convicted of felonies (excluding treason, murder, rape, and certain sex crimes) upon completing their sentences, eliminating the current application process. It would also remove specific qualifications needed to vote by absentee ballot and establish the Alabama Voting Rights Commission to review election actions for potential discrimination against protected voter groups. The bill requires the Secretary of State to maintain a public election database tracking administration details. If passed, these changes would directly affect over 100,000 people with past felony convictions and all voters using absentee ballots in Alabama. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
This bill allows Alabama's Attorney General or Governor to appoint an interim police chief for a city's police department when specific safety threats exist, such as a 30% or greater reduction in officers compared to the department's 10-year average. The appointment requires reviewing crime statistics, consulting with local officials (district attorney, sheriff), and victims before proceeding. The interim chief serves at the appointing authority's discretion, reports directly to them (not city officials), and must submit semimonthly reports to the city council. Municipalities with an interim chief must maintain police department funding at the previous five-year average level or risk losing state funds.
HB 107 defines key sex-based terms (like "male," "female," and "sex") based on biological sex observed at birth for Alabama state law. It requires state agencies and public entities collecting vital statistics (such as birth, death, and fetal death records) to record sex as male or female at birth, with exceptions only when sex cannot be medically determined. The bill also permits public facilities to maintain separate single-sex spaces (e.g., restrooms, locker rooms) for males and females when safety, privacy, or fairness is a factor. This law applies to all state laws that classify individuals by sex or use sex-based terminology.
This bill revises Alabama's marijuana possession laws by setting new possession thresholds and penalties. It defines first-degree unlawful possession as having one or more ounces (previously based on prior convictions or non-personal use), with fines increasing for repeat offenses within five years. Second-degree possession - now limited to less than one ounce for personal use only - is downgraded from a misdemeanor to a fine-only violation. The bill also adds expungement eligibility for eligible individuals who haven't had recent convictions (excluding minor traffic violations) within five years. These changes take effect October 1, 2025, if passed.
SB 56 modifies Alabama's medical parole and furlough processes for inmates with severe medical conditions. It requires the Board of Pardons and Paroles to hold a hearing within 90 days of an inmate's eligibility for medical parole (covering geriatric, permanently incapacitated, or terminally ill inmates) and creates a right to appeal denied parole cases to circuit court. The bill also updates medical furlough rules to allow released inmates to reside in any state, replacing previous restrictions. These changes directly affect inmates meeting specific medical criteria who are otherwise eligible for release, excluding those convicted of capital murder or sex offenses. The bill focuses on procedural reforms to expedite reviews and expand post-release options.
SB 74 requires Alabama's State Board of Education to create an annual cyber safety program for public middle and high schools, focusing on internet safety, cyberbullying, and sexting. The program must cover Alabama laws, risks of sharing images (like permanent digital copies), mental health impacts, and reporting resources, delivered by school resource officers. It mandates specific curriculum content, including how sexting can lead to legal consequences under child pornography laws and how to access support services. Local school boards must implement the program starting October 1, 2025, following state board rules.
SB 84 authorizes specific nonprofit agricultural organizations (those meeting strict criteria like pre-1940 founding and 501(c)(5) status) to offer health benefits directly to their members and families. The bill requires these organizations to clearly state in writing that the benefits are not insurance and to have members sign this notice before enrollment. Organizations may also contract with licensed insurers to manage risk, while explicitly avoiding classification as "health insurers" under state law. This creates a defined pathway for agricultural nonprofits to support member health without triggering insurance regulations.
HB 28 would amend Alabama law to include coroners, deputy coroners, medicolegal death investigators, and medical examiners as "first responders" for state death benefits. This means that if a member of these professions dies while performing their duties (such as investigating a death or responding to an emergency), their beneficiaries - like spouses or children - would become eligible for the same state death benefits currently provided to firefighters and police officers. The bill updates the legal definition of "first responder" in Alabama Code §36-30-1(8) to explicitly cover these roles, extending existing death benefit protections to them. This policy change directly affects the families of these professionals who lose their lives in the line of duty.
HB 33 creates a 5-year pilot program (2025-2030) in up to five Alabama counties with high juvenile delinquency rates. It requires juveniles (ages 10-17) who commit nonviolent offenses (as defined in Alabama law) to be detained for at least two hours in a juvenile facility, followed by mandatory completion of a two-hour intervention class with a parent or guardian, plus passing a written test. Failure to complete these requirements may lead to formal court proceedings or contempt charges. The program mandates annual reports tracking recidivism rates and automatically expires on October 1, 2030.
HB 150 prohibits transferring deadly weapons (including firearms) or ammunition to anyone known or reasonably believed to be intoxicated. It directly affects individuals who might give weapons to impaired people, such as friends, family, or others. The law defines "intoxicated" broadly as any substance-induced mental or physical impairment and makes violations a Class A misdemeanor. The bill adds this rule to Alabama law, effective October 1, 2025, with penalties applying to gifts, loans, or other transfers.
HB 12 prohibits the possession of bump stocks in Alabama, defining them as devices that use recoil to enable rapid firing of a firearm. It directly affects residents who own or possess bump stocks, with exceptions for law enforcement officers acting in their official duties. The bill amends Alabama Code sections 13A-11-62 and 13A-11-63 to classify possession as a Class C felony, adding criminal penalties for violations. The law will take effect on October 1, 2025, and does not impact other firearm types or federal law compliance.
HB 103 requires parents or legal guardians to store firearms securely (e.g., in a locked box or with a trigger lock) to prevent minors from accessing them. If a minor unlawfully possesses an unsecured firearm on public school grounds due to the guardian’s failure to secure it, the guardian faces a Class A misdemeanor charge. The law includes exceptions for minors possessing firearms under existing statutes or in school parking areas. This directly affects parents/guardians of minors in Alabama, with the law taking effect October 1, 2025.
