SB 60 requires Alabama's Department of Corrections (DOC) to check for active arrest warrants against inmates at key stages: during intake, when considering work release, before parole board review, and 90 days before sentence completion. It also mandates the Board of Pardons and Paroles to check warrants when reviewing parole eligibility. If a warrant is found, the DOC must notify courts or prosecutors and arrange virtual court hearings for inmates (avoiding physical transport), per existing law. The bill directly affects inmates, DOC staff, parole boards, and law enforcement agencies. It becomes effective January 1, 2027.
This bill establishes a new criminal offense for intentionally disrupting a scheduled religious worship service. It applies to individuals who enter a church building or adjacent property (including mosques, synagogues, or other religious sites) with the intent to disrupt and then engage in rioting, disorderly conduct, harassment of participants, or blocking access to the property. A first violation is punishable as a Class C felony, while repeat offenses require a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence. The law, set to take effect on October 1, 2026, directly affects those who target religious gatherings through such disruptive actions.
HB 274 authorizes Alabama's Department of Corrections to take reasonable actions against unauthorized drones near correctional facilities, including jamming (within federal limits), hacking, physical capture, or other measures to disrupt drone operations. It directly affects prison security operations by granting the Department specific tools to address drone threats, such as potential contraband smuggling. The bill requires all actions to comply with federal law and specifies these measures are limited to neutralizing drone threats. The law will take effect on June 1, 2026.
HB 328 amends Alabama's arson law to specifically include cases where a fire is set "in conjunction with or to effectuate a theft" causing $25,000 or more in property damage. This new provision makes such acts a serious felony (arson in the first degree), directly affecting individuals who commit arson as part of a theft scheme. The bill establishes a mandatory minimum 20-year prison sentence for these offenses, requiring the sentence to run consecutively with any other related convictions. The law applies to any arson incident meeting the theft connection and damage threshold, not to standard property arson cases.
HB 154 would allow Alabama law enforcement to arrest someone without a warrant if they are charged in another state with any felony, including crimes punishable by more than one year in prison. It also permits out-of-state officers to arrest individuals in Alabama during a "fresh pursuit" of a felony suspect - meaning they are chasing the suspect without unreasonable delay after the crime. After such an arrest, the person must be brought before a judge promptly to review the arrest's legality. If the judge finds the arrest lawful, the person may be held for extradition or released on bail; if unlawful, they must be freed.
SB 84 requires the Alabama Department of Public Health to establish and enforce sanitation standards for food services in state correctional facilities, county jails, and municipal jails. The bill mandates regular inspections of food preparation, storage, and serving areas, and obligates facilities to correct identified violations. It grants the Department authority to issue sanitation scores and prescribe corrective actions but prohibits suspending food services without approval from the facility's governing body (e.g., the Corrections Commissioner for state facilities or local government for county/municipal jails). The law takes effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 158 increases penalties for promoting and soliciting prostitution in Alabama. It upgrades promoting prostitution to a Class D felony (from a misdemeanor) and adds tiered penalties for soliciting: a second violation becomes a misdemeanor with mandatory jail time (5+ days), while third or subsequent violations become a Class D felony (30+ days jail). Crucially, it mandates a Class D felony charge for anyone soliciting trafficking victims (as defined in state law), regardless of whether the perpetrator knew the victim was trafficked. The bill directly affects individuals engaging in or facilitating prostitution, particularly repeat offenders and those exploiting trafficking victims.
HB 91 would change how funds from court fees are used by Alabama sheriff's offices. Currently, money allocated to the sheriff's office from these fees can only cover jail operations. This bill expands that use to include all sheriff's office functions, such as patrols or investigations, for law enforcement purposes. The change would take effect on October 1, 2026, and directly affects all Alabama sheriffs' offices receiving these court fee funds.
HB 86 revises Alabama's parole guidelines to require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to give special attention to three specific factors when considering parole: an inmate's low risk of reoffending (based on a validated assessment), their employment during incarceration, and education completed while in prison. The bill also mandates that the board consider other factors in its guidelines and provide written reasons for all parole decisions. This change directly affects inmates seeking parole and the board's decision-making process, though the board retains full discretion to approve or deny parole. The revised guidelines must be reviewed every three years and posted online for public access.
SB 17 amends Alabama law to make rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual torture capital offenses when the victim is under 12 years old. It also requires that individuals convicted of these crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. The bill directly affects perpetrators of these specific sexual offenses against children under 12, altering their sentencing from Class A felonies to capital offenses. These changes would apply to cases involving victims younger than 12, as specified in the proposed amendments to Alabama's criminal code. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
