HB 389 expands the definition of "domestic violence victim" to include children of household members who live with or visit the defendant. It establishes mandatory temporary holding periods for domestic violence arrests, requires specific bond conditions for released defendants, and increases penalties for third-degree domestic violence and strangulation offenses. The bill also adds factors for law enforcement to determine the "predominant aggressor" in mutual complaints, mandates specific victim notification language, prohibits polygraph exams for victims, and requires reporting of domestic violence incidents without arrests. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims, law enforcement officers, and courts in Alabama.
HB 484 amends Alabama law to remove reservoirs defined as public waters from the list of critical infrastructure facilities. This means unauthorized entry into such reservoirs would no longer be considered a crime under the statute for unauthorized entry to critical infrastructure. The bill revises the definition of critical infrastructure facilities to explicitly exclude these reservoirs, which are already classified as public waters under state law (Section 9-11-80). This change directly affects individuals entering public water reservoirs and law enforcement in determining whether an entry violates the law.
HB 456, the Youth Athlete Protection Act, requires local governments (cities, counties) that run youth sports programs to create a Youth Athlete Protection Policy by January 2027. This policy must prevent child abuse by setting clear standards for coach conduct, banning behaviors like sexual or physical abuse, and requiring coaches to report suspected abuse. The bill also mandates annual criminal background checks for all coaches (paid and volunteer) through Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency or accredited agencies, plus a check of the state teacher certification database for coaches previously employed by schools. It directly affects youth athletes under 18, their parents, coaches, and local governments operating youth sports programs.
HB 438 reinstates a check-off option on Alabama income tax returns for donations to Victims of Crime and Leniency, Inc. (VOCAL), which provides support to crime victims. It also removes check-off options for organizations whose contributions were previously rescinded and consolidates all remaining tax check-off provisions into a single section of law. Alabama residents who file state income tax returns can select this check-off to direct a portion of their refund to VOCAL or other designated programs. The bill updates the tax code to reflect current check-off recipients and removes outdated provisions.
SB 309 lowers the quantity thresholds for felony charges related to fentanyl possession and trafficking in Alabama. It reduces the amount triggering "unlawful possession with intent to distribute" from 2-4 grams to 0.5-1 gram or 2-4 grams of fentanyl mixtures. The bill also expands "trafficking in illegal drugs" to include possession of certain fentanyl mixtures (previously limited to 1 gram of pure fentanyl). This change directly affects individuals possessing these lower amounts of fentanyl-containing substances, increasing the likelihood of felony charges for smaller quantities.
HB 481 (Alabama) requires courts to prioritize victim restitution payments over all other fines, court costs, and fees in criminal cases. Specifically, it amends Alabama Code sections 15-18-65(b) and 15-18-70(b) to mandate that restitution to crime victims must be paid first, before any other financial obligations from the conviction. This directly affects criminal defendants (who must pay restitution before other debts), crime victims (who receive payments sooner), and court systems (which must enforce this payment order). The bill does not change how restitution amounts are calculated but ensures victims are compensated ahead of other financial obligations tied to the case.
HB 458 amends Alabama law to clarify that possessing at least 50 physical items or digital files of legally defined obscene material constitutes "knowingly possessing with intent to distribute." This directly affects individuals and businesses distributing such material, including those operating in commercial contexts like retail or production. The key change sets a specific threshold (50 items/files) for triggering criminal penalties, which previously lacked this clear definition. Violations are punishable as misdemeanors (up to $10,000 fine or 1 year in jail) for first offenses, escalating to Class C felonies for repeat violations. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 429 prohibits operating drones (unmanned aircraft systems) near ticketed entertainment events, including middle and high school sports events. The bill creates a new criminal offense for violating this ban, directly affecting drone operators who fly near such venues. Key provisions expand the existing prohibition to explicitly cover school athletic events, which were previously excluded. The bill is currently pending committee review in the House of Origin and has not yet become law.
SJR 29 is a non-binding resolution from the Alabama Legislature urging the President to prioritize online sextortion of minors as a top domestic issue in the State of the Union address. It cites FBI data showing over 13,000 reports of financial sextortion against minors (primarily boys) between 2021-2023, involving 12,600 victims and linked to at least 20 suicides. The resolution notes Alabama has enacted state laws (Acts 2025-302 and 2025-386) to address sextortion but emphasizes this crisis requires federal action. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies - it solely requests the President elevate the issue publicly.
HB 105 updates Alabama laws against child enticement and electronic solicitation. It expands the definition of "enticing" to include "grooming" (building emotional connections through manipulation, gift-giving, or online interactions) when targeting children under 16 for sexual acts, genital mutilation, or assault. The bill also broadens electronic solicitation to cover attempts to direct children into sexual acts or genital mutilation via digital means, and clarifies jurisdiction for such crimes to include any county where images were received or parties resided. These changes apply to individuals who target children under 16 or those believed to be that age.
