Criminal Justice

passed · Alabama · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 37: Crimes and offenses; penalties for eluding or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, penalties further provided

HB 37 would change Alabama's penalties for drivers who flee or attempt to elude law enforcement. If passed, courts must sentence convicted offenders to a minimum of 60 days in jail (replacing the prior requirement for license suspension only), and must also suspend their driver's license for six months to two years. The bill also requires that anyone arrested for this offense be held in custody for at least 48 hours without bond or release. This law directly affects drivers convicted of eluding police, increasing both the mandatory jail time and pretrial detention period. The changes apply to all cases where a driver intentionally flees an officer's attempt to stop them.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases mandatory jail time (60 days), extends license suspension, and mandates 48-hour custody without bond - directly expanding penalties and restricting defendant rights for eluding law enforcement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Policing

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passed · Alabama · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 1: Motor vehicles; suspension of driver license and ignition interlock device following first driving while under the influence conviction required

HB 1 would require first-time DUI offenders in Alabama to install and operate an ignition interlock device on their vehicle for six months instead of 90 days to avoid a 90-day driver's license suspension. Currently, offenders can avoid the suspension by using the device for 90 days, but this bill extends that requirement to six months. The bill directly affects individuals convicted of a first driving under the influence offense in Alabama. It amends Alabama Code Section 32-5A-191 to change the duration of the ignition interlock device requirement for first-time convictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExtends ignition interlock requirement from 90 days to 6 months for first-time DUI, increasing penalty severity and restricting defendant options to avoid license suspension.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends ignition interlock requirement for DUI offenders to enhance road safety, strengthening vehicle regulation standards per Motor Vehicles & Traffic subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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passed · Alabama · House Mar 19, 2026

HB 11: Youthful offender status, to prohibit a judge from granting youthful offender status to any person who is 16 years of age and older and charged with capital murder or murder

HB 11, titled "Jolee's Law," prohibits judges from granting youthful offender status to individuals aged 16 or older charged with capital murder (per Section 13A-5-40) or murder (per Section 13A-6-2(a)(1)). It directly affects defendants in these specific homicide cases, requiring them to be charged, arrested, and tried as adults rather than as youthful offenders. The bill amends Alabama law to block youthful offender status in these cases, though defendants may qualify if charges are later reduced to lesser offenses. It also adds victim notification requirements (10 days prior to hearings) and mandates courts to consider victim injury evidence before ruling on youthful offender status. The bill is pending in the House Judiciary Committee as of January 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRemoves youthful offender status for murder cases, increasing mandatory adult prosecution and reducing rehabilitation options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Judges Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

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died · Alabama · Senate Apr 7, 2026

SB 7: Alabama Athletic Commission, slap fighting prohibited; Attorney General authorized to bring action for violations, certain violations constitute Class C felony

This bill bans "slap fighting" in Alabama, defined as unarmed combat where opponents stand at arm's length and take turns slapping each other in the face without moving or defending. It directly affects promoters, managers, and participants in such events, as well as the Alabama Athletic Commission, which now has expanded enforcement powers. The law authorizes the Attorney General to sue violators and imposes criminal penalties: Class C felonies for promoters/managers who knowingly violate the ban, and Class B misdemeanors for fighters. Violators may also face civil fines up to $25,000, with penalties applied alongside other relevant criminal laws. The bill amends existing athletic commission statutes and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill creates new Class C felony for slap fighting, expanding criminalization. Aligns with 'oppose' indicator of expanding criminalization.90% confidence

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signed · Alabama · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 7: Crimes and offenses, credible threat defined; penalties for crimes of making a terrorist threat in the first or second degree provided further for; principal to immediately contact law enforcement of terrorist threat, suspension of student, readmittance, and restitution provided

HB 7 increases penalties for making terrorist threats in Alabama, elevating the first-degree offense to a Class B felony (from Class C) and the second-degree offense to a Class D felony (from Class A misdemeanor). It also requires public school principals to immediately notify law enforcement when a student's conduct potentially involves such a threat and mandates a mandatory one-year school suspension for students charged with making a terrorist threat in either degree. The bill specifies conditions for student readmittance and requires convicted individuals to pay restitution to victims. This directly affects K-12 students, school administrators, law enforcement, and courts by tightening legal consequences for threats targeting schools, public spaces, or officials.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for terrorist threats (Class B felony), mandates mandatory student suspensions, and expands criminalization - aligns with 'oppose' indicators of harsher sentencing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Victims' Rights

signed · Alabama · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 41: Crimes and offenses; rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual torture, penalties further provided for

HB 41 would reclassify rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual torture as capital offenses when the victim is under 12 years old. It would also require individuals convicted of these crimes and sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 30 years before becoming eligible for parole. The bill amends Alabama’s criminal code to add these offenses to the existing list of capital crimes, which currently includes murder under specific circumstances. This legislation directly affects individuals convicted of sexual violence against children under 12 and would increase penalties for such crimes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeReclassifies child sexual offenses as capital crimes and mandates 30-year minimum sentence, increasing penalties and expanding criminalization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 21, 2026

HB 34: Crimes and offenses; crime of giving false information to a law enforcement officer, established; crime of refusing to give a law enforcement officer information, established

HB 34 proposes two new offenses under Alabama law: (1) knowingly providing false name, address, or date of birth to police during an official interaction (a Class A misdemeanor), and (2) willfully refusing to answer specific questions (name, address, date of birth, or explanation of actions) during a lawful investigatory stop when police have reasonable suspicion of a crime (a Class C misdemeanor). The bill clarifies that officers must identify themselves and state the reason for the stop before asking for information, and includes an exception preventing people from being forced to give self-incriminating details. It also updates existing law to require officers to state the reason for a stop and repeals the previous false information statute. If passed, these changes would apply to individuals stopped by police during investigations where reasonable suspicion exists.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill expands criminalization by creating new offenses for non-compliance during police stops, reducing defendant rights and increasing penalties for minor interactions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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passed · Alabama · House Mar 3, 2026

HB 26: Sex offenders; restrictions for certain sex offenders further provided, Board of Pardons and Paroles authorized to adopt rules

HB 26 would require parole or probation officers to restrict certain adult sex offenders (those convicted of offenses involving children) from using post office boxes or electronic devices with internet access, such as computers, tablets, or phones. It also mandates that courts or the Board of Pardons and Paroles may require these offenders to complete sex offender treatment, including periodic polygraph exams, as a condition of release. Violating these restrictions or treatment requirements would be a Class C felony. The bill applies specifically to sex offenders under community supervision (like parole or probation) and authorizes the Board to create rules for implementing the treatment program, which would include cost-sharing based on the offender’s ability to pay. The bill is pending in the Alabama House Judiciary Committee and would take effect October 1, 2026, if passed.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes stricter restrictions on sex offenders (device bans, mandatory treatment) rather than advancing reform or rehabilitation, expanding control over offenders.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts sex offenders from using internet-accessible devices, directly limiting technology access for a specific group as a condition of release.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Broadband Access

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