Transportation

HB 32 updates Alabama's child passenger safety laws by revising the age and weight requirements for car seats and boosters. It requires rear-facing seats until age 2 or 35 pounds (up from 1 year/20 pounds), forward-facing seats until age 5 or 65 pounds (up from 5 years/40 pounds), and adds specific fit criteria for booster seats (e.g., seatbelt position across shoulder/upper thighs). Violations carry escalating fines ($25-$150) with $15 of each fine funding vouchers for low-income families to purchase appropriate restraints. The bill also adds 1 point for first violations and 2 points for repeat offenses to driver records under state law enforcement. These changes aim to align with current safety guidelines while increasing enforcement for child passenger protection.

HB 35, the "Alabama Squat Truck Law," bans raising a vehicle's front fender four or more inches higher than the rear fender through suspension, frame, or chassis modifications. It directly affects vehicle owners who alter passenger cars or trucks for non-commercial use, with exceptions for bona fide commercial or agricultural vehicles. Violations carry fines up to $250, increasing with repeat offenses within five years, and the law takes effect October 1, 2026. The bill aims to address safety concerns linked to modified vehicle height but does not apply to standard commercial or farm equipment.

HB 66 would require Alabama's driver license agency to let residents voluntarily indicate on their license or ID card that they have certain invisible medical conditions, such as autism, blindness, hearing loss, or cognitive disabilities. To add this designation, individuals must provide a doctor's diagnosis from a licensed Alabama physician and would not be charged a fee. The bill specifies a discreet symbol (based on Alabama's state flower) would be added to the license, aiming to help first responders recognize these conditions during emergencies. If passed, the law would take effect on October 1, 2026.