Rep. Ron Bolton

Maddy summaryHB 33 removes school enrollment and attendance requirements for applicants under 19 seeking or renewing driver licenses in Alabama. Currently, minors must provide school enrollment documentation or face license suspension if they withdraw (after 10+ unexcused absences). The bill eliminates all such requirements, including documentation of disciplinary points, school withdrawal notifications to the DMV, and automatic license suspension for withdrawal. This directly affects Alabama residents under 19 who apply for or renew driver licenses, simplifying the process by removing school verification steps.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 57 modifies Carrollton's city boundaries in Pickens County, Alabama, by adding two specific parcels of land to its corporate limits. Parcel 1 (approximately 1 acre) and Parcel 2 (approximately 0.8 acres) are described in detail, located in Section 32 of Township 20 South, Range 15 West. The bill requires a map of the proposed boundary change to be filed with the Pickens County probate office for public review and takes effect on October 1, 2026. This change directly affects property owners within the newly included parcels.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 280 establishes the Alabama Health Command, an independent agency, to designate a virtual AI-assisted health platform for rural communities. The platform would provide non-diagnostic health management services - such as wellness education, appointment scheduling, and follow-up assistance - via an avatar-based system, connecting rural patients with local providers without diagnosing or treating medical conditions. The agency must set standards for patient privacy, data security, and preventing the platform from substituting for licensed medical care. Rural hospitals and clinics using this platform would be exempt from competitive bidding requirements, and the bill would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 5 is a commemorative resolution honoring the late Alabama State Representative Samuel Alan Harper (2006-2018), who died on December 18, 2025. The resolution formally records the legislature's "profound sorrow" over his passing and celebrates his public service, including his work with the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority (bringing over 4,000 jobs and $500 million in investment) and his 12-year tenure in the Alabama House. It highlights his personal life, family, and community contributions, such as his role as a woodworker and devoted family man. This resolution has no policy impact - it is a ceremonial expression of respect for Harper's legacy and condolences to his family.

Maddy summaryHB 29 amends Alabama's manslaughter law to include cases where sexual extortion of a minor under 18 directly causes the victim's death. The bill specifically adds that if a person commits sexual extortion (as defined in Section 13A-6-241) against a minor and the victim dies, the perpetrator can be charged with manslaughter if the court finds the sexual extortion was the proximate cause of death. It clarifies that a victim's suicide following sexual extortion is deemed a foreseeable consequence, not an independent cause. This change elevates such cases to a Class A felony (the highest penalty for manslaughter), directly affecting minors subjected to sexual extortion and those who commit such acts. The law would take effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHR 353 is a resolution that honors and celebrates the life of James William "Jamie" Chapman, Jr., who passed away on May 4, 2025. It expresses deep sadness at his death and recognizes his contributions as an educator and community leader in Pickens County, particularly his role in the Pickens County College and Career Center.