Rep. Ron Bolton

Maddy summaryHouse Bill 18 amends Alabama's motor vehicle laws to update requirements for child passenger restraint systems, affecting anyone transporting children in most private vehicles. The bill revises age and weight guidelines, mandating rear-facing seats for children until at least two years old or 35 pounds, and updating requirements for forward-facing and booster seats. It also increases penalties for violations, with a tiered fine system for repeat offenses and a provision for first-time offenders to have charges dismissed upon acquiring an appropriate restraint. A portion of the fines will fund vouchers for child restraint systems for low-income families, and violations will result in points on a driver's record.

Maddy summaryHB 34 expands the types of information individuals must provide to law enforcement officers and establishes new related offenses. It renames the crime of giving false information to an officer to include a false date of birth, making it a Class A misdemeanor if done with intent to mislead. The bill also creates a new Class C misdemeanor for knowingly refusing to provide one's name, address, or date of birth when lawfully demanded by an officer. Consequently, it updates existing law to allow officers to demand a person's date of birth during a lawful stop based on reasonable suspicion.

Maddy summaryHB 15 proposes to amend Alabama law concerning the disposition of uniform traffic tickets. Currently, any person, including law enforcement officers, who solicits or aids in the unauthorized handling of a traffic ticket can be held in criminal contempt by the court. This bill would create an exception, stating that the *issuing law enforcement officer* would not be subject to this specific criminal contempt power for soliciting or aiding in the unauthorized disposition of a uniform traffic ticket. Other individuals, including non-issuing officers or public employees, would still be subject to these contempt charges for similar actions. The act would become effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 378 would allow Pickens County to add a $10 fee to vehicle registration tags (for new, renewal, transfer, or replacement tags) in Alabama. The revenue must be used exclusively for ambulance services in the county. The bill requires voter approval via a 2026 referendum, where residents would vote "yes" or "no" on the fee's adoption. If approved, the fee would start collecting on June 1, 2025, but only if a majority of voters in the referendum support it. This affects all vehicle owners in Pickens County and directly funds local ambulance services.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring Lucca, a retired Marine Corps K9 war dog, for her service. It recognizes her role in 400+ missions detecting explosives during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, her injury (losing a leg while disarming an IED in 2012), and her receipt of the Dickin Medal - the highest military animal honor. The resolution formally commends her "extraordinary heroism and sacrifice" and directs that a copy be presented to her handler, Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham. As a symbolic gesture, it does not create new laws or affect any legal rights or obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 17, the "Alabama Squat Truck Law," prohibits altering passenger vehicles or trucks so that the front fender height exceeds the rear fender height by four or more inches through suspension, frame, or chassis modifications. This directly affects vehicle owners who modify their cars or trucks for non-commercial use, such as lowering or raising the front end. Exceptions apply for bona fide commercial or agricultural vehicle modifications. Violations carry fines of up to $250, increasing with repeat offenses within five years, and the law takes effect October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 239 revises Alabama's tax credit for rural physicians by removing a requirement that they reside in a community with a hospital offering emergency services. Currently, physicians must live in a community under 25,000 residents that has a hospital ER to qualify; this bill eliminates that ER residency condition. The change affects physicians licensed in Alabama who practice in rural areas and seek the tax credit, expanding eligibility to those living in qualifying communities without an ER-equipped hospital. The revised rules take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 16 expands law enforcement authority during stops by allowing officers to demand a suspect's date of birth when reasonably suspecting a felony or public offense, in addition to name and address. It criminalizes providing a false date of birth with intent to mislead, classifying it as a Class A misdemeanor under Alabama law. This directly affects individuals stopped by police under these circumstances, requiring them to provide accurate date of birth or face potential misdemeanor charges. The bill amends existing statutes (§13A-9-18.1 and §15-5-30) to include date of birth as a required disclosure during such encounters.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates fee structures for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office regarding the personal service of legal documents in civil cases. It establishes a $60 fee for each document served within the state and an $85 fee for out-of-state service, with specific exemptions for certain court-issued and mental health documents. The collected funds are distributed among local officials, with portions allocated to the circuit clerk, probate judge, sheriff, and district attorney to support their respective office operations. Additionally, the legislation repeals a previous provision that allowed the county to contract out these service duties.

Criminal Procedure