SB229 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Funerals, disrupting, crime further provided for, distance of protest from property line of funeral facility further provided for, Sec. 13A-11-17 am'd.

Summary

SB229 would ban protests within 1,000 feet of a funeral facility’s property line and punish disruptors more severely.

What This Bill Does

The bill makes it illegal to protest within 1,000 feet of the property line of a funeral facility before, during, or after a funeral service, and it adds that blocking access or impeding funeral procession vehicles is also illegal. It defines 'facility' to include funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries. It imposes penalties: a Class A misdemeanor for the first conviction and a Class C felony for subsequent convictions. It takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval, and the bill is treated as exempt from certain local-funds requirements because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Protesters or demonstrators who would be within 1,000 feet of a funeral facility’s property line during the specified times, who could be charged if they engage in prohibited activities.
• Funeral facilities (funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries) and their operations, which would be protected from disruption by the new rules.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits protests within 1,000 feet of the property line of a funeral facility (defined as a funeral home, church, or cemetery) before, during, or after a funeral service.
• Makes illegal actions include protests with noise (singing, chanting, etc.), blocking access to the facility, or impeding vehicles in the funeral procession.
• Establishes penalties: Class A misdemeanor for the first conviction and Class C felony for subsequent convictions.
• Explicitly defines 'facility' to include funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries.
• Effective date: first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.
• Notes that, although the bill involves local funds, it is exempt from local-funds requirements because it creates a new crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Disrupting a Funeral or Memorial Service