SB458 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tammy Irons
Democrat
Co-Sponsors: Scott Beason Vivian Davis Figures Jimmy Holley Harri Anne Smith Greg J. Reed Shadrack McGill Gerald O. Dial Bryan Taylor Jerry L. Fielding Tom Whatley George M. “Marc” Keahey Bobby D. Singleton Arthur Orr William “Bill” M. Beasley Cam Ward Gerald H. Allen J.T. Waggoner Del Marsh Trip Pittman Rodger Smitherman Paul Sanford Rusty Glover Roger Bedford, Jr.Mark Slade Blackwell
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Elevator Safety Review Board, regulation of elevators and inspection of elevators in private residences, authority to place elevators out of service, local regulation preempted, Sec. 25-13-18 am'd.
Summary: SB458 creates a statewide safety system for elevators and other conveyances, requiring operator certificates and inspections (including private residences) and removing local regulatory authority.
What This Bill Does
It requires new conveyances to be installed by licensed installers who certify compliance; before use, the property owner must obtain a certificate of operation with a fee. Some fees are waived for private residence stairway chairlifts, while inspections are performed by licensed third-party firms and must note compliance with hoistway openings (the 3x5 rule). Certificates are renewable annually, and noncompliant elevators can be placed out of service until reinspected; private residents can request annual inspections, and certificates must be displayed. The bill also preempts local governments from enacting their own elevator regulations and designates the act as Hagen Act with a specific effective date.

Who It Affects
Licensed elevator contractors/firms: must perform installations, certify compliance, and handle first-time registrations.
Property owners and lessees of properties with elevators (including private residences): must obtain a certificate of operation before use; may request annual inspections; certificates must be displayed; some fees are waived for private residence stairway chairlifts.
Local governments (counties/municipalities): lose authority to regulate elevators and conveyances within their jurisdictions.
Licensed third-party inspection firms: conduct inspections for new installations and verify compliance, including hoistway openings.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 25-13-18 to require licensed installers to certify compliance after installation and require a certificate of operation before conveyances are used; a certificate operation fee applies.
Certificate of operation fees for newly installed elevators and private residence platform lifts/stairway chairlifts are payable after inspection by a licensed third-party firm; the contractor handles first-time registrations.
Waives certificate of operation fees for all new and existing private residence stairway chairlifts and any renewal fees; requires inspections for newly installed residential elevators and private residence installations; inspectors must note compliance with the 3x5 rule for hoistway openings.
Certificate of operation is renewable annually; noncompliant conveyances may be placed out of service until reinspected; private owners may request annual inspections; certificates must be displayed on or in each conveyance.
Preempts local regulation: counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions cannot create local laws about construction, installation, inspection, maintenance, or repair of elevators within their borders.
Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

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