HB143 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mike Hill
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Bail bonds, court costs, official executing bond, collection of bond fee within 30 days, remission of fee to court clerk within 2 days, 2012-535, 2012 Reg. Sess., am'd; Secs. 12-14-31, 12-19-311 am'd.
Summary: HB143 would update Alabama's bail bond fee rules by extending how long the fee can be collected, clarifying when multiple charges count as one incident, increasing contempt penalties for nonpayment, and removing the fee's sunset date.
What This Bill Does
It redefines what counts as the same incident for multiple charges so only one bail bond fee applies per incident. It extends the collection window to 30 days after bond execution for the official executing the bond or the court clerk to collect and remit the fee. It allows municipal courts to impose a contempt fine up to $500 for nonpayment of the bail bond fee. It repeals the expiration date of the bail bond fee, making the fee permanent. It maintains the current fee structure (filing fee and percentage-based bail bond fees) but adds stronger enforcement and collection rules if the fee is not paid.

Who It Affects
Defendants or others posting bail: subject to the bail bond fee and the extended collection window, with potential contempt consequences for nonpayment.
Bondsmen, sureties, guarantors, or others signing as surety: responsible for paying the fee and facing higher contempt penalties if they fail to pay.
Municipalities, counties, and related funds (sheriff's fund, clerk's fund, solicitor's fund, state funds, and Forensic Services Trust Fund): continue to receive distributions from the bail bond fees under specified share arrangements.
Court personnel and prosecutors (municipal court clerks, district attorneys, and prosecutors): handle collection, enforcement, and potential contempt actions; may initiate contempt proceedings and oversee fee distributions.

Key Provisions
Defines multiple charges arising from the same incident as acts that occur on the same date, at the same location, and within proximate time, so the bail bond fee is assessed on only one charge in such cases.
Extends the time to collect the bail bond fee from two business days to 30 days after bond execution (or final disposition, whichever occurs first) and requires remittance to the clerk within 30 days; if not collected by the executing official, the official must document nonpayment and forward to the clerk.
Authorizes municipal courts to impose a contempt fine of up to $500 for failure to pay the bail bond fee (higher than the prior $50 limit).
Repeals the expiration date of the bail bond fee, making the fee permanent rather than sunset.
Keeps the detailed fee structure (filing fee of $35; misdemeanor bail bond fee of 3.5% of bond face value or $100 minimum up to $450; felony bail bond fee of 3.5% of bond face value or $150 minimum up to $750; $25 fee for certain releases) and outlines when and by whom these fees are collected.
Outlines enforcement steps if the fee is not paid, including notification to the district attorney, potential contempt proceedings, and how contempt fines are distributed (50% to the municipality's general fund and 50% to the DA's Solicitor's Fund).
Specifies monthly distribution of collected fees to county and municipal funds, the clerk’s fund, the Solicitor’s Fund, and designated state funds, with audits by the appropriate public accounting body.
Effective date: immediate after Governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Bail Bonds