HB85 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Kurt Wallace
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Mike Jones Paul Beckman
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Criminal sex offenders, only one adult or juvenile sex offender may reside in a residence, only one adult may reside in an apartment complex under certain conditions, criminal penalties, exceptions
Summary: HB85 would limit where criminal sex offenders can live by requiring 500-foot separation between offenders and restricting multiple offenders from sharing a residence or most apartment complexes, with penalties for landlords who violate.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits more than one unrelated sex offender from living in the same residence and requires at least 500 feet between any two sex offenders' residences, including within apartment complexes. It creates penalties for property owners or lessees who permit violations, including a misdemeanor charge, up to 90 days of hard labor, and fines up to $5,000 per violation. It allows certain exceptions (e.g., for spouses or children of the owner, occupancy in treatment facilities), requires lease provisions that occupants are not convicted sex offenders, and notes that existing 2,000-foot restrictions near schools/child care facilities and former victims still apply. It also states the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime, and it becomes effective the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects
Unrelated criminal sex offenders: must not establish residence where another sex offender resides and must stay at least 500 feet away from any other sex offender's residence.
Property owners/landlords and tenants (lessees): could face misdemeanor penalties and fines if they allow violations; must verify in leases that occupants are not convicted sex offenders; some family relationships and treatment facilities provide exceptions.

Key Provisions
No unrelated criminal sex offender may establish a residence where another sex offender resides, and no sex offender may reside within 500 feet of the residence of any other sex offender.
In apartment complexes, no more than one sex offender may reside unless there is a distance of 500 feet from the residence of any other offender.
Owner/lessee who knowingly permits a violation commits a misdemeanor, with up to 90 days hard labor and fines up to $5,000 per violation; fines distributed to county sheriff's department and the district attorney or municipal court.
Exceptions allow the spouse or child of the owner/lessor to reside without violating these provisions; leases may require a signed statement that the lessee is not a convicted sex offender; offenders may reside in certain treatment facilities or state facilities without violating the bill.
Lease applications or leases may include a signed statement that the lessee is not a convicted sex offender.
Section 2 states the bill is excluded from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and 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: Crimes and Offenses