SB177 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald O. Dial

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Jimmy HolleyBryan TaylorTom Whatley

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Rifles, municipalities prohibited from enacting ordinances regarding use of, Sec. 11-45-1.1 am'd.

Summary

SB177 would bar municipalities from enacting ordinances that regulate handgun or rifle possession and keep these topics under state control, while allowing local enforcement of state firearm laws as municipal violations with concurrent court jurisdiction.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits incorporated municipalities from enacting ordinances that tax, restrict, prevent, or otherwise affect the possession or ownership of handguns or rifles by citizens; the subject matter is reserved to the State Legislature. Allows municipalities to adopt ordinances that make violations of state handgun laws or state rifle laws a municipal violation, to the same extent as other state law violations. Authorizes municipal courts to exercise concurrent jurisdiction with district courts over violations of state handgun laws or state rifle laws that may be prosecuted as breaches of a municipal ordinance. Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Incorporated municipalities (cities and towns) in Alabama: cannot create local rules restricting possession or ownership of handguns or rifles, but can enforce state firearm violations as municipal offenses and handle related cases jointly with district courts.
• Residents of Alabama: the state, not local governments, retains the primary authority over handgun and rifle laws; local enforcement of those laws may occur as municipal violations.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 11-45-1.1 to state that no municipality may enact ordinances that tax, restrict, prevent, or affect possession or ownership of handguns or rifles; the subject matter is reserved to the Legislature.
• Municipalities may enact ordinances that make violations of state handgun or state rifle laws municipal violations, to the same extent as other state violations.
• Municipal courts may have concurrent jurisdiction with district courts over these violations that are prosecuted as municipal breaches.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after it is passed and signed into law.

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

Subjects

Municipalities