HB23 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Beckman

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2015

Title

Monuments, Alabama Heritage Protection Act, prohibit removal, alteration, or other disturbance of any statue or monument located on public property, exempt Transportation Department

Summary

HB23 would create the Alabama Heritage Preservation Act to shield statues, monuments, and other commemorative objects on public property from relocation or alteration, with a waiver process and penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

HB23 would prohibit relocating, removing, altering, renaming, or otherwise disturbing statues, monuments, memorials, or plaques on public property. It would also bar anyone from blocking the responsible government entity from protecting or restoring these objects. It creates a waiver process through the Alabama Legislative Council, with hearings and public input, certified by the Alabama Historical Commission. It imposes a $100,000 fine per violation for removing an object without a waiver and provides limited exemptions for certain art and artifacts and for the Department of Transportation and local highway departments.

Who It Affects

• Public bodies that control or maintain monuments, statues, memorials, or plaques on public property would be restricted and must follow a waiver process to change or remove those objects.
• The Alabama Department of Transportation and local highway departments are exempt from certain provisions in limited circumstances and must strive to preserve affected objects.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Heritage Preservation Act of 2015 and defines 'object of remembrance' and 'public property'.
• Prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of objects of remembrance on public property except as allowed by a waiver.
• Prohibits hindering the governmental entity responsible for maintenance from protecting, preserving, or restoring these objects.
• Allows entities to petition for waivers from the prohibition through a deliberative process overseen by the Alabama Legislative Council and certified by the Alabama Historical Commission, including hearings, notices, and public input.
• Imposes a $100,000 per-violation fine for removing an object without a waiver, with fines sent to the State General Fund.
• Provides exemptions for art and artifacts in certain museums/archives/libraries and for the Department of Transportation and local highway departments under limited circumstances.
• Effective immediately upon the 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

Monuments