SB12 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

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

SB12 would create the Alabama Heritage Protection Act to safeguard statues, monuments, memorials, and related items on public property from relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, rededication, or other disturbance, with a waiver process and limited DOT exemptions.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits moving, removing, altering, renaming, rededicating, or otherwise disturbing statues, monuments, and similar items on public property that honor certain military, civil rights, and Native American events or figures. It also bars renaming or rededicating facilities dedicated to those items. It requires government entities that maintain these items to preserve and protect them and prevents others from blocking preservation efforts. It allows the Alabama Historical Commission to grant waivers under specified circumstances, and it provides limited exemptions for the Department of Transportation.

Who It Affects

• Public entities (state, counties, municipalities, and other public bodies) that maintain statues, monuments, or related items on public property; they are restricted from relocating, removing, or altering these items and may seek waivers.
• Alabama Historical Commission and the Department of Transportation; the Commission can grant waivers for certain cases, and the DOT has limited circumstances where exemptions apply and must strive to preserve affected items.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, rededication, or disturbance of statues, monuments, memorials, nameplates, or plaques on public property honoring specified military, civil rights, and Native American events/figures/organizations listed in Section 2.
• Prohibits renaming or rededicating any related schools, streets, bridges, buildings, parks, preserves, or reserves.
• Prohibits individuals from obstructing government efforts to protect, preserve, care for, repair, or restore these items and areas.
• Authorizes the Alabama Historical Commission to grant waivers under certain conditions, with the possibility of adding preservation-related conditions.
• Defines public property and allows waivers through a written petition to the Commission; waivers require a majority vote and may include preservation instructions.
• Applies to items existing before January 1, 1970 and those erected or dedicated after that date; provides limited exemption for DOT where waiver would interfere with transportation activities, with a preservation goal.

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