SB23 Alabama 2015 2nd Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Second 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

The Alabama Heritage Preservation Act of 2015 would protect statues, monuments, and related memorials on public property from relocation or alteration, create a formal waiver process, and impose penalties for violations, with certain exemptions for art and transportation-related properties.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of objects of remembrance on public property, and relocation of graves with historical significance. It requires the government entities responsible for maintenance to protect and preserve these objects and not interfere with preservation efforts. It creates a waiver process through the Alabama Legislative Council to allow exceptions under a deliberative process with hearings, public notices, and input, and it can set conditions or deny waivers. It imposes fines for violations, including a $100,000 penalty for removal without a waiver, and lists exemptions for certain art and artifacts, as well as properties controlled by the Department of Transportation and local highway departments under limited circumstances.

Who It Affects

• Public entities that own or maintain statues, monuments, memorials, plaques, or historic grave sites on public property would be subject to the act's protections, restrictions on moving or altering these objects, and the waiver process.
• Heritage organizations, historians, genealogical and preservation groups, and the general public who participate in the waiver process and hearings and provide input.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of objects of remembrance on public property, and relocation of graves with historical significance (Section 3).
• Prohibits renaming of schools, streets, bridges, buildings, parks, preserves, or reserves on public property except as provided in the waiver sections (Section 3).
• Requires the government entity responsible for maintaining these objects to allow proper protection, preservation, care, repair, or restoration (Section 4).
• Establishes a waiver process through the Alabama Legislative Council to allow waivers, including a deliberative process with resolutions, public hearings, newspaper ads, site signage, input from preservation groups and the public, and certification by the Alabama Historical Commission (Section 5).
• The Legislative Council may grant waivers or deny them and may attach reasonable preservation conditions (Section 5).
• Imposes a $100,000 fine for removing an object of remembrance without a waiver, with the Attorney General collection and deposit to the State General Fund (Section 5(c)).
• Exempts art and artifacts in museums, and properties on public property controlled by the Department of Transportation or local highway departments under certain limited circumstances (Section 6).
• The act takes effect immediately after signature by the Governor (Section 7).

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