HB1 Alabama 2016 1st Special Session Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2016

Title

Fire Departments, non-volunteer, diesel exhaust system installed in the fire station building, required within certain time frame and under certain conditions

Summary

HB1 would require wireless providers to share a user’s location with on-duty law enforcement in emergencies involving risk of death or serious harm.

What This Bill Does

The act requires wireless providers to disclose call location information to a requesting on-duty law enforcement officer as soon as practicable when there is an emergency involving risk of death or serious bodily harm. Requests must be tied to emergency response or imminent harm, and providers may establish voluntary disclosure protocols with civil liability immunity for reasonable actions. It also allows law enforcement to monitor or obtain location data for devices anywhere in Alabama, including moves outside the state, subject to federal law. The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency must gather provider contact information, share it with state and local agencies, and all requests must be documented and kept as permanent records with limited open records access after investigations.

Who It Affects

• Wireless device users: their location data could be shared with law enforcement in emergencies.
• Wireless service providers and Alabama law enforcement agencies: providers must disclose data on qualifying requests and state agencies coordinate sharing and maintain records, with protections and cross-jurisdictional capabilities.

Key Provisions

• Designates the act as the Kelsey Smith Act.
• Requires wireless providers to disclose a user's call location to on-duty law enforcement on request during emergencies or when there is risk of death or serious harm.
• Requests must be tied to an emergency or imminent danger; providers may adopt voluntary disclosure protocols.
• Provides civil liability immunity to providers and their employees acting reasonably under the act.
• Allows law enforcement to monitor or obtain location data for devices anywhere in Alabama, including outside the state, subject to federal law.
• Requires the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to obtain contact information from all authorized wireless providers and share it with state and local agencies.
• Requests must be documented in writing or documented after the fact and kept as a permanent record; open records access is limited to certain details after investigations.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Fire Departments