HB256 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Age of majority lowered, exceptions, Secs. 13A-12-3, 26-1-1 am'd.

Summary

HB256 would lower Alabama's age of majority from 19 to 18 and keep the tobacco-sale age limit for minors under 19, with several exceptions for 18-year-olds.

What This Bill Does

It changes the age at which a person is considered an adult from 19 to 18, relieving minority disabilities and generally granting 18-year-olds the same legal rights as people over 21, subject to listed exceptions. The bill lists specific exceptions that limit or modify certain rights for 18- to 20-year-olds, such as allowing an 18-year-old veteran under 19 to contract to purchase a motor vehicle and allowing 18-year-olds to consent to certain college research with Institutional Review Board approval. It also keeps the existing tobacco-sale rule, so selling cigarettes to anyone under 19 remains illegal, with penalties for violators.

Who It Affects

• 18-year-olds (and those who would reach 18) would gain adult status and many rights, though some rights are limited by the designated exceptions in the bill.
• Retailers and the public would continue to face restrictions on selling tobacco to minors under 19, and there would be specific rules about certain contracts and protections for minors under the new framework.

Key Provisions

• Lower the age of majority to 18; 18-year-olds are relieved of minority disabilities and generally have the same rights as those over 21, with several enumerated exceptions.
• Exceptions include: (e) an honorably discharged veteran under 19 may contract to purchase a motor vehicle; (f) an 18-year-old may consent to participate in research with IRB approval; (g) safeguards related to child support; (h) health insurance-related provisions; (i) guardianship/protective proceedings; (j) school records; (k) abortion-related provisions; (l) juvenile court jurisdiction; (m) an individual under 19 may not enter into a contract for the loan of money.
• Section 13A-12-3 remains in effect, keeping the prohibition on selling cigarettes to minors under 19, with fines of $10 to $50 and potential county jail time up to 30 days for violations.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and approval by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Age of Majority