HB3 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Beckman

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

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

Summary

The bill would create the Alabama Heritage Preservation Act to protect statues, monuments, plaques, and certain grave sites on public property, establish a waiver process for limited changes, and impose penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It bans relocating, removing, altering, renaming, or disturbing objects of remembrance on public property, and prohibits relocating graves with historical significance. It requires government entities responsible for maintenance to allow preservation and protection of these objects. It creates a waiver process through the Alabama Legislative Council, with prescribed steps (hearings, notices, input, and certification) to decide whether changes are allowed. It imposes a $100,000 fine per violation if an entity removes an object without a waiver and provides exemptions for certain art/artifacts and for the Department of Transportation and some local highway departments under limited circumstances.

Who It Affects

• Local and state government entities that control or maintain memorial objects on public property; they would be restricted from relocating/removing/altering without a waiver and could face substantial fines for violations.
• State-level oversight bodies and transportation-related agencies (Alabama Legislative Council, Alabama Historical Commission, Attorney General, Department of Transportation, and local highway departments); they oversee the waiver process, grant or deny waivers, certify compliance, and manage exemptions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of memorial objects on public property and relocation of historically significant grave sites.
• Allows waivers only through a defined deliberative process overseen by the Alabama Legislative Council, with requirements including public hearings, newspaper notices, site signage, public input, and certification by the Alabama Historical Commission.
• Stipulates a $100,000 fine for any removal of an object without a waiver, enforceable by the Attorney General and deposited into the State General Fund.
• Provides for exemptions for certain art and artifacts, and limited exemptions for the Department of Transportation and local highway departments under specific circumstances, with a mandate to preserve where possible.
• Establishes that the waiver process may include conditions to preserve objects and that the Legislative Council may deny a petition if appropriate.

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