HB529 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny CrawfordRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Defamation, showing of actual malice required, Sec. 13A-11-163 am'd.

Summary

HB529 updates Alabama defamation law to require actual malice for false accusations of felonies or moral turpitude.

What This Bill Does

It changes the defamation standard so publishing a false accusation of a felony or moral turpitude requires actual malice (knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard). It keeps the punishment as a Class B misdemeanor (up to a $500 fine and up to six months in jail or hard labor). It also notes local-funding rules under Amendment 621 and says the bill is exempt from those requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one.

Who It Affects

• People who publish or disseminate false accusations of felonies or crimes involving moral turpitude (they could face a Class B misdemeanor).
• Individuals who are the subjects of defamation (including women accused of lack of chastity) benefit from the stricter requirement of actual malice for conviction.
• Local government entities are not required to approve or follow 2/3-vote local-funding provisions for this bill because it is a crime-definition change.

Key Provisions

• Section 13A-11-163 is amended to require actual malice (knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard) for publishing or disseminating a false accusation of a felony or moral turpitude.
• Conviction carries a Class B misdemeanor: fine up to $500 and imprisonment in county jail or hard labor for up to six months, or both.
• The bill acknowledges Amendment 621 (local funding) but states it is exempt from those requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
• Severability clause: if part of the act is invalid, the rest remains in effect.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses