SB13 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald H. AllenSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
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 bill creates the Alabama Heritage Preservation Act to protect monuments on public property by restricting removal or alteration, establishes a waiver process through a new committee, and imposes penalties, with certain exemptions.
What This Bill Does
It bars relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of monuments on public property unless a waiver is approved. It also forbids blocking the responsible government entity from maintaining or restoring monuments. It creates the Permanent Joint Committee on Alabama Monument Protection to oversee waivers, set duties, and enforce penalties, and it allows waivers with conditions to preserve monuments. It includes a detailed waiver process (public hearings, notices, input from heritage groups) certified by the Alabama Historical Commission, and imposes a $100,000 fine per violation for removing a monument without a waiver; exemptions apply to certain arts, artifacts, and some DOT/local or utility properties under limited circumstances.

Who It Affects
Public bodies that control or maintain monuments on public property (state, county, and city governments, universities, and certain utilities/transportation agencies) would be restricted from moving or altering monuments without a waiver and must follow a formal waiver process; violations can lead to fines.
The Alabama Historical Commission, the Permanent Joint Committee on Alabama Monument Protection, and heritage groups/public participants would oversee waiver decisions, certify deliberative processes, set fees, and engage in public input and preservation oversight.

Key Provisions
Creates the Alabama Heritage Preservation Act of 2016 and defines key terms like 'monument' and 'public property'.
Section 3 prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of monuments on public property, with exceptions only as provided by a waiver process in Section 6.
Section 4 prohibits blocking the governmental entity responsible for maintaining monuments from taking proper preservation actions.
Section 5 establishes the Permanent Joint Committee on Alabama Monument Protection, details its composition, duties, ability to grant waivers, and how members are appointed and compensated.
Section 6 sets forth the waiver process for monuments (and for renaming schools/streets/buildings/etc.), including a deliberative process with resolutions, public hearings, notices, signage, input collection, and certification by the Alabama Historical Commission; waivers may include preservation conditions.
A violation by removing a monument without a waiver can result in a $100,000 fine per violation, collected by the Attorney General and deposited into the State General Fund.
Section 7 provides exemptions: art and artifacts under museums/universities; monuments on DOT or other public property involved in transportation operations may be preserved rather than prohibited; similar preservation expectations apply to county/municipal properties and utilities under limited circumstances.
Section 8 makes the act effective immediately upon the Governor's 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: Monuments