SB6 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

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

SB6 would protect statues, monuments, and other memorial objects on public property from relocation or alteration, with a waiver process and penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It would prohibit relocating, removing, altering, renaming, or disturbing memorial objects on public property, including grave sites with historical significance. It would require the entity responsible for these objects to protect and preserve them, and it could impose fines if removal occurs without a waiver. It would establish a waiver process through the Alabama Legislative Council, including public hearings, notices, and input gathered by preservation groups, with certification by the Alabama Historical Commission. It would exempt certain art and artifacts and limit how the Department of Transportation and local highway departments handle related objects under specific circumstances.

Who It Affects

• Public and governmental entities that own or maintain monuments, statues, plaques, or grave sites on public property would be restricted and must obtain waivers to relocate or alter them.
• The Department of Transportation and local highway departments are exempt or subject to limited preservation requirements; museums, archives, and libraries with art or artifacts are also exempt under certain circumstances.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance of objects of remembrance on public property, and relocation of grave sites with historical significance, except as allowed by waivers.
• No one may prevent the responsible government entity from taking actions to protect, preserve, care for, repair, or restore these objects.
• Allows the Alabama Legislative Council to grant waivers through a defined deliberative process certified by the Alabama Historical Commission; the Council may impose conditions or deny waivers.
• Waiver process for objects includes: a controlling entity's resolution, two public hearings, eight weeks of newspaper notices, eight weeks of site signage, input from preservation groups and the public, and certification by the Alabama Historical Commission.
• Waiver process for renaming schools, streets, bridges, buildings, parks, preserves, or reserves includes similar steps (resolution, notices, hearings, input, and certification).
• If the Attorney General determines removal occurred without a waiver, a fine of $100,000 per violation applies.
• Exemptions include art and artifacts in museums, archives, and libraries; and certain DOT and local property cases where preservation is limited by transportation needs; entities must strive to preserve where possible.

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