HB305 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Matt Fridy
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Motor vehicles, traffic accident reports, confidentiality, exceptions, Sec. 32-10-7 am'd.
Summary: HB305 would allow the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency to disclose motor vehicle accident reports under specific circumstances while keeping most reports confidential.
What This Bill Does
The bill preserves confidentiality of accident reports but adds specific situations where disclosure is allowed. It lists who may request or receive reports, including people involved in the accident, their parents or guardians, heirs or personal representatives, insurers, and attorneys. It also allows the agency to share vehicle damage data with outside entities for public safety purposes and to provide electronic access to entitled individuals. It sets up procedures for heirs to obtain reports if no personal representative has been appointed, using affidavits to establish eligibility.

Who It Affects
People directly involved in motor vehicle accidents and their representatives (drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and parents/guardians of minors; heirs or estates’ personal representatives who may request or receive reports).
Insurance companies or their designees, attorneys, and other authorized entities that may request or access reports or related vehicle-damage data for legitimate purposes, plus outside contractors and entities used to provide public-safety data access.

Key Provisions
Accident reports remain confidential but may be disclosed under specific circumstances (e.g., identity unknown, subpoena or court order, or requests by certain authorized persons).
Authorized requestors include: a) a person involved in the accident; b) a parent or guardian of a minor involved; c) a personal representative or heir of a deceased involved person (heir rules and affidavit process included); d) an insurer or its designee for insurance purposes; e) an attorney for a person involved.
Heir and estate provisions allow an heir to receive a report if no personal representative has been appointed, with authority ending once a personal representative is appointed; the agency may rely on an heir’s affidavit.
The department may not release reports for commercial purposes but may contract with outside entities to share vehicle-damage data for public safety and provide electronic access to entitled parties.
Effective date is the first day of the third month after the bill’s passage or 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: Motor Vehicles