HB392 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Isaac Whorton
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Courts, magistrates, fees and costs, authorized to assess, duties, use of electronic communication for notification purposes authorized, Secs. 12-14-51, 12-19-150 am'd.
Summary: HB 392 would let municipal court magistrates assess criminal docket fees, authorize electronic notifications to defendants, and grant magistrates absolute immunity under certain conditions.
What This Bill Does
It allows magistrates to assess docket fees and other court costs in criminal cases they preside over. It authorizes the use of emails or text messages to notify defendants of required court processes, instead of other forms of notification, at the discretion of the clerk and the magistrate. It provides absolute judicial immunity to municipal court magistrates for actions under these duties, subject to specified conditions. It updates the related statutes to reflect these changes.

Who It Affects
Municipal court magistrates: gain authority to assess fees in criminal cases they preside over, can use electronic notification, and receive immunity protections under certain conditions.
Defendants in municipal criminal cases: may receive electronic notifications and may be subject to docket fees and court costs assessed by magistrates.

Key Provisions
Magistrates may assess docket fees and other court costs in criminal cases they preside over.
Allows use of emails or text messages to notify a defendant of any required legal process, in lieu of other forms of communication, at the discretion of the municipal court clerk and the magistrate.
Provides absolute judicial immunity to municipal court magistrates for actions taken under these duties, under specified conditions.
Amends sections 12-14-51 and 12-19-150 to reflect these changes and establishes the act's effective date as the first day of the third month after passage.

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