HB65 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Evictions, clarify required notices from landlord to tenant, Secs. 6-6-332, 35-9A-461 am'd.

Summary

The bill clarifies the exact steps a landlord must take to notify a tenant before starting an eviction in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

It changes two sections of the Alabama Code to specify notice requirements for evictions, including a six-day minimum notice before the return date. If the landlord cannot personally serve the tenant, it allows delivering to a legally competent person on the premises, posting the notice on the door, and mailing a copy to the defendant’s address (premises or last known address) with posting considered complete when the mailing occurs. It also aligns eviction action procedures with these notice rules and requires eviction cases to be given scheduling precedence in court; landlords may use a process server if qualified.

Who It Affects

• Tenants/defendants in eviction cases will be required to receive notices under defined methods and timelines.
• Landlords and their agents (including sheriffs, constables, or process servers) must follow the specified notice and service procedures to initiate eviction actions.

Key Provisions

• Amends §6-6-332 to require at least six days’ notice before the return day and permit serving the notice anywhere in Alabama.
• If personal service is not possible, allows serving a sui juris person on the premises or posting the notice on the door, followed by mailing a copy by first-class mail to the defendant at the premises' mailing address or last known address; posting is complete as of the mailing date.
• Provides that a process server may be used if qualified and ordered by the court when the landlord requests service other than a sheriff or constable.
• Amends §35-9A-461 to ensure eviction actions follow these notice and service requirements and to maintain jurisdiction/venue rules and expedited scheduling for eviction cases.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Landlord-Tenant