HB260 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Gambling device, crime of possession of a gambling device, slot machine manufactured before 1960 exempt from under certain limited circumstances, Sec. 13A-12-27 am'd.

Summary

HB260 would exempt slot machines manufactured before 1960 from the crime of possessing a gambling device, but only under narrow private or historical-display conditions.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the possession of gambling device law to carve out an exemption for pre-1960 slot machines when they are kept for private use or displayed as a historical artifact in a way that the public cannot access them. The general crime remains: possession of a gambling device is a Class A misdemeanor for other gambling devices and for slot machines not meeting the exemption. The act clarifies it is changing the crime definition and is exempt from local funding requirements because of that; it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Private individuals or entities that own slot machines manufactured before 1960 and meet the exemption conditions (private use or non-public historical display) would not be guilty of possessing a gambling device.
• Other owners of slot machines (manufactured in or after 1960) and owners of other gambling devices would remain subject to the existing law and could still face the Class A misdemeanor for possession if they do not meet any exemption.

Key Provisions

• Exemption: slot machines manufactured before 1960 are not subject to the possession of a gambling device crime if used only for the personal/private use of the owner or for public display as a historical artifact in a manner not accessible to the public.
• Remains a crime for all other gambling devices and for slot machines not meeting the exemption.
• The bill is treated as defining a new or amended crime, so it is exempt from local-funds requirements under Amendment 621 (no local government 2/3 vote or approval needed for this change).
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after its passage and the Governor's approval.

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

Subjects

Slot Machines