SB127 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, certain buildings, streets, and monuments so situated for over 40 years placed under jurisdiction of Commiittee on Alabama Monument Protection, penalties revised, Secs. 41-9-232, 41-9-235 am'd.

Summary

SB 127 expands protection to include architecturally significant buildings, memorial buildings, memorial streets, and monuments on public property that have been there 40+ years, placing them under the Alabama Monument Protection Committee and updating penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds certain long-standing sites to the oversight of the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection. It keeps existing protections against relocating or disturbing these sites and creates a waiver process with criteria and public input to allow changes under specific conditions. It introduces a presumption against relocation for 40+ year sites, allows emergency repairs with temporary relocation, and imposes penalties on violations, with fines allocated to the State Historic Preservation Fund.

Who It Affects

• Public property owners and managers (state and local governments) who control architecturally significant buildings, memorial buildings, memorial streets, or monuments; they must seek waivers for changes and may be subject to penalties.
• Heritage, historical, and preservation groups and members of the public who can participate in the waiver process by providing commentary and input on proposed changes.

Key Provisions

• Expands the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection's jurisdiction to include architecturally significant buildings, memorial buildings, memorial streets, or monuments that have been on public property for 40+ years.
• Maintains and clarifies restrictions on relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or disturbance for sites; adds a waiver process with required documentation and public input for changes.
• Creates a rebuttable presumption against changing 40+ year sites; allows for emergency repairs with temporary relocation and restoration within set timeframes; waivers must be granted or denied under specified rules.
• Imposes penalties for violations without waivers: a fine of $25,000 plus $10,000 per day until restoration, with funds deposited into the Alabama State Historic Preservation Fund; failure to act within 90 days results in a deemed grant of the waiver.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Memorial Preservation Act