HB131 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Wes AllenAlan BakerMike BallChris BlackshearTerri CollinsCorley EllisTracy EstesVictor GastonWes KitchensJoe LovvornRhett MarquesParker MooreEd OliverPhillip PettusRex ReynoldsProncey RobertsonChris SellsRandall SheddMatt SimpsonJeff SorrellsShane StringerRodney SullivanAllen TreadawayDavid WheelerAndy WhittMargie Wilcox

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Bail, criminal cases, creates Aniah's law, const. amend

Summary

HB131 would add Aniah's Law to the Alabama Constitution, guaranteeing reasonable bail before conviction for most offenses while listing serious offenses that may be exempt from this rule.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 16 of the Alabama Constitution to require reasonable bail before conviction for all individuals, with specific offenses listed by the Legislature that are not automatically guaranteed bail. For those listed offenses, bail decisions would follow general law and may be more restrictive. It also states that excessive bail shall not be required, and the amendment would take effect if approved by voters in an election.

Who It Affects

• People awaiting trial for offenses not on the enumerated list would be entitled to reasonable bail before conviction.
• People charged with enumerated offenses (the listed capital offenses and other serious crimes) may have bail set or denied under general law, rather than automatically receiving reasonable bail.

Key Provisions

• Creates Aniah's Law and amends Section 16 of the Constitution to guarantee reasonable bail before conviction for most offenses.
• Enumerated offenses include capital murder, murder, kidnapping in the first degree, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, sexual torture, domestic violence in the first degree, human trafficking in the first degree, burglary in the first degree, arson in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, terrorism (Class A felony other than murder), and aggravated child abuse of a child under six.
• Excessive bail shall not be required.
• The amendment would require voter approval in an election to become part of the Constitution and would be titled Aniah's Law.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments