HB135 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chip BrownRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2021
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: HB135 would exempt slot machines manufactured before 1960 from the crime of possession of a gambling device under limited conditions, mainly for private use or non-public historical display.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Section 13A-12-27 to create an exemption for slot machines manufactured before 1960 when they are used only for personal/private use or for public display as a historical artifact in a manner not accessible to the public. Outside these circumstances, possession of a gambling device remains a Class A misdemeanor. The bill notes it is excluded from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it changes crime definitions, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects
Owners or collectors who possess slot machines manufactured before 1960, who would use them privately or display them as historical artifacts in a non-public way.
Museums or private collections that hold or display pre-1960 slot machines under non-public display conditions.

Key Provisions
Exempts slot machines manufactured before 1960 from the crime of possession of a gambling device when used for personal/private use or for public display as a historical artifact in a manner not accessible to the public.
Maintains the baseline offense of possession of a gambling device as a Class A misdemeanor for other devices or contexts.
States that, although the bill could affect local funds, it is exempt from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements because it amends a crime or its definition.
Effective date: the first day of the third month following passage and governor 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