HB209 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Pebblin W. WarrenRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Roads, highways, and bridges, roadside memorials, placement in right-of-way authorized and regulated

Summary

The bill would create a formal, regulated process to authorize and place roadside memorials in the public right-of-way, with separate rules for state and local roadways.

What This Bill Does

It allows individuals or families to apply to the Department of Transportation (for state roads) or to a county/municipal government (for local roads) to place a roadside memorial at a designated location. It requires applications, a set fee to cover placement and maintenance costs, and pre-approval before placement. It also sets strict size, placement distance, material, and content limits to ensure safety and uniformity, with funds going to relevant state or local treasuries.

Who It Affects

• Applicants who want to place a roadside memorial (often family or friends of someone who died on the road) and must follow the application process, pay the fee, and comply with placement and content rules.
• State and local transportation agencies (Department of Transportation and county/municipal governments) that will review applications, approve placement, enforce the size/location rules, place or authorize placement, and manage the accompanying funds.

Key Provisions

• Defines a roadside memorial and states that memorials may not be placed on the right-of-way unless approved under this act.
• For state roads: allows applications to the Department of Transportation, requires specific information in the form, imposes a fee, directs fees to the Public Road and Bridge Fund, and authorizes placement at approved or department-specified locations after meeting requirements.
• Placement requirements: memorials must be as far from the roadway as practicable, no more than 3 feet high, 2 feet wide, and 6 inches thick; made of durable material; no moving or electronic parts; may include names and dates; each memorial must be department-approved prior to placement.
• For local roads: allows applications to a county or municipality, requires a form with similar information, imposes a local-branch fee, and directs fees to the respective county or municipal treasury; placement is allowed only after local approval and must meet the same size, placement, and content requirements.
• Effective date: takes effect on the first day of the third month after 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

Highways, Roads, and Bridges