HB504 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew SorrellAuditor

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Mike BallTim WadsworthRitchie Whorton

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Firearms, prohibition against possession of firearms in certain places, further provided, Sec. 13A-11-61.2 am'd.

Summary

HB504 expands firearm-prohibition rules in more places, tightens the definition of posted guards, and addresses how local funds are affected.

What This Bill Does

It adds new places where carrying a firearm is prohibited without express permission (such as police stations, prisons and detention facilities, psychiatric facilities, courthouses and certain school and professional athletic venues). It narrows the posting-guard requirement so only guards whose main job is to protect people or property, who wear a security uniform, and who carry or have access to a firearm on duty count as guards. It requires notices at public entrances, requires firearms to be stored out of sight and secured in many facilities, and preserves exceptions for residences and certain parking-area vehicle storage. It also says law enforcement and qualified retired officers have exemptions, and it states the bill has local-funding implications but falls under constitutional exceptions, with an effective date after passage.

Who It Affects

• Firearm owners and carriers: face expanded locations where carrying a firearm is prohibited without explicit permission and must follow new storage and visibility rules in restricted areas.
• Facility operators and security personnel: must update posting practices, enforce the defined guard standards, place notices at public entrances, and manage firearm storage requirements in covered facilities.

Key Provisions

• Adds prohibitions on possessing or carrying a firearm inside police/sherriff/highway patrol stations, prisons and detention facilities, psychiatric facilities, courthouses and certain government meeting buildings, and certain school or postsecondary athletic facilities unless express permission is granted.
• Refines the guard posting rule to apply only to individuals whose main job is to protect people or property, who wear a security uniform, and who carry or have access to a firearm in the performance of duty.
• Requires notices at public entrances alerting that firearms are prohibited and requires firearms to be kept out of ordinary view and stored securely in vehicles or locked compartments in many facilities.
• Preserves exemptions for possession in residences and for law enforcement and qualified retired officers, and keeps federal-law compatibility.
• States that the bill involves a new or increased local expenditure but is exempt from local-government approval requirements under constitutional exceptions, and specifies an effective date (first day of the third month after passage).

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

Subjects

Firearms