SB17 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Garlan GudgerSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Critical infrastructure, provides further for crime of unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure, including unmanned aircraft systems, provides additional penalties, Sec. 13A-7-4.3 am'd.

Summary

SB17 expands Alabama's crime of unauthorized entry into critical infrastructure to include unmanned aircraft system scenarios and sets higher penalties for damage or disruption.

What This Bill Does

It defines what counts as critical infrastructure and what constitutes fraudulent identification. It makes unauthorized entry into such infrastructure a Class A misdemeanor, with a Class C felony if property is injured, destroyed, or operations are interrupted. If the entry involves an unmanned aircraft system carrying a weapon or explosive, the offense is a Class C felony. The bill also notes a constitutional exemption regarding local funding and states the new crime becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who unlawfully enter critical infrastructure or attempt to do so (including using fraudulent IDs, remaining after being forbidden, or entering restricted areas) and could be charged under the new penalties.
• Unmanned aircraft system operators who participate in unauthorized entry while carrying a weapon or explosive, making the act a Class C felony.

Key Provisions

• Defines critical infrastructure to include facilities and areas such as chemical plants, pipelines, refineries, power facilities, electrical towers and substations, water treatment facilities, LNG terminals, natural gas storage/production, mining and mining infrastructure, and transportation facilities (ports, airports, railways, trucking terminals).
• Defines fraudulent documents for identification and unmanned aircraft systems (drones) for use in assessing entry into critical infrastructure.
• Criminalizes four scenarios of unauthorized entry: entering without authority into a protected infrastructure area; using fraudulent identification to enter; remaining on the premises after being forbidden; entering a restricted or limited access area that is clearly marked and enclosed by barriers.
• Establishes penalties: Class A misdemeanor for general unauthorized entry; Class C felony if infrastructure property is injured, removed, destroyed, or operations are interrupted; Class C felony if entry occurs with an unmanned aircraft system carrying a weapon, firearm, explosive, or destructive device.
• Clarifies the bill does not prevent lawful assembly or peaceful petitioning, including labor disputes.
• Notes the bill is exempt from local fund expenditure requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates or changes a crime, and provides the effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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

Critical Infrastructure