SB286 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Crimes and offenses, to further provide for the crime of criminal homicide, Sec. 13A-6-5 added.

Summary

SB286 would remove the year-and-a-day rule and allow homicide charges whenever a wrongful act causes death, regardless of how much time passes.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new provision (13A-6-5) stating that a person may be prosecuted for any form of criminal homicide if their wrongful act causes another person's death, regardless of the time elapsed. It abolishes the common-law year-and-a-day rule. It applies to acts occurring on or after the bill’s effective date and notes that the bill is exempt from certain local-funding rules because it creates or amends a crime.

Who It Affects

• Defendants in homicide cases: could be prosecuted even if the victim dies long after the wrongful act.
• Victims, families, and the public: greater ability to pursue homicide charges and hold wrongdoers accountable.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 13A-6-5 to Alabama law to allow prosecution for any form of criminal homicide if the wrongful act causes death, regardless of elapsed time.
• Abrogates the common-law year-and-a-day rule, which previously prevented such prosecutions if death occurred after more than one year and one day.
• Applies to acts occurring on or after the act’s effective date.
• The bill is excluded from Amendment 621 local-funding requirements because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial 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

Crimes and Offenses