HB234 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy WoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Section 13A-11-62, as last amended by Act 2022-133 and Act 2022-438, 2022 Regular Session, and 13A-11-63, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit the possession and use of a trigger activator and provide criminal penalties for a violation; to amend Section 5 of Act 2022-133, 2022 Regular Session, now appearing as Section 13A-11-97, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the duties of a law enforcement officer during an investigatory stop involving a firearm; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Summary

HB234 would ban trigger activators, impose criminal penalties for their possession or use, and update police procedures during firearm stops, with a noted local-funding exception.

What This Bill Does

HB234 prohibits the possession, sale, or use of a trigger activator designed to allow a firearm to shoot more than one shot per trigger pull, with criminal penalties for violations. It creates penalties for related actions: possession of a trigger activator would be a Class B felony, and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun in violation of federal law would be a Class C felony. It adds duties for law enforcement during investigatory stops involving firearms, allowing temporary custody of a firearm and requiring that only lawful firearms or parts be returned, along with potential background checks; custody may extend up to 48 hours to determine legality. It notes a local-funding exemption under the Constitution and states the bill becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who possess, sell, or use trigger activators or short-barreled firearms would face criminal penalties (Class B for trigger activators; Class C for short-barreled firearms in federal-law violations).
• Law enforcement officers and local governments would have new procedures for stops involving firearms and may face related funding considerations, with the funding requirement exempted by constitutional exceptions.

Key Provisions

• Defines trigger activator as a device or combination designed to allow a semi-automatic firearm to shoot more than one shot per trigger pull.
• Prohibits possession, sale, or use of a trigger activator and makes violations a Class B felony.
• Provides that possession of a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun in violation of federal law is a Class C felony.
• Adds duties for law enforcement during investigatory stops: temporarily seize the firearm, conduct background/history checks to determine legality, and determine return of the firearm if not prohibited and the individual is not an immediate threat or under arrest, with potential return of a lawful firearm.
• Allows keeping custody of the firearm for up to 48 hours if the officer cannot determine whether it is prohibited.
• Excludes the bill from local funding expenditure requirements under Section 111.05 due to a constitutional exception and sets the effective date as the 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, trigger activators, possession and use prohibited, criminal penalties, provided