HB24 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Reed IngramRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Sections 13A-11-9 and 32-5A-216, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit an individual from loitering on a public roadway maintained by the state; or in the right-of-way of a public roadway maintained by the state; to provide criminal penalties for violations; 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 2022.

Summary

HB24 would criminalize loitering on state-maintained roads and rights-of-way, remove a prior ban on pedestrians soliciting on highways, and include funding-exemption and timing provisions.

What This Bill Does

It creates a loitering offense for being on state roadways or their right-of-ways with several listed purposes, and it imposes penalties, including Class C misdemeanor status for repeat offenses. It would remove the existing prohibition on pedestrians soliciting employment, business, or contributions or distributing articles on highways. It allows officers to instruct violators to leave and, before arrest for an initial loitering violation, to offer transport to emergency housing if available, with enforcement following existing procedures. It also notes the bill is exempt from local-fund approval requirements due to specified exceptions and becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who loiter on state-maintained public roadways or in the state right-of-way would be subject to loitering charges and potential penalties (second or subsequent offenses could be a Class C misdemeanor).
• Pedestrians who previously solicited or distributed on highways would no longer face criminal penalties for those actions under this bill.

Key Provisions

• Amends 13A-11-9 to create a loitering crime for standing or remaining on a public roadway maintained by the state or in its right-of-way, with listed purposes such as begging, gambling, prostitution, masked activity, school-related restrictions, soliciting business, drug use, and general loitering on roadways.
• Second or subsequent loitering violations in the same jurisdiction become Class C misdemeanors.
• Before arrest for an initial loitering violation, officers may instruct violators to exit the roadway and may offer transport to emergency housing if available.
• Enforcement actions under this section follow existing procedures (Section 36-1-12).
• The bill would remove the prohibition on pedestrians soliciting employment, business, or contributions or distributing articles on highways (the stated change).
• Section 32-5A-216 continues to regulate standing on roadways for soliciting rides, employment, or contributions and related activities, with applicable permits and signs for fishing; the bill acknowledges these provisions.
• Section 2 states the bill is exempt from Section 111.05 local-fund requirements due to specified exceptions, despite involving a new or increased local expenditure.
• Section 3 provides the effective date: 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.