HB28 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to firearms; to amend Section 13A-11-72, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the unlawful possession of a firearm on the premises of a public school; to remove exemption for persons with pistol permits; to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style; 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

HB28 would remove the pistol-permit exemption from the public school firearm ban, making permit holders subject to the same restrictions as others on school grounds, and would include funding and language updates.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would make it unlawful for any person to possess a firearm on public school premises without the pistol-permit exemption. Exemptions for school security personnel and law enforcement would remain, but permit holders would no longer be exempt. The bill also makes nonsubstantive language revisions and would trigger a local-funding requirement under Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution, meaning the bill’s local effects would need a 2/3 vote or local approval, or legislative funding, to take effect.

Who It Affects

• Pistol permit holders: would no longer be exempt from the rule against possessing a firearm on public school premises and would be prohibited from carrying there (subject to remaining exemptions for security personnel and law enforcement).
• Local governments and school districts: could face new local-funding requirements or expenditures to implement the changes, with the law’s local effect conditioned on a 2/3 vote, local approval, or legislative funding.

Key Provisions

• Removes the pistol-permit exemption from the prohibition on knowingly carrying or possessing a deadly weapon on the premises of a public school.
• Keeps exemptions from the prohibition for school security personnel and law enforcement officers, but not for pistol-permit holders.
• Includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the code language to the current style.
• Creates a local-funding impact under Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution, requiring a 2/3 legislative vote or local approval, or legislative funding, for the measure to take effect locally; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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

Firearms, to remove pistol permit exemption from possession on school premises