HB301 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Reed IngramRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to firearms; to amend Section 13A-11-84, Code of Alabama 1975; to establish a list of criminal offenses deemed felonies dangerous to human life; to provide enhanced criminal penalties for the possession, brandishing, or discharge of a firearm during the commission of a felony dangerous to human life; to provide prohibitions on the possession of a firearm by certain individuals released on bond or personal recognizance for certain underlying criminal offenses; to prohibit the possession of a firearm by certain individuals convicted of a felony dangerous to human life under certain conditions; to provide criminal penalties for a violation; to make; 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

HB301 would create a list of felonies dangerous to human life and impose harsher penalties for firearm crimes tied to those felonies, plus new firearm restrictions for certain offenders.

What This Bill Does

It defines a list of offenses that are considered felonies dangerous to human life. It imposes minimum penalties for possessing, brandishing, or discharging a firearm during the commission of one of those felonies (10 years for possession/brandishing, 15 years for discharge; 20 years for a second or subsequent violation). It restricts firearm possession for people released on bond or recognizance for underlying dangerous-life felonies and for people with a prior qualifying conviction within 25 years, with penalties for violations. It also makes related changes to how certain firearm offenses are punished and how seized firearms are handled, and notes local funding rules but provides an exemption from those requirements; it becomes effective after a set date.

Who It Affects

• Offenders who commit a felony designated as dangerous to human life would face harsher penalties if they possess, brandish, or discharge a firearm during the crime (minimum 10 years for possession/brandishing, 15 years for discharge; higher penalties for repeat offenses).
• Individuals restricted from firearm possession under this bill would include those released on bond or recognizance for underlying dangerous-life felonies and those with a qualifying prior conviction within 25 years; violations would carry felony penalties (Class B for first offense, Class A for subsequent) and run consecutively with other sentences.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'felony dangerous to human life' to include a list of offenses such as capital murder, murder, certain manslaughter, specific sex offenses, Assault I/II, kidnapping I/II, enticing a child to enter a vehicle, aggravated stalking, domestic violence (I/II), burglary (I/II), arson (I/II), robbery (I), pharmacy robbery, escape I, various child-related offenses, human trafficking, and related deadly-weapon offenses, plus substantially similar offenses.
• Imposes minimum prison terms for possessing or brandishing a firearm during the commission of a felony dangerous to human life (not less than 10 years) and for discharging (not less than 15 years); second or subsequent violations raise the term to not less than 20 years; sentences run consecutively with no probation, no community corrections, and no early release.
• Makes it unlawful to possess a firearm for persons released on bond or personal recognizance for underlying dangerous-life felonies; and for those who have been convicted within the prior 25 years of such felonies; violations carry Class B (first offense) or Class A (subsequent offenses) felonies and run consecutively with other sentences, with no probation or early release.
• Amends Section 13A-11-84 to reclassify certain firearm offenses and outlines seizure, forfeiture, and disposition of firearms involved in these offenses.
• Notes that although the bill could require local funds, it is exempt from Section 111.05 local funding requirements because it creates or amends crimes; specifies 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.