SB170 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will BarfootSenator

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 remove the prohibition on a pedestrian soliciting employment, business, or contributions or distributing articles on a highway; 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

SB170 would criminalize loitering on state-maintained public roadways or rights‑of‑way and remove the prohibition on pedestrians soliciting or distributing on highways, while potentially requiring local funds to implement.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would make loitering on state-maintained roads or their right‑of‑way illegal and establish criminal penalties for violations. It would also remove the current ban on pedestrians soliciting employment, business, or contributions or distributing articles on a highway, effectively allowing those activities. The bill notes that implementing it could require new or increased local expenditures under the Alabama Constitution.

Who It Affects

• General public individuals who loiter on state-maintained roadways or rights-of-way would be subject to criminal penalties.
• Pedestrians who solicit employment, business, or contributions or distribute articles on highways would no longer be prohibited and could engage in those activities.

Key Provisions

• Amends Code Sections 13A-11-9 and 32-5A-216 to prohibit loitering on state-maintained public roadways or in the state right-of-way.
• Removes the prohibition on pedestrians soliciting employment, business, contributions, or distributing articles on a highway.
• Creates criminal penalties for loitering on state-maintained roadways or rights-of-way.
• Dings that the bill could require new or increased local expenditures under Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution 2022.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.