HB125 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Leigh HulseyRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Crimes and offense; unlawful for clergy to commit certain sex acts; crime created; penalties provided
Summary: HB125 makes it illegal for clergy members to have certain sex acts with minors or protected adults and sets felony penalties, effective immediately.
What This Bill Does
It creates new offenses that prohibit clergy members from engaging in sexual acts with a child (under 19) or a protected person under 22, and from soliciting or distributing obscene material involving a child. Penalties include Class B felonies for sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child, and Class C felonies for sexual contact, solicitation/enticement, or obscene material involving a child. Consent is not a defense. The act becomes effective immediately and is exempt from certain local-funding requirements because it creates new crimes.

Who It Affects
Clergy members in positions of trust or authority: would be criminally liable for sex acts with children or protected persons and for related misconduct.
Young people under 19 or protected persons under 22: gain legal protection from sexual exploitation or obscene material involving clergy and from related misconduct.

Key Provisions
Adds Article 4B to Chapter 6 of Title 13A to create new offenses and definitions.
Defines 'Child' as under 19 years old or a protected person under 22 years old; defines 'Clergy member' as ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., or others who regularly devote substantial time to a church or religious organization.
§13A-6-86: Unlawful for a clergy member to engage in sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child; consent not a defense; Class B felony.
§13A-6-87(a)(1): Unlawful for a clergy member to engage in sexual contact with a child; consent not a defense; Class C felony.
§13A-6-87(a)(2) & (b)(1): Unlawful for a clergy member to solicit, persuade, encourage, harass, or entice a child to engage in a sex act; and to solicit a child to engage in sex acts; consent not a defense; Class C felony.
§13A-6-88(a) & (b): Unlawful for a clergy member to distribute or transmit obscene matter to a child or to solicit a child to transmit obscene matter; Class C felony.
Consent not a defense in all listed offenses.
Section 2 notes the bill is exempt from local expenditure requirements under Section 111.05 because it creates a new crime or amends existing definitions.
Section 3 makes the act effective immediately.

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