HB265 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Jan 14, 2026

House Bill

Expired

Current Status

Regular Session 2024

Session

Sponsor

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ronald Bolton Representative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Motor vehicles, child passenger restraint systems, use further provided
Description: Under existing law, children are required to use child passenger restraint systems based on their age and weight. Specifically, children are required to use rear facing car seats until at least one year of age or 20 pounds; are required to use front facing convertible seats until at least five years of age or 40 pounds; and are required to use booster seats until at least six years of age.
This bill would require a child to use a rear-facing infant seat until the child is two years of age or 22 pounds.
This bill would require a child that has met the conditions to begin using a belt positioning booster seat to continue to use the booster seat until the child is six years of age and can pass a five-step test demonstrating readiness to use a seat belt.
This bill would require all other individuals in a vehicle to wear a seat belt, with limited existing exceptions.
This bill would also prohibit a child under 13 years of age from sitting in the front seat of a motor vehicle, with exceptions.
Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect HB265 INTRODUCED would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.
The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the section. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the section.
Subjects: Motor Vehicles & Traffic