HB82 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Mike ShawRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Crimes and offenses; falsely reporting; penalties revised; restitution required
Summary: HB82 revises Alabama's false reporting laws to add a higher penalty for cases alleging imminent danger and to require restitution for emergency-response costs when a false report triggers a response.
What This Bill Does
It keeps false reporting to law enforcement as a Class A misdemeanor unless the report alleges imminent danger, in which case it becomes a Class C felony. If a person is convicted and the false report leads to an emergency response or investigation, the court must order restitution to cover expenses incurred by law enforcement or assisting agencies. The costs covered include police, firefighting, emergency medical services, and the personnel costs of those who respond. The bill is exempt from certain local-funding approval requirements and becomes effective on October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects
Individuals who knowingly make a false report to local, state, or federal authorities: penalties depend on whether imminent danger is claimed.
Law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and other responding agencies: may incur costs that can be recovered as restitution.
Local, state, or federal agencies that respond to false reports: eligible to receive restitution for expenses.
Local governments: affected by the costs and exempt from certain local-funding vote requirements under the constitutional provision.

Key Provisions
Adds false reporting (to authorities about crimes or relating to crimes) to the crime statute (13A-10-9).
Penalty rules: false reporting generally a Class A misdemeanor; if imminent danger is alleged, it is a Class C felony.
Restitution: convicted offenders must pay the expenses incurred by responding agencies when the false report leads to emergency response or investigation; includes police, firefighting, EMS, and personnel costs.
Local-funding provision: the bill is exempt from Section 111.05 requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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