SB152 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

State Pilotage Commission as Class 2 municipality, commission may regulate maritime data used in Mobile Bay.

Summary

SB152 expands the State Pilotage Commission’s power to regulate pilotage in Mobile Bay, require preapproval of maritime data from certain sources, and set fitness rules for pilots.

What This Bill Does

The Commission gains authority to regulate piloting of ships and watercraft into and out of Mobile Bay up to the port docking facility or beyond the Mobile Entrance Lighted Buoy. Maritime data produced by foreign states or by foreign or domestic companies must be expressly preapproved by the Commission for any official use in pilotage. The Commission may require evidence of the physical and mental fitness of active bar pilots and adopt rules regarding their fitness. The act takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Active bar pilots: may be required to meet new physical and mental fitness standards and be subject to evaluation under Commission rules.
• Maritime data providers (foreign states and foreign or domestic companies): must obtain express preapproval from the Commission to use data for official pilotage purposes.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 33-4A-13 to give the State Pilotage Commission authority to regulate piloting into and out of Mobile Bay up to specific points (Port of Mobile docking facility or past the Mobile Entrance Lighted Buoy).
• Requires maritime data used for official pilotage to be expressly preapproved by the Commission if produced by foreign states or by foreign or domestic companies.
• Authorizes the Commission to require evidence of physical and mental fitness of active bar pilots and to adopt related fitness rules and regulations.
• 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

Mobile County