SB57 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Crimes & Offenses, prohibited picketing or protesting in certain circumstances and provided criminal penalties

Summary

SB57 would ban picketing or protesting at or near a residence with harassment or intimidation intent, allow local time/noise rules for residential protests, create a swatting crime, and set penalties with an Oct. 1, 2024 effective date.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits picketing or protesting at or near a residence with the intent to harass or intimidate, and requires officers to tell protesters to disperse before arrest. It allows counties or cities to pass rules about when and how loudly protests can occur in residential areas. It creates the crime of swatting for knowingly making false emergency reports that cause a responders’ arrival and potential serious injury or death, with related penalties; it also sets first-offense and subsequent-offense penalties for residence-protest violations. It authorizes enforcement by the state police if a local agency doesn’t enforce it and takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Protesters who picket near homes and nearby residents, who would be subject to penalties for harassment or intimidation and whose protests could be regulated by local time/noise rules; officers must instruct dispersal before arrest.
• Individuals who knowingly file false emergency reports (swatting), who could be charged with a Class B felony, protecting emergency responders and the public from dangerous false alarms.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits picketing or protesting at or near a residence with intent to harass, intimidate, or disturb occupants; first offense is a Class C misdemeanor, second or subsequent offense is a Class B misdemeanor; officers must instruct peaceful dispersal before arrest.
• Allows municipalities and counties to adopt regulations limiting the time frame and noise level of residential protests; violations of these local regulations are enforced like the main residence-protest provision.
• Creates the crime of swatting: knowingly making a false report to emergency services that triggers an emergency response and results in serious injury or death; swatting is a Class B felony.
• Enforcement: Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency may enforce if a local agency fails to enforce the section.
• 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