HB143 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ben RobbinsRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Fishing; Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources prohibited from adopting slot limit rule for tournaments on Coosa River under certain conditions
Summary: HB143 would limit the Commissioner's ability to ban possession of certain-length fish in Coosa River fishing tournaments unless restocking efforts have been tried and failed.
What This Bill Does
It prevents the Commissioner from adopting rules that prohibit possession of a fish of a certain length in Coosa River tournaments unless there is demonstrable evidence that restocking attempts have been made and have failed in the area. The rule applies specifically to the Coosa River and its reservoirs. It overrides other laws to ensure restocking evidence must exist before such prohibitions can be adopted. The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
Coosa River anglers and fishing tournament participants, who would not be subject to new length-based possession bans unless restocking efforts have been attempted and failed.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and fisheries/restocking program managers, who must provide demonstrable evidence of failed restocking before imposing possession prohibitions.

Key Provisions
Section 1(a): Applies only to the Coosa River and any reservoir on it.
Section 1(b): Prohibits the Commissioner from taking administrative action or adopting a rule that would prohibit possession of a fish of a certain length in a Coosa River tournament unless there is demonstrable evidence that restocking attempts have been made and failed in the area.
Section 1: States this prohibition overrides certain existing laws to the extent necessary to enforce the restocking-evidence condition.
Section 2: Effective date is October 1, 2025.

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