HB146 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phillip PettusRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Youthful offender status, to prohibit a judge from granting youthful offender status to any person who is 16 years of age and older and charged with murder

Summary

HB146 would prohibit youthful offender status for anyone 16 years old or older charged with murder, and require adult prosecution with victim-notice and evidentiary hearings before any status decision.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Section 15-19-1 to bar youth-offender treatment for defendants who are 16+ at the time of the offense and charged with capital murder or murder, so they must be charged, arrested, and tried as adults. It adds requirements that victims receive 10 days’ notice before hearings and that the court hold an evidentiary hearing on injuries before deciding whether a defendant will be treated as a youthful offender, with the rights provisions tied to the Crime Victims' Rights Act. The act takes effect October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Individuals aged 16 or older charged with capital murder or murder will no longer be eligible for youthful offender status and will be handled as adults.
• Victims of these crimes, who must receive advance notice and have their injuries considered in the process.
• Judiciaries and prosecutors who handle youthful offender determinations and sentencing for murder cases.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits granting youthful offender status to individuals 16 years of age or older who are charged with capital murder or murder.
• Requires such defendants to be charged, arrested, and tried as adults (not as youthful offenders).
• Before determining youthful offender status, the court must conduct an evidentiary hearing on the allegations and injuries, and provide victim notice 10 days prior to the hearing.
• Adds victim-rights protections under the Crime Victims' Rights Act related to these proceedings; failure to provide rights does not void the disposition.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025; the bill is named 'Jolee's Law'.

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

Subjects

Criminal Procedure