HB212 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike KirklandRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

State waters; persons commercially cutting aquatic plants required to remove cut plants, criminal penalties established

Summary

HB212 would require businesses that cut or uproot aquatic plants in public waters to remove the plant matter and face penalties if they don’t.

What This Bill Does

It requires workers cutting or uprooting aquatic plants in public waters to use commercially reasonable methods to remove the cut or uprooted plant material from the water. If they fail to do so, they could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and fined at least $500, with the money going to the enforcing agency. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would also create rules to carry out this requirement.

Who It Affects

• Businesses engaged in cutting, trimming, severing, or uprooting aquatic plants in public waters, who must use proper removal methods and may face fines for noncompliance.
• State agencies: the primary enforcing law enforcement agency would receive fines, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would be responsible for adopting rules to implement the law.

Key Provisions

• Any person in the business of cutting, trimming, severing, or uprooting aquatic plants in public waters must employ commercially reasonable methods to remove the plant matter from public waters.
• Violations are a Class C misdemeanor with a minimum fine of $500, payable to the primary enforcing agency.
• The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall adopt rules to implement and administer the section, including establishing commercially reasonable removal methods.
• The act becomes effective 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; Waters & Boating