HB233 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses; making a terrorist threat in the second degree, elements revised, criminal penalties further provided for

Summary

HB233 changes the second-degree terrorist threat law by removing the credibility and immediacy requirement and increasing penalties for repeat offenses.

What This Bill Does

The bill removes the rule that a threat must be credible and imminent to count as making a terrorist threat in the second degree. It keeps the basic idea that threatening to harm people or property can be a crime, but makes a second or subsequent conviction for this offense a Class D felony. It also defines threats as statements meant to harm and communicated to another person, involving harm to people or property, with intent to cause fear or harm, and covers property including churches and schools. The act takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who threaten to harm people or property (threats can be verbal, written, or via electronic means) — the threat could qualify as a second-degree offense even if not credible or imminent.
• People with prior convictions for making a terrorist threat in the second degree — any second or later conviction would be a Class D felony.
• Entities and places defined as property in the law (such as churches, mosques, synagogues, schools, and other real or personal property) that could be targeted by threats.
• Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts responsible for charging, prosecuting, and sentencing these offenses.

Key Provisions

• Eliminates the credibility and imminence requirement for a threat to count as making a terrorist threat in the second degree.
• Second or subsequent convictions for making a terrorist threat in the second degree become Class D felonies (instead of staying at the misdemeanor level for a first offense).
• Threats are defined as statements made to harm a person or property, communicated to another person, and made with intent to cause fear or harm, with the law applying to threats against property including religious and educational facilities.
• 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

Crimes & Offenses