HB85 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt WoodsSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses, penalty increased for crimes of making a terrorist threat in the first or second degree, public K-12 schools may immediately suspend student if charged, principal required to sign complaint if warranted, readmittance and restitution provided

Summary

HB85 would raise penalties for making terrorist threats in the first or second degree and change school discipline rules for students charged with these crimes.

What This Bill Does

The bill increases penalties for first-degree terrorist threats and second-degree terrorist threats. It requires public school principals to sign complaints when a student’s conduct warrants criminal charges and sets a minimum one-year suspension for students charged with these crimes. Readmission after charges depends on disposition of charges, completion of required evaluations and counseling, and meeting local board conditions, with restitution required if guilt is found. It also directs the state and local boards to adopt uniform safe-school and drug-free policies, with discipline plans and procedures including hearings within five school days and accountability for damages.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students charged with making a terrorist threat in the first or second degree: face immediate suspension (minimum one year), possible ban from school property, readmission restrictions, and potential expulsion with restitution requirements if found guilty.
• Public schools, local boards of education, school administrators (principals), and parents/guardians: must implement and enforce new uniform discipline policies, have principals sign complaints, conduct timely disciplinary hearings, and handle financial responsibilities for damages and restitution.

Key Provisions

• Penalties for first-degree terrorist threats would be increased to a higher classification than the current Class C felony (as drafted in §13A-10-241).
• Penalties for second-degree terrorist threats would be increased to a higher classification than the current Class A misdemeanor (as drafted in §13A-10-242).
• Public school principals must sign complaints when a student’s conduct warrants criminal charges.
• A student charged with first- or second-degree terrorist threats must be immediately suspended from attending regular classes for at least one year and banned from all public K-12 property during that time.
• Readmission after such charges requires disposition of charges, completion of psychiatric or psychological evaluation and counseling ordered by the court, and satisfaction of other local board requirements; guilty findings may lead to expulsion and restitution to law enforcement, EMS providers, and the local board.
• Restitution and damages: the student and/or parent/guardian may be responsible for restitution to the entities listed for costs related to the crime, and local schools can pursue actual damages for property destruction.
• State and local policies: the State Board of Education must adopt a comprehensive safe-school and drug-free policy; local boards must uniformly enforce it and modify district policies to ensure safety, with a standard discipline plan and uniform penalties; the discipline plan must be distributed to students and guardians and reviewed annually.

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