SB218 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy PriceSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses; failure to render aid, established; criminal penalty provided

Summary

SB218 would create a new crime called failure to render aid for someone who, while illegally using a controlled substance with another person, does not seek medical help and that person dies or has a serious reaction.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill makes it a Class C felony to fail to seek medical help when someone you are with is overdosing or having a significant adverse reaction to a controlled substance, and that overdose or reaction leads to the other person's death. It applies to substances listed in Schedules I through V. The changes would take effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• People who are using a controlled substance illegally with another person; if the other person overdoses or has a serious reaction and the person fails to seek help, they could be charged.
• The person who overdoses or experiences a severe reaction (and their family) since the law directly ties the failure to render aid to the resulting death or harm.

Key Provisions

• Creates the crime of failure to render aid when two people are unlawfully using a controlled substance together and one overdoses or has a significant adverse reaction.
• Requires the person to knowingly fail to seek medical assistance, and for the overdose or adverse reaction to proximately cause the other person’s death.
• Defines the offense as a Class C felony and applies to controlled substances listed in Schedules I through V.
• Effective date: 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