SB55 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris ElliottSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Driver licenses, certain classes of driver licenses invalidated
Summary: SB55 targets licenses tied to lawful presence and tightens nonresident driving exemptions, with an effective date of October 1, 2025.
What This Bill Does
It invalidates driver licenses issued to people who did not provide proof of lawful presence, making those licenses unusable for driving in Alabama. If someone drives with such a license, a law enforcement officer must issue a citation for driving without a license unless the driver can show other proof of lawful presence. The state will publish a summary online and install signs at welcome locations to inform visitors about the new rules. It also narrows nonresident exemptions by denying them if the nonresident’s license shows no lawful presence.

Who It Affects
Nonresident drivers who hold a home-state license that indicates they did not provide lawful presence; their license would not be valid for driving in Alabama and would not qualify for the exemption.
Law enforcement agencies, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, and the Department of Transportation, plus the visiting public; they will enforce the new rules, post notices online, and install signage to inform people.

Key Provisions
Licenses issued to individuals who did not provide proof of lawful presence are not valid in Alabama and cannot authorize driving.
If stopped while driving with such a license, the driver may be cited for driving without a license unless they have other documentation showing lawful presence.
The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency must publish a summary of the section online, and the Department of Transportation must install welcome-sign signage to inform about the provisions.
Amends Section 32-6-2 to keep existing exemptions for nonresidents (ages 16+ with a valid home-state license; or nonresidents from states not requiring licensing for up to 90 days) but excludes those whose license shows they did not provide lawful presence from using those exemptions.
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: Motor Vehicles & Traffic