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HB168 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Apr 6, 2026
High Interest

Summary

Session
2026 Regular Session
Title
Crimes and offenses; crime of loitering, exceptions further provided; mask usage policies on school campuses, authorized
Description

Under existing law, loitering is a crime committed when a person unlawfully loiters, remains, or wanders about a specified place for a prohibited purpose. The crime is also committed when a masked person loiters, remains, or congregates in a public place.

Existing law specifies that the crime is not committed when the person is participating in a masquerade event or participating in a public parade presentation or an educational, religious, or historical event.

This bill would further provide for the exemption by including wearing a surgical or medical mask while participating in a protest, demonstration, or other public assembly, provided the use of the mask is to mitigate the spread of an infectious disease.

This bill would also allow local boards of education and public institutions of higher education to adopt and enforce mask policies on their respective campuses.

Subjects
Crimes & Offenses

Bill Actions

S

Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

S

Reported Out of Committee Second House

S

Pending Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

S

Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development

H

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 197

H

Third Reading in House of Origin

H

Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

H

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

H

Pending House Public Safety and Homeland Security

H

Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

Calendar

Hearing

Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Hearing

Finance and Taxation at 15:00:00

Hearing

House Public Safety and Homeland Security Hearing

Room 206 at 09:30:00

Bill Text

Votes

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Roll Call 197

January 27, 2026 House Passed
Yes 71
No 27
Abstained 5
Absent 1

Third Reading in House of Origin

January 27, 2026 House Passed
Yes 89
Abstained 14
Absent 1

HBIR: Passed by House of Origin

January 27, 2026 House Passed
Yes 89
Abstained 14
Absent 1

Documents

Source: Alabama Legislature