HB20 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Matt SimpsonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses; list of capital offenses, further provided to include murder committed when the defendant knowingly creates a great risk to multiple persons

Summary

HB20 would add a new capital murder offense for knowingly creating a great risk of death to multiple people and would treat that risk as an aggravating factor in sentencing, effective October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

It amends Alabama law to include murder causing a great risk of death to multiple people as a capital offense. It also expands the list of aggravating circumstances to include this same factor, to be considered during the death vs. life-without-parole sentencing decision. The existing sentencing process remains, where aggravating and mitigating factors are weighed at a separate sentencing hearing, and death eligibility requires at least one aggravating factor.

Who It Affects

• Defendants accused of murder (especially those whose actions create a great risk of death to multiple people) could be charged with this new capital offense and face the possibility of the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole.
• The criminal justice system—prosecutors, judges, and defense attorneys—would apply the new offense and the expanded aggravating factor during charging, trial, and the sentencing phase.

Key Provisions

• Adds a new capital offense for murder when the defendant knowingly creates a great risk of death to multiple persons (amends 13A-5-40).
• Adds knowing creation of a great risk of death to multiple persons as an aggravating circumstance to be considered at sentencing (amends 13A-5-49); effective October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses