HB29 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses; manslaughter; further provided to include certain victims of sexual extortion

Summary

HB29 would expand Alabama's manslaughter law to cover deaths resulting from sexual extortion of a minor and clarify fentanyl-related death provisions, including a new proximate-causation rule for sexual-extortion deaths.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new clause to make sexual extortion of a person under 18 that proximately causes death a form of manslaughter (Class A felony). It reiterates and clarifies that knowingly selling or distributing fentanyl or fentanyl-related substances that cause death can be charged as manslaughter (with certain professional exemptions). It also provides that, for purposes of determining proximate causation, a victim's suicide is treated as a foreseeable consequence of sexual extortion and not an independent intervening cause. The bill assigns different felony classifications depending on the trigger: general manslaughter remains Class B, while the new sexual-extortion death provision is Class A, and it becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Minors under 18 who could be victims of sexual extortion and whose death could trigger manslaughter charges against the perpetrator
• People who commit sexual extortion against minors (and people who sell or distribute fentanyl that results in death), with licensed professionals exempt from the fentanyl-related provision

Key Provisions

• Creates a new subdivision in 13A-6-3 making sexual extortion of a victim under 18, resulting in the victim's death, a form of manslaughter, with the death caused by the extortion required to be the proximate cause
• Adds a proximate-causation provision: a victim's suicide is deemed a foreseeable consequence of sexual extortion and not an independent intervening cause
• Clarifies fentanyl-related manslaughter: knowingly selling, furnishing, giving away, delivering, or distributing fentanyl or fentanyl-containing substances that cause death remains manslaughter, with explicit licensed-professional exemptions
• Establishes felony classifications: manslaughter generally Class B, but manslaughter under the new sexual-extortion provision (death caused by extortion of a minor) is Class A

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses