HB51 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Donna GivensRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and offenses; assault in the second degree, harassment, and harassing communications, further provided

Summary

HB51 would expand and strengthen penalties for harming public officials and public workers, creating a broader second-degree assault offense and higher penalties for harassment against public officials, while updating the state's code language.

What This Bill Does

It creates a second-degree assault when someone injures a current or former public official, and expands who can be targeted (including police, teachers, health care workers, utility workers, and other listed public servants). Assault in the second degree would be a Class C felony. Harassment or harassing communications against a public official would become Class B misdemeanors, while harassment generally remains a Class C misdemeanor. The bill also makes nonsubstantive technical updates to update the code language and sets the act to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Public officials (current or former) as potential victims, with stronger penalties for injuries or harassment against them.
• Public workers and other listed public servants (e.g., peace officers, teachers, health care workers, utility workers, EMS, home health care workers, letter carriers, etc.) who face expanded protections and penalties when harmed or harassed in the line of duty.

Key Provisions

• Amends 13A-6-21 to create/expand assault in the second degree for injuring public officials and a list of designated public workers, with various qualifying circumstances (serious injury, use of deadly weapon, prevention of duties, etc.).
• Assault in the second degree is designated as a Class C felony.
• Amends 13A-11-8 to make harassment and harassing communications against public officials Class B misdemeanors; keeps general harassment/harassing communications as Class C misdemeanors.
• Includes definitions of 'utility worker' and 'health care worker' and adds specific protected roles (teacher, home health care worker, letter carrier, etc.) and reasonable limitations (e.g., not applying to assaults by impaired patients).
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.
• Non-substantive, technical revisions to update code language to current style.

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