House Bill 610 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Automatic renewal agreements; disclosures and notice required, prohibits obstruction or delay of cancelling agreements, authorizes Attorney General to enforce, penalties provided

Summary

HB610 would require clear disclosures, easy cancellation, and penalties for automatic renewal or continuous service agreements in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

If passed, businesses would must reveal clear terms before auto-renewals begin and provide a cancellation option that is easy to use. They could not offer or renew such agreements without these disclosures and notices, and must ensure the disclosures are clear and conspicuous. The bill also requires notices of material changes, reminders before charges, and allows termination online or by the same method the consumer used to start the renewal, with the Attorney General enforcing penalties for violations.

Who It Affects

• Consumers in Alabama who enter automatic renewal or continuous service agreements: they receive clear disclosures, a defined cancellation mechanism, and reminders about charges and changes.
• Businesses offering automatic renewal or continuous service agreements: they must provide disclosures, cancellation options, reminders, and notices of changes, and may face penalties enforced by the Attorney General.

Key Provisions

• Businesses must provide clear and conspicuous disclosures before renewal, including that the service will continue until canceled, cancellation policy, charges and potential changes, renewal term length, and any minimum purchase obligation.
• Automatic renewals or continuous service offers may not be made unless disclosures and notices are provided in a clear and conspicuous manner.
• A cancellation mechanism must be provided (toll-free number, email, or other easy-to-use method), with verification retention for several years; cancellation cannot be obstructed or delayed.
• Businesses must notify consumers of material changes and fee changes before charges occur, and reminders must be sent for each renewal term.
• Online cancellation must be possible at will, via a direct link/button or immediate email, with appropriate online termination options.
• The Attorney General may enforce violations as deceptive trade practices, with civil penalties up to $7,500 per violation and potential punitive damages for patterns; actions must be filed within one year of learning of the violation.
• HB610 becomes effective October 1, 2026; certain entities and services (regulated state agencies and certain utilities) are exempt from the act.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Consumer Protection