Senate Bill 173 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Feb 12, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Lance BellSenator
Republican
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Title: Crimes and offenses; violation of domestic violence protection order, jurisdiction amended
Summary: SB173 would grant circuit and district courts exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute violations of domestic violence protection orders, add enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and require a $50 Domestic Violence Trust Fund fine, with an October 1, 2026 effective date.
What This Bill Does
It keeps violations of domestic violence protection orders as Class A misdemeanors but adds harsher penalties for repeat offenses: a second conviction carries a minimum of 30 days in jail (not suspendable), and a third or subsequent conviction becomes a Class C felony. It establishes a $50 fine to be distributed to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund. It gives circuit and district courts exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction over these prosecutions and related actions. It requires that prosecutions pending on October 1, 2026 be transferred to the appropriate court.

Who It Affects
Defendants charged with violating a domestic violence protection order—face the new jurisdiction rules, potentially enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and the $50 DV Trust Fund fine.
Alabama circuit and district courts and prosecutors—will handle prosecutions under the new jurisdiction rules, and must transfer any cases pending as of October 1, 2026 to the proper court.

Key Provisions
Jurisdiction: circuit and district courts shall have exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction over prosecutions for violations of domestic violence protection orders.
Penalties: a second conviction for DVPO violation carries a minimum of 30 days imprisonment (not suspendable).
Penalties: a third or subsequent conviction is a Class C felony.
Fine: an additional $50 fine must be paid to the Domestic Violence Trust Fund.
Pending cases: prosecutions pending on October 1, 2026 must be transferred to the relevant district or circuit court.
Effective date: the act becomes effective on October 1, 2026.

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