Senate Bill 231 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Security; security provided at new Alabama State House, parking deck, and adjacent park

Summary

SB231 strengthens security around the new Alabama State House and creates drone-use rules and penalties around Capitol areas with enforcement power for state police.

What This Bill Does

SB231 assigns security duties for the new State House, its parking deck, adjacent park, and off-site legislative events to legislative security. It creates a crime for unlawful unmanned aircraft system use within a Capitol area, with penalties (Class C felonies for certain offenses and Class C/B misdemeanors for others). It authorizes ALEA to take enforcement actions against violators and to seize drones, and lets the Secretary designate additional Capitol areas and establish drone-use procedures in coordination with other officials. It also requires state agencies to assist in security and makes the act effective immediately.

Who It Affects

• Legislative security personnel who will be responsible for protecting the new State House, parking deck, adjacent park, and off-site events
• Secretary of the Legislative Council, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House who coordinate security for the new State House
• ALEA and other law enforcement; they gain powers to enforce drone rules, mitigate drones, and seize drones used in violations
• State agencies and departments; they must assist in securing the designated areas when asked by the Legislature
• Drone operators and the general public; they face new restrictions and penalties for flying near Capitol areas unless exempt
• The United States and Alabama state governments and their employees are exempt from certain prohibitions when acting within their official roles
• Construction sites within Capitol areas; specific drone restrictions apply to UAS use near state property construction or improvements

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 29-4-4 to assign security duties for the new Alabama State House, the legislative parking deck, and the adjacent park, plus security for off-site legislative events
• Creates the crime of unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems within a Capitol area with specified penalties (Class C felony for certain surveillance-related offenses; Class C misdemeanor first offense and Class B misdemeanor for subsequent offenses for construction-site provisions; and, from January 1, 2027, a broader prohibition near Capitol areas with similar misdemeanor penalties)
• Defines Capitol area and related terms (Downtown Capitol Area, Vicinity, etc.) and sets rules for UAS use and enforcement around these areas
• Authorizes ALEA to use measures such as jamming, hacking, physical capture, and to seize UAS and related property used in violations
• Allows the Secretary to designate additional Capitol areas and establish procedures for UAS use near Capitol areas, in consultation with Governor, Legislative Council, and ALEA
• Requires state departments to assist in security as requested by the Legislature and makes the act effective immediately

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 10, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Legislature