PRIA Logo™
AlabamaHB1922026 Regular SessionHouse

Criminal law; self-defense and defense of others; presumption of unlawful use of force under certain conditions

Sponsored By: David Faulkner (Republican)

Enacted

Crimes & Offenses

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Broader stand-your-ground rights for people defending themselves

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama broadens who has no duty to retreat when using legally justified force. The protection covers force justified under the full self-defense law, including defense of another, rather than just one part. It includes deadly force. People must not be engaged in unlawful activity and must be somewhere they have a legal right to be.

Hiding weapons weakens defendants' self-defense claims

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama adds an evidence rule for defendants claiming self-defense. Hiding, changing, destroying, or disposing of the weapon or dangerous instrument used creates a presumption that force was not justified. This includes deadly force, but defendants can challenge the presumption with evidence. The presumption does not apply when defendants voluntarily give police the unchanged weapon or instrument after reaching safety, without undue delay.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • David Faulkner

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 467 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2026

Faulkner motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1345

Yes: 100 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Albritton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1280

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1281

Yes: 30 • No: 0

House vote • 2/3/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 101 • No: 0 • Other: 3

House vote • 2/3/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 241

Yes: 104 • No: 0

House vote • 2/3/2026

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 240

Yes: 102 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/15/2026House

  2. Faulkner motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1345

    4/9/2026House

  3. Ready to Enroll

    4/9/2026House

  4. Enrolled

    4/9/2026House

  5. Signature Requested

    4/9/2026Senate

  6. Delivered to Governor

    4/9/2026House

  7. Albritton 1st Amendment Offered

    4/8/2026Senate

  8. Albritton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1280

    4/8/2026Senate

  9. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1281

    4/8/2026Senate

  10. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    2/25/2026Senate

  11. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    2/25/2026Senate

  12. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary

    2/5/2026Senate

  13. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    2/5/2026Senate

  14. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/3/2026House

  15. Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered

    2/3/2026House

  16. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 240

    2/3/2026House

  17. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 241

    2/3/2026House

  18. Engrossed

    2/3/2026House

  19. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    1/21/2026House

  20. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    1/21/2026House

  21. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary

    1/13/2026House

  22. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation