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AlabamaHB2022025 Regular SessionHouse

Law enforcement officers; civil and criminal immunity from liability, further provided

Sponsored By: Rex Reynolds (Republican)

Enacted

Public Safety & Emergencies

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 4 mixed.

Employers must insure off-duty officer work

Beginning October 1, 2025, private employers hiring off-duty officers for security or uniformed work must carry liability insurance. Coverage must be at least $500,000 and cover acts within the private job or contract. Without coverage, individual employers, general partners, and members of unincorporated associations are personally liable for those acts. Private employers and individuals do not gain government immunity.

Justified force gains criminal case protections

Beginning October 1, 2025, people using legally justified force, including deadly force, gain protection from criminal prosecution. Agencies may investigate, but cannot arrest someone for covered force without probable cause that it was unlawful. A defendant seeking immunity gets a pretrial hearing, targeted within 45 days of the motion. The defendant must show immunity is more likely than not; a finding of justified force requires dismissal. If that showing fails, justification remains a trial defense, and prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Defendants can seek higher-court review of an improper denial, which can pause the case.

Officers face force and arrest rules

Beginning October 1, 2025, officers' physical force is justified when used within their discretionary authority and constitutional limits. Force cannot be excessive under the Alabama or U.S. Constitution. The law also sets rules for peace officers making felony arrests or defending against imminent harm. Reckless or criminally negligent conduct is not justified. People cannot physically resist a lawful arrest by someone they know, or reasonably recognize, as an officer. The covered officers include detention facility officers.

Officers gain shields against civil lawsuits

For claims arising on or after October 1, 2025, Alabama replaces its former officer immunity law. Officers and their government employers gain protection from civil liability for authorized job decisions and actions. Covered workers include tactical medics, detention officers, dispatchers, and sheriff personnel. Claims remain available for wrongful acts committed recklessly without law enforcement justification. Claims also remain for wrongful acts violating clearly established state statutory or constitutional rights every reasonable officer would know. Officers must first show the claim concerns discretionary conduct; plaintiffs then must prove wrongdoing and an immunity exception. Lawsuits must give specific facts for each claim and defendant, including why immunity does not apply. Claims lacking that detail face dismissal when valid discovery requests were timely served. An immunity motion generally pauses evidence gathering, with limited exceptions for justice, written policies, protected recordings, or agreement. Appeals seeking court orders can also pause proceedings. Other legal protections and uninsured motorist coverage rights remain intact.

Lawmakers review officer protections and complaints

Beginning October 1, 2025, state and local law enforcement agencies must collect use-of-force complaint data without identifying people. Reports must include the alleged force type and the race and ethnicity of officers and subjects. Alabama's officer standards commission must combine the data and report by each session's first legislative day. Beginning October 1, 2026, a temporary legislative commission reviews officer protections, staffing, training, lawsuit costs, crime effects, and model policies. Its first meeting is due by November 1, 2026. Its recommendations are due by the 10th legislative day of the 2027 Regular Session, after which it dissolves. Members receive legislative pay, daily allowances, and travel expenses for meeting days; the law states no payment amounts.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rex Reynolds

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 519 • No: 212

House vote • 5/14/2025

Stadthagen Previous Question - Adopted Roll Call 1245

Yes: 74 • No: 28

Senate vote • 5/14/2025

Singleton motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 1082

Yes: 6 • No: 26

Senate vote • 5/14/2025

Singleton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1081

Yes: 31 • No: 0

House vote • 5/14/2025

Reynolds Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1246

Yes: 73 • No: 28 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 5/14/2025

Smitherman motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 1084

Yes: 6 • No: 25

Senate vote • 5/14/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1085

Yes: 25 • No: 6

Senate vote • 5/14/2025

Bell motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1080

Yes: 25 • No: 6

House vote • 3/6/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 364

Yes: 75 • No: 26 • Other: 3

House vote • 3/6/2025

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 363

Yes: 75 • No: 28

House vote • 3/6/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 73 • No: 29

House vote • 3/6/2025

Motion to Add Cosponsor - Adopted Roll Call 365

Yes: 56 • No: 10 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Enrolled

    5/15/2025House

  2. Signature Requested

    5/15/2025Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor

    5/15/2025House

  4. Enacted

    5/15/2025House

  5. Judiciary 1st Amendment Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  6. Bell motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

    5/14/2025Senate

  7. Judiciary 2nd Amendment Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  8. Bell motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

    5/14/2025Senate

  9. Judiciary 3rd Amendment Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  10. Bell motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

    5/14/2025Senate

  11. Bell 1st Substitute Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  12. Bell motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1080

    5/14/2025Senate

  13. Singleton 1st Amendment Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  14. Singleton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1081

    5/14/2025Senate

  15. Singleton 2nd Amendment Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  16. Singleton motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 1082

    5/14/2025Senate

  17. Smitherman 1st Amendment Offered

    5/14/2025Senate

  18. Smitherman motion to Adopt - Lost Roll Call 1084

    5/14/2025Senate

  19. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1085

    5/14/2025Senate

  20. Stadthagen Previous Question - Adopted Roll Call 1245

    5/14/2025House

  21. Reynolds Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1246

    5/14/2025House

  22. Ready to Enroll

    5/14/2025House

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

    5/1/2025Senate

  24. Judiciary 1st Amendment

    4/30/2025Senate

  25. Judiciary 2nd Amendment

    4/30/2025Senate

Bill Text

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