# Alabama HB267: Alabama Forestry Commission; benefits of State Forester revised, burn permits process revised, penalties revised Alabama HB267, Alabama Forestry Commission; benefits of State Forester revised, burn permits process revised, penalties revised, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Chris Sells (Republican); status enacted, last action 2026-04-09 (Enacted); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB267-2026rs - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama HB267 - State: Alabama - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Alabama Forestry Commission; benefits of State Forester revised, burn permits process revised, penalties revised - Status: enacted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-15 - Last action: 2026-04-09, Enacted - Sponsor: Chris Sells (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Conservation & Natural Resources - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 5 (365 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 8 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - State Forester gains leave and travel benefits: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the State Forester earns and can use annual and sick leave. Official Commission travel costs are reimbursed on the same basis as for classified or unclassified state employees. These benefits do not extend other State Merit System benefits or requirements to the Forester. - Forestry projects and land get exceptions: benefit, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, Forestry Commission office and facility projects face state construction oversight only when costs exceed $750,000. For projects costing $750,000 or less, the Division of Construction Management can still set minimum building standards. Commission land sales and leases fo… - New permit rules for prescribed burns: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, prescribed burns require an Alabama Forestry Commission permit; burning without one is a Class B misdemeanor. Applicants must declare they have enough tools, equipment, people, and skill to control the fire. They must keep it attended until fully contained within establis… - Timber cases can trigger equipment seizure: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, arresting officers can seize vehicles or equipment in specified timber-related cases. Covered arrests include listed timber offenses and qualifying felonies involving timber or forest products. Cases can involve equipment theft, forest-product harvesting, removal, transpo… - Arresting officers lose forestry fee provision: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law repeals the forestry provision establishing fees for arresting officers. Officers no longer have that statutory source of fees. The law does not state the fee amount or how often it was paid. - Forestry officer powers and warden rules removed: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law removes the provision granting designated Forestry Commission employees full peace-officer powers. That provision included authority to carry weapons and make arrests. The law also repeals the older framework for appointing forest fire wardens, defining their duti… - Fire restrictions repealed and penalties revised: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law repeals three older sections restricting conduct that could spread fires. It also makes violations of the forestry article Class B misdemeanors. The amended penalty provision removes its former $250 to $500 fine and possible jail sentence of up to six months. That… - Wildfire alerts and emergency burning limits: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the State Forester can issue statewide or local alerts for heightened fire or smoke danger. With the Governor's approval, the Forestry Commission can declare county emergencies when fire danger becomes extraordinary. In those counties, people cannot set fires in forests,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Chris Sells (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-01 | Senate | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-04-01 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1038 | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 283 | pass | 101 | 0 | 1 | | 2026-02-05 | House | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 95 | 0 | 2 | | 2026-02-05 | House | Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 282 | pass | 101 | 0 | | ## Actions (21) - 2026-04-09: Enacted (House) - 2026-04-02: Signature Requested (Senate) - 2026-04-02: Delivered to Governor (House) - 2026-04-01: Third Reading in Second House (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1038 (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Ready to Enroll (House) - 2026-04-01: Enrolled (House) - 2026-02-12: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Reported Out of Committee Second House (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Third Reading in House of Origin (House) - 2026-02-05: Crawford 1st Amendment Offered (House) - 2026-02-05: Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 282 (House) - 2026-02-05: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 283 (House) - 2026-02-05: Givan intended to vote "Nay" (House) - 2026-02-05: Engrossed (House) - 2026-02-05: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (House) - 2026-01-21: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2026-01-15: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (House) - 2026-01-15: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB267-int.pdf) - Engrossed: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB267-eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB267-enr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for misuse of personal voter information; created (enacted) - SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (enacted) - SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require indigent candidates to submit documentation for fee exemption (enacted) - HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for violations provided for (enacted) - SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitation purposes prohibited; redaction of certain information relating to financial tr… (enacted) - SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular (enacted) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB267-int.pdf) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB267-eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB267-enr.pdf) ## Related - [HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB67-2026rs) - [SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB154-2026rs) - [SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require in…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB165-2026rs) - [HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for vio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB317-2026rs) - [SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitatio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB272-2026rs) - [SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB190-2026rs) - [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills) - [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB267-2026rs (as of 2026-10-16).