All Roll Calls
Yes: 499 • No: 0
AlabamaSB2002025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Drug courts; name changed to "accountability courts," eligibility expanded to include veterans and individuals with mental illness, duties of Administrative Office of Courts further provided for
Sponsored By: Andrew Jones (Republican)
Enacted
Courts & Judges
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
More people qualify for treatment courts
Beginning October 1, 2025, Alabama renames drug courts as accountability courts and expands who qualifies. People charged with or convicted of drug-related crimes qualify, as do those whose crimes significantly involved substance abuse or mental illness. Veterans qualify under the same substance abuse or mental illness test. A person must apply or be accepted; participation requires a written agreement and approval from both the prosecutor and court. Circuit presiding judges can create these courts without the prosecutor’s consent, but admission is not guaranteed.
More transfer routes into treatment courts
Beginning October 1, 2025, accountability courts can accept transfers from other Alabama accountability courts based on the person’s residence. Transfers from similar out-of-state courts must follow the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision. Local municipal courts without accountability courts can transfer people with an identified substance use disorder or mental illness. The municipal court must be within the receiving court’s jurisdiction. The law removes the previously listed written-consent requirements for transfers.
Fewer testing and disclosure requirements
Beginning October 1, 2025, this chapter no longer requires random observed drug tests for drug defendants who post bail. It also drops specified screening rules and the requirement to consider treatment-court participation after screening; other authority can still allow testing. Courts no longer must collect listed histories, demographics, repeat-offense data, eligibility decisions, case outcomes, costs, and funding information. The chapter also drops authority to demand this information as a condition of release, probation, diversion, parole, or community corrections.
Treatment courts gain more provider options
Beginning October 1, 2025, accountability courts have three options when choosing treatment programs. Programs can hold Alabama Department of Mental Health certification or agree to obtain it within 90 days after services begin. Programs can also qualify by documenting their use of evidence-based practices.
Court funding gets separate budget listing
Beginning October 1, 2025, drug-court funding must appear as a separate line in Alabama’s annual General Fund budget. The separate listing does not set a dollar amount or guarantee more funding.
Legal protection expands for treatment professionals
Beginning October 1, 2025, civil-liability protection expressly covers substance abuse and mental health professionals serving accountability courts in good faith. Protection does not cover negligence, wantonness, recklessness, or deliberate misconduct.
Treatment court audits become optional
Beginning October 1, 2025, audits of accountability-court annual reports and financial records are optional, rather than required every year. Any audit must be completed as soon as practical. Reports from completed audits remain public.
Statewide court rules replace detailed duties
Beginning October 1, 2025, the Administrative Office of Courts must set statewide best-practice policies, and accountability courts must follow them. These replace the former ten-component model and detailed rules for dedicated dockets, local teams, and pre-session meetings. The law removes listed state duties to find treatment resources, explore funding, provide annual training and public education, and evaluate outcomes. It also removes the local team’s duty to ensure a full range of care and circuit judges’ specified annual reports.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Andrew Jones
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
April Weaver
Republican • Senate
Bobby D. Singleton
Democratic • Senate
Chris Elliott
Republican • Senate
Clyde Chambliss
Republican • Senate
Dan Roberts
Republican • Senate
David Sessions
Republican • Senate
Donnie Chesteen
Republican • Senate
Garlan Gudger
Republican • Senate
Gerald H. Allen
Republican • Senate
J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner
Republican • Senate
Jack W. Williams
Republican • Senate
Jay Hovey
Republican • Senate
Josh Carnley
Republican • Senate
Keith Kelley
Republican • Senate
Lance Bell
Republican • Senate
Linda Coleman-Madison
Democratic • Senate
Randy Price
Republican • Senate
Robert Stewart
Democratic • Senate
Rodger M. Smitherman
Democratic • Senate
Shay Shelnutt
Republican • Senate
Steve Livingston
Republican • Senate
Tom Butler
Republican • Senate
Vivian Davis Figures
Democratic • Senate
Wes Kitchens
Republican • Senate
Will Barfoot
Republican • Senate
William M. Beasley
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/10/2025
Jones Motion to Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 622
Yes: 24 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 746
Yes: 101 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 745
Yes: 99 • No: 0
House vote • 4/9/2025
Third Reading in Second House
Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 3
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 352
Yes: 29 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Jones motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 351
Yes: 29 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Smitherman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 340
Yes: 30 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Jones motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 339
Yes: 30 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Jones motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 338
Yes: 30 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/18/2025
Third Reading in House of Origin
Yes: 30 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Enacted
4/17/2025SenateJones Motion to Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 622
4/10/2025SenateReady to Enroll
4/10/2025SenateEnrolled
4/10/2025SenateSignature Requested
4/10/2025HouseDelivered to Governor
4/10/2025SenateThird Reading in Second House
4/9/2025HouseJudiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered
4/9/2025HouseMotion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 745
4/9/2025HouseMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 746
4/9/2025HouseJudiciary 1st Amendment
4/3/2025HouseReported Out of Committee Second House
4/3/2025HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
4/3/2025HouseEngrossed
3/19/2025SenateRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary
3/19/2025HousePending Committee Action in Second House
3/19/2025HouseThird Reading in House of Origin
3/18/2025SenateVeterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety 1st Amendment Offered
3/18/2025SenateJones motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 338
3/18/2025SenateJones 1st Amendment Offered
3/18/2025SenateJones motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 339
3/18/2025SenateSmitherman 1st Amendment Offered
3/18/2025SenateSmitherman motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 340
3/18/2025SenateCarried Over to the Call of the Chair
3/18/2025SenateJones 2nd Amendment Offered
3/18/2025Senate
Bill Text
As Introduced
Engrossed
Enrolled
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