# Alabama SB203: Crimes and procedure; crimes of indecent exposure and other sex crimes further provided to include additional victims; crime of inpatient custodial sexual misconduct, established; domestic violence offenses, further provided to include additional victims and criminal penalties Alabama SB203, Crimes and procedure; crimes of indecent exposure and other sex crimes further provided to include additional victims; crime of inpatient custodial sexual misconduct, established; domestic violence offenses, further provided to include additional victims and criminal penalties, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Vivian Davis Figures (Democratic); status enacted, last action 2026-04-08 (Enacted) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB203-2026rs - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama SB203 - State: Alabama - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Crimes and procedure; crimes of indecent exposure and other sex crimes further provided to include additional victims; crime of inpatient custodial sexual misconduct, established; domestic violence offenses, further provided to include additional victims and criminal penalties - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-21 - Last action: 2026-04-08, Enacted - Sponsor: Vivian Davis Figures (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 30 - Subjects: Crimes & Offenses - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 8 (366 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 10 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Broader charges for child sexual exploitation: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, sending covered sexual material electronically to a child under 17, or someone believed to be a child, is a Class B felony. This covers material depicting actual or simulated nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse sent to start sexual conduct, a sexual performan… - Broader indecent exposure charges and penalties: cost, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, indecent exposure can include acts intended to arouse or satisfy a spouse's sexual desire. The person must expose their genitals knowing the act is likely to offend or alarm others. The offense becomes a Class C felony if any victim is under 12 or the offender has at leas… - Abuse reports lose automatic record clearing: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, investigating agencies no longer must erase child abuse reports and related information when no conviction results. This removes a mandatory record-clearing protection. It does not require agencies to keep every such record. - Faster child abuse reports and referrals: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, covered professionals and organizations must report known or suspected child abuse or neglect orally at once. This includes third-party reports and information that would make a reasonable person suspect abuse or neglect. Reports go to law enforcement or the Alabama Depar… - Voyeurism convictions trigger sex-offender registry rules: cost, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, first-degree voyeurism is included in Alabama's definition of a sex offense. People convicted or adjudicated of that offense are covered by the state's sex-offender registration framework. - Stronger protection for workers reporting abuse: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, workers gain stronger protection against employer punishment solely for reporting suspected child abuse or neglect. The ban covers firing, suspension, discipline, and other penalties. An employer's first violation remains a Class C misdemeanor. A violation after a previou… - Broader kidnapping charges with limited defenses: mixed, medium. Beginning October 1, 2026, second-degree kidnapping covers abduction using deception, physical force, or deadly force, including intent to use those means. It is a Class B felony. First-degree kidnapping remains a Class A felony, but voluntary safe release before arrest no longer provides a defense… - Children's statements reach more court cases: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, qualifying out-of-court statements can be used when the child was under 18 when speaking. The previous limit was under 12. The rule now applies in any court proceeding, not just criminal cases. The statement must describe an act that is a required part of a physical, sexu… - Courtroom dogs help witnesses with safeguards: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, a certified facility dog with a certified handler can accompany a victim or witness during testimony. The State or requesting party must file notice before using the dog in court. Dogs need two years of training, a public-access test, assistance-dog program graduation, an… - New felony for inpatient staff misconduct: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, the law creates a criminal safeguard against sexual misconduct by staff responsible for inpatient care, treatment, or supervision. Covered staff include employees, volunteers, and contract workers. Soliciting or engaging in sexual conduct with a covered patient is a Class… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Vivian Davis Figures (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Andrew Jones (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: April Weaver (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Bobby D. Singleton (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Chris Elliott (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Clyde Chambliss (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Dan Roberts (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: David Sessions (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Donnie Chesteen (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Garlan Gudger (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Gerald H. Allen (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Greg Albritton (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: J. T. 'Jabo' Waggoner (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jack W. Williams (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Jay Hovey (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Josh Carnley (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Keith Kelley (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Kirk Hatcher (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Lance Bell (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Larry Stutts (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Matt Woods (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Merika Coleman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Randy Price (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Robert Stewart (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Rodger M. Smitherman (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Sam Givhan (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Steve Livingston (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tim Melson (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Tom Butler (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Wes Kitchens (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: William M. Beasley (Democratic), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-01 | Senate | Figures Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment to SB203 | pass | 32 | 0 | | | 2026-03-31 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1096 | pass | 66 | 0 | 32 | | 2026-03-31 | House | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 66 | 0 | 32 | | 2026-03-31 | House | Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1095 | pass | 66 | 0 | 32 | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 260 | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Figures motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 259 | pass | 34 | 0 | | | 2026-02-05 | Senate | Figures motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 252 | pass | 34 | 0 | | ## Actions (26) - 2026-04-08: Enacted (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Figures Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment to SB203 (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Ready to Enroll (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Delivered to Governor (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Signature Requested (House) - 2026-03-31: Third Reading in Second House (House) - 2026-03-31: Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered (House) - 2026-03-31: Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1095 (House) - 2026-03-31: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1096 (House) - 2026-02-19: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2026-02-18: Reported Out of Committee Second House (House) - 2026-02-10: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary (House) - 2026-02-10: Pending Committee Action in Second House (House) - 2026-02-05: Third Reading in House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Figures 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Figures motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 252 (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Carried Over to the Call of the Chair (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Figures 2nd Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Figures motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 259 (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 260 (Senate) - 2026-02-05: Engrossed (Senate) - 2026-01-29: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Senate) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB203-int.pdf) - Engrossed: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB203-eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB203-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/SB203-int.pdf) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB203-eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB203-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-SB203-2026rs (as of 2026-10-19).