Will Barfoot
What passed the Alabama Legislature: June 6, 2023
Here are the bills that passed the Alabama Legislature on the final day of the 2023 regular session on Tuesday. Senate HB64, sponsored by Rep. Ron Bolton, R-Northport, makes it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to own firearms. The bill passed 30-0 with amendments and returned to the House, who concurred. HB192, sponsored by […]
Criminal justice reform advocates see mixed results in Alabama Legislature
For criminal justice reform advocates, the 2023 session of the Alabama Legislature was a mixed bag. Groups managed to push through a bill limiting courts’ ability to suspend driver’s licenses for missed payments or court dates. Other bills they opposed failed to pass. But few other priority measures gained traction in a year when the […]
Ivey signs law limiting courts’ ability to suspend drivers’ licenses over missed court dates, fines
Gov. Kay Ivey Thursday signed a bill that limits when courts can revoke drivers’ licenses over missed court dates or failure to pay fines. SB 154, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, requires individuals are now allowed to miss one court appearance or two payments on their fines and fees before their licenses can […]
Alabama Legislature approves bill making gunfire on school property a felony
The Alabama Senate Thursday approved a bill that could subject an adult who shoots a gun on school property to prison time. HB 34, sponsored by Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, passed the Senate 31-0. The bill goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, who carried the bill in the Senate, said the […]
Senator pushing to get Alabama sex abuse survivors bill out of committee
A bill to extend the statute of limitations for people who have been sexually abused as children could start moving after the bill’s sponsor threatened to stall legislation on the Senate floor. Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, who said an unnamed insurance company had been holding up the bill, said Thursday morning that she was […]
Alabama Senate passes loitering bill
The Alabama Senate approved a bill Tuesday that would increase the punishments for loitering. The bill, HB24, sponsored by Rep. Reed Ingram, R-Montgomery, makes two or more arrests for loitering a Class C misdemeanor, with punishments of up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine. The bill passed 33-0. It […]
Civil lawsuit bill for sexual assault victims still in Alabama House committee
A bill that would give sexual assault victims new opportunities to file civil lawsuits remains stuck in committee with just nine days left in the legislative session. The bill, SB 127, has slowed over concerns from insurance companies about how the bill would affect them, according to Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, the bill’s sponsor, […]
Alabama House committee OKs bill limiting court-related suspensions of drivers’ licenses
A bill that would prevent courts from suspending the licenses of people who miss court appearances or fail to pay court costs cleared a House committee Wednesday. SB 154, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, passed the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on a 10-3 vote with two members absent. The bill […]
Alabama Senate committee approves bill restricting courts’ ability to revoke driver’s licenses
The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday approved a bill allowing people to retain their driver’s licenses even after missing a court date or failing to pay their fines. SB 154, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road and Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, passed the committee on a 13-0 vote. It heads to the full Senate […]
Advocates back bill to ease voting rights restoration for formerly convicted
Activists Wednesday urged passage of a bill to make it easier to restore voting rights to people released from prison. Faith in Action Alabama, a nonprofit faith-based organization based in Birmingham, called for passage of HB 96, sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, that would eliminate a certification requirement for those trying to get their […]