HB652 • 2026

Crimes and offenses; crime of manslaughter, elements of crime further provided; penalty increased

Crime Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Barnes
Last action: 2026-03-31
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the removal of the specific 'fentanyl' requirement for this subsection, replacing it with 'any controlled substance.'

HB652: Changes to Manslaughter Laws and Penalties

This bill changes the law so that knowingly giving any controlled substance that causes death is a crime, removes fentanyl as a specific requirement for this charge, increases the punishment to a Class A felony with life imprisonment, and excludes licensed medical professionals acting within their practice.

What This Bill Does

Changes the definition of manslaughter to include knowingly selling or giving away any controlled substance if it causes someone's death.
Removes the rule that required the drug to contain fentanyl specifically to be charged under this part of the law.
Increases the penalty for causing a death by providing drugs from a Class B felony to a Class A felony.
Requires courts to sentence people convicted under this new drug provision to at least life in prison.

Who It Names or Affects

People who sell, give away, or distribute controlled substances that lead to another person's death.
Courts and judges sentencing individuals for manslaughter involving drugs.
Licensed physicians, pharmacists, and dentists are excluded from this new rule if they act within their professional practice.

Terms To Know

Controlled substance: A drug or chemical that the government regulates because it can be abused or cause harm, as defined in Section 13A-12-211.
Proximate result: The direct and main cause of an event, such as a death caused by using a specific drug provided to the person.
Class A felony: A very serious crime that carries the highest level of punishment under state law, including life imprisonment for this offense.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not take effect until October 1, 2026.
It is unclear how courts will apply these changes to cases where a person did not know their drug contained fentanyl or other dangerous substances.

Bill History

2026-03-31 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-03-31 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Crimes and offenses; crime of manslaughter, elements of crime further provided; penalty increased

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB652 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB652
RBT39YY-1
By Representative Barnes
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 31-Mar-26
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RBT39YY-1 03/26/2026 CMH (L)CMH 2026-1425
Page 1
First Read: 31-Mar-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, the crime of manslaughter is
a Class B felony which may be committed by: (i)
reckless murder; (ii) heat of passion murder; (iii)
knowingly furnishing a controlled substance containing
fentanyl to another which is the proximate cause of the
recipient's death; or (iv) operating a motor vehicle or
vessel while under the influence and causes the death
of another.
This bill would amend the third option for the
crime by providing that the crime is committed if the
person furnishes any controlled substance to another
which is the proximate cause of the recipient's death.
This bill would also increase the penalty for
such violation.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to crimes; to amend Section 13A-6-3, Code of
Alabama 1975, as last amended by Act 2026-64, 2026 Regular
Session, to provide that the crime of manslaughter is
committed if a person furnishes any controlled substance that
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HB652 INTRODUCED
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committed if a person furnishes any controlled substance that
is the proximate cause of death of the recipient; and to
increase the penalty associated with the violation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 13A-6-3, Code of Alabama 1975, as
last amended by Act 2026-64, 2026 Regular Session, is amended
to read as follows:
"§13A-6-3
(a) A person commits the crime of manslaughter if he or
she does any of the following:
(1) Recklessly causes the death of another individual.
(2) Causes the death of another individual under
circumstances that would constitute murder under Section
13A-6-2; except, that he or she causes the death due to a
sudden heat of passion caused by provocation recognized by
law, and before a reasonable time for the passion to cool and
for reason to reassert itself.
(3)a. Knowingly sells, furnishes, gives away, delivers,
or distributes a controlled substance in violation of Section
13A-12-211 , which contains fentanyl, any mixture containing
fentanyl, any synthetic controlled substance fentanyl, or any
synthetic controlled substance fentanyl analogue as described
in Sections 20-2-23 and 20-2-25, and the individual to whom
the controlled substance is sold, furnished, given, delivered,
or distributed dies as a proximate result of the use of the
controlled substance. Nothing in this subdivision shall be
construed to apply to a licensed physician engaged in the
practice of medicine, a licensed pharmacist engaged in the
practice of pharmacy, or a licensed dentist engaged in the
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HB652 INTRODUCED
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practice of pharmacy, or a licensed dentist engaged in the
practice of dentistry.
b. It is not a defense to this subdivision that the
person who sold, furnished, gave away, delivered, or
distributed the controlled substance had no knowledge that the
controlled substance contained fentanyl, any mixture
containing fentanyl, any synthetic controlled substance
fentanyl, or any synthetic controlled substance fentanyl
analogue as described in Sections 20-2-23 and 20-2-25.
(4) Drives or operates a motor vehicle or vessel in
violation of Section 32-5A-191 or 32-5A-191.3, and causes the
death of another individual.
(b)(1) Manslaughter is a Class B felony.
(2) Manslaughter under subdivision (a)(3) is a Class A
felony. The court shall sentence the defendant to a minimum of
life imprisonment. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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