Crimes and offenses; crime of reckless endangerment expanded, criminal penalties provided

Crime Firearms

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Barfoot
Last action: 2026-04-07
Official status: Indefinitely Postponed in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on enforcement or resource requirements.

Expanding the Crime of Reckless Endangerment

This bill increases criminal penalties for reckless endangering multiple people and using a firearm during such an act.

What This Bill Does

Changes existing law to make it a felony if someone recklessly endangers more than one person.
Increases the penalty to a higher felony level if a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument is used in the act of reckless endangerment.

Who It Names or Affects

People who commit acts that recklessly put others at risk of serious injury.
Law enforcement and courts dealing with cases involving multiple victims or weapons.

Terms To Know

reckless endangerment: An act where someone's behavior creates a substantial risk of serious physical harm to another person.
deadly weapon: A tool or instrument that can be used to cause death or great bodily harm.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the law will be enforced or what additional resources might be needed.
It is unclear if this bill will pass into law since it was indefinitely postponed as of April 7, 2026.

Bill History

2026-04-07 Senate
Currently Indefinitely Postponed
2026-01-21 Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-01-21 Senate
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-01-14 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-14 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Crimes and offenses; crime of reckless endangerment expanded, criminal penalties provided

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB142 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB142
SLZ4257-1
By Senator Barfoot
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 14-Jan-26
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SLZ4257-1 01/13/2026 THR (L)ma 2026-192
Page 1
First Read: 14-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, a person commits the crime
of reckless endangerment if he or she recklessly
engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of
serious physical injury to another individual.
This bill would further provide for the offense
of reckless endangerment by providing heightened
criminal penalties for recklessly engaging in conduct
that creates a substantial risk of serious physical
injury to multiple individuals, and additional
heightened penalties for the use of a firearm during
the commission of the offense.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Section
13A-6-24, Code of Alabama 1975; to further provide for the
crime of reckless endangerment; and to provide conditions for
increased criminal penalties for a violation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 13A-6-24, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
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SB142 INTRODUCED
Page 2
amended to read as follows:
"§13A-6-24
(a) A person commits the crime of reckless endangerment
if he or she does either of the following:
(1) recklessly Recklessly engages in conduct which that
creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to
another person individual .
(2) Recklessly engages in conduct that creates a
substantial risk of serious physical injury to multiple
individuals.
(b)(1) Reckless endangerment A violation of subdivision
(a)(1) is a Class A misdemeanor.
(2)a. Except as provided in paragraph b., a violation
of subdivision (a)(2) is a Class C felony.
b. A violation of subdivision (a)(2) is a Class B
felony if the person uses a deadly weapon or dangerous
instrument in the commission of the offense. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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