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SB231 ENROLLED
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SB231
ZQHGXRR-2
By Senator Givhan
RFD: State Governmental Affairs
First Read: 29-Jan-26
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First Read: 29-Jan-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to the Legislature; to amend Section 29-4-4,
Code of Alabama 1975, to provide security for the Legislature
in the new Alabama State House, legislative parking deck, and
park adjacent to the new Alabama State House and at official
legislative events held off-site; to create the crime of
unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems within the Capitol
complex; to provide for penalties; to exempt certain persons
from the crime of unlawful use of unmanned aircraft systems
within the Capitol complex; and to authorize the Alabama State
Law Enforcement Agency to take certain actions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 29-4-4, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§29-4-4
(a) Unless provided otherwise by law or applicable
legislative rule or policy, security personnel employed by the
House of Representatives and the Senate shall be responsible
for the security of all of the following:
(1) The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and
eighth floors of the Alabama State House located at 11 South
Union Street , such other areas within the Alabama State House
as which are occupied or used by the Legislature, and such
additional areas outside the Alabama State House in accordance
with Section 29-1-19.
(2) The new Alabama State House, as coordinated by the
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(2) The new Alabama State House, as coordinated by the
Secretary of the Legislative Council, the Secretary of the
Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
(3) The legislative parking deck and park located
between South Union Street and the new Alabama State House.
(4) During any official legislative event, as
designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and
Speaker of the House of Representatives in coordination with
the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, held in the State of
Alabama away from the Capitol complex.
(b) The security officers employed under this chapter
shall have the powers of peace officers in this state and may
exercise those powers only in the areas designated in
subsection (a).
(c) The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, in
coordination with the Legislative Council, shall be
responsible for the security of the perimeter and points of
entry to the Alabama State House and new Alabama State House
as prescribed by the Legislative Council.
(d)(1) Every department, agency, and bureau of the
State of Alabama shall assist in any manner requested by the
Legislature in assuring the security of the areas of the
Alabama State House designated in subsection (a).
(2) Subsection (c) shall apply to any convening of the
Legislature outside of the Capitol or away from the Alabama
State House in accordance with Sections 48 or 48.01 of the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, or other applicable law.
(e) For purposes of this section, "new Alabama State
House" means the building bounded by Pelham Street, South
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House" means the building bounded by Pelham Street, South
Jackson Street, and Washington Avenue in Montgomery. "
Section 2. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
following terms have the following meanings:
(1) ALEA. The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.
(2) CAPITOL AREA. Any of the following locations:
a. The Downtown Capitol Area.
b. The Alabama Governor's Mansion and all real property
situated between Cromwell Street and Finley Avenue and between
Court Street and Perry Street in Montgomery, Alabama.
c. Any official residence of the Governor of Alabama.
d. Any location designated by the secretary where the
House of Representatives, the Senate, the Supreme Court of
Alabama, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals, or the Alabama
Court of Criminal Appeals convenes, or will convene, to
perform official business.
(3) CONDUCTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS. Any of the following
actions:
a. Manipulating the flight controls of an unmanned
aircraft system.
b. Acting as a remote pilot in command for a person
manipulating the flight controls of an unmanned aircraft
system.
c. Acting as a visual observer for a person
manipulating the flight controls of an unmanned aircraft
system.
(4) DOWNTOWN CAPITOL AREA. All real property situated
between Madison Avenue and High Street and between Lawrence
Street and Hilliard Street in Montgomery, Alabama.
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Street and Hilliard Street in Montgomery, Alabama.
(5) SECRETARY. The Secretary of ALEA.
(6) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT. An aircraft operated without the
possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the
aircraft.
(7) UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM or UAS. An unmanned
aircraft and its associated elements, including communication
links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft,
that are required for the safe and efficient operation of the
unmanned aircraft in the national airspace system.
(8) USE. When used in reference to an unmanned aircraft
system, any of the following actions:
a. Conducting flight operations for an unmanned
aircraft system.
b. Launching an unmanned aircraft.
c. Landing an unmanned aircraft, or otherwise allowing
an unmanned aircraft to make contact with any individual or
real or personal property.
d. Causing an unmanned aircraft to fly.
e. Causing an unmanned aircraft to drop any payload.
f. Causing an unmanned aircraft system to deploy or
discharge an attached weapon, firearm, explosive, destructive
device, or ammunition.
(9) VICINITY. The area of physical space within 500
horizontal feet and 250 vertical feet of the perimeter of a
Capitol area.
(b)(1) No person shall intentionally use a UAS to
conduct surveillance of, or photograph or otherwise record
images of, a Capitol area for the purpose of committing a
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images of, a Capitol area for the purpose of committing a
criminal offense.
(2) A violation of subdivision (1) is a Class C felony.
(c)(1) No person shall intentionally or knowingly use a
UAS in the vicinity of a Capitol area in a manner that
interferes with the operations of a Capitol area or causes a
disturbance to a Capitol area.
(2) A violation of subdivision (1) is a Class C felony.
(d)(1) No person shall, without written permission from
the secretary, intentionally or knowingly use a UAS within 250
horizontal feet and 250 vertical feet of the perimeter of any
site of the construction or improvement of state property
within a Capitol area.
(2) A violation of subdivision (1) is a Class C
misdemeanor for a first offense and is a Class B misdemeanor
for a second or subsequent offense.
(e)(1) On or after January 1, 2027, no person shall
intentionally or knowingly use a UAS in the vicinity of a
Capitol area.
(2) A violation of subdivision (1) is a Class C
misdemeanor for a first offense and is a Class B misdemeanor
for a second or subsequent offense.
(f) None of the following persons shall be subject to
the prohibition in subdivision (e)(1):
(1) The United States, including any agencies or
departments thereof.
(2) The State of Alabama, including any agencies or
departments thereof.
(3) An employee, agent, contractor, or other person
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(3) An employee, agent, contractor, or other person
acting under the direction or on behalf of the United States
or the State of Alabama if the person's use of a UAS is
performed within the line and scope of that relationship.
(4) A person conducting emergency law enforcement or
fire response operations.
(5) A person who uses a UAS in accordance with written
permission from the secretary, or with a permit issued by the
secretary, as established in subsection (g).
(g)(1) ALEA may take reasonable and necessary measures
against a UAS operating in violation of this section,
including all of the following measures:
a. Jamming, to the extent consistent with federal law
and regulations, including those of the Federal Communications
Commission.
b. Hacking.
c. Physical capture.
d. Any other reasonable mitigation measure undertaken
to neutralize, intercept, disable, or disrupt a UAS.
(2) ALEA may seize a UAS, any part thereof, and any
property attached to the aircraft or dropped therefrom if the
UAS, any part thereof, or any property attached to the
aircraft or dropped therefrom was used in violation of this
section.
(h)(1) The secretary, by rule, may designate additional
locations as a Capitol area and may establish procedures for
temporarily designating a location as a Capitol area.
(2) The secretary, in consultation with the Governor,
the Alabama Legislative Council, and the Alabama
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the Alabama Legislative Council, and the Alabama
Administrative Office of Courts, may establish by rule
permitting procedures for the use of a UAS in the vicinity of
a Capitol area.
(3) The secretary may adopt any other rules necessary
to implement and enforce this section.
Section 3. This act shall become effective immediately.
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Section 3. This act shall become effective immediately.
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
SB231
Senate 10-Feb-26
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Amended and passed: 05-Mar-26
Senate concurred in House amendment 10-Mar-26
By: Senator Givhan
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