SB273 • 2026

Crimes and offenses; stalking in the second degree, penalties revised

Crime

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Orr
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Enacted
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide additional details on the definition of stalking beyond the context of penalties for second or subsequent violations.

Changing Penalties for Stalking in Alabama

This law changes the penalty for stalking in the second degree to a Class C felony if it happens again after a warning.

What This Bill Does

Changes the penalty for stalking in the second degree from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class C felony if there is a second or subsequent violation.

Who It Names or Affects

People who are caught stalking others after being warned will face harsher penalties.

Terms To Know

stalking: repeatedly following, harassing, or contacting someone in a way that causes them harm or fear
Class C felony: a serious crime with harsher penalties than a misdemeanor

Limits and Unknowns

The law only applies to cases where the stalker has been warned before.
It does not change how stalking is defined or punished for first-time offenders.

Bill History

2026-04-16 Senate
Enacted
2026-04-09 House
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1352 (Yeas 104, Nays 0)
2026-04-09 Senate
Delivered to Governor
2026-04-09 House
Signature Requested
2026-04-09 Senate
Enrolled
2026-04-09 Senate
Ready to Enroll
2026-03-05 House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-03-04 House
Reported Out of Committee Second House
2026-02-24 Senate
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 574 (Yeas 33, Nays 0)
2026-02-24 Senate
Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 33, Nays 0)
2026-02-24 House
Pending Committee Action in Second House
2026-02-24 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary
2026-02-19 Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-02-18 Senate
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-02-10 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-02-10 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

This act amends Section 13A-6-90.1, Code of Alabama 1975, to add that a second or subsequent violation of the crime of stalking in the second degree is a Class C felony.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB273 ENROLLED
Page 0
SB273
TBPEX91-2
By Senator Orr
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 10-Feb-26
1
2
3
4
5
SB273 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 10-Feb-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Section
13A-6-90.1, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the
criminal penalties for stalking in the second degree.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 13A-6-90.1, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§13A-6-90.1
(a) A person who, acting with an improper purpose,
intentionally and repeatedly follows, harasses, telephones, or
initiates communication, verbally, electronically, or
otherwise, with another person individual , any member of the
other person's individual's immediate family, or any third
party with whom the other person individual is acquainted, and
causes material harm to the mental or emotional health of the
other person individual , or causes such person the individual
to reasonably fear that his or her employment, business, or
career is threatened, and the perpetrator was previously
informed to cease that conduct is guilty of the crime of
stalking in the second degree.
(b)(1) The crime of stalking in the second degree is a
Class B misdemeanor.
(2) A second or subsequent violation is a Class C
felony. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
SB273 Enrolled
Page 2
1, 2026.
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
SB273
Senate 24-Feb-26
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and passed
the Senate.
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
House of Representatives
Passed: 09-Apr-26
By: Senator Orr
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61