Law enforcement; four-point restraint, use prohibited

Crime

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Coleman (M)
Last action: 2026-01-13
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

SB48: Ban on Four-Point Restraint by Law Enforcement

This bill bans law enforcement officers from using a four-point restraint or placing people in face-down positions that block breathing, and it requires agencies to update their rules.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits officers from using the four-point restraint on any person.
Bans putting individuals in a face-down position if it limits oxygen or blood flow to the head or neck.
Requires law enforcement agencies to add this ban to their official policies and procedures.
Makes breaking these rules a Class A misdemeanor crime.

Who It Names or Affects

Law enforcement officers
Law enforcement agencies

Terms To Know

Four-point restraint: Holding a person face-down on the ground with their hands and legs tied behind their back.
Class A misdemeanor: A type of criminal offense that carries specific penalties under state law.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not take effect until October 1, 2026.
The text defines terms by referring to other sections of the Alabama Code without listing those definitions here.

Bill History

2026-01-13 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Law enforcement; four-point restraint, use prohibited

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB48 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB48
6YJT23Z-1
By Senator Coleman
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 09-Jan-26
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6YJT23Z-1 01/09/2026 THR (L)ma 2026-108
Page 1
PFD: 09-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would prohibit law enforcement
officers from using a four-point restraint, also known
as the hog-tie position, to restrain an individual.
This bill would prohibit law enforcement
officers from placing an individual in a face-down
position that restricts oxygen or blood flow to the
individual's head or neck
This bill would require law enforcement agencies
to adopt policies and procedures prohibiting the use of
the four-point restraint.
This bill would also provide criminal penalties
for violations.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to law enforcement; to prohibit the use of
certain techniques by law enforcement officers; to require law
enforcement agencies to adopt related policies and procedures;
and to provide criminal penalties for violations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
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SB48 INTRODUCED
Page 2
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
following terms have the following meanings:
(1) FOUR-POINT RESTRAINT. To restrain or confine an
individual face-down on the ground by connecting or fastening
the individual's hands and legs behind the individual's back.
(2) LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. As defined in Section
36-21-40, Code of Alabama 1975.
(3) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. As defined in Section
36-21-40, Code of Alabama 1975.
(b) A law enforcement officer shall not do either of
the following:
(1) Use a four-point restraint to detain, restrain, or
transport any individual.
(2) Place any individual in a face-down position that
restricts oxygen or blood flow to the individual's head or
neck.
(c) Each law enforcement agency shall include a
prohibition against the use of a four-point restraint in the
agency's existing policies and procedures.
(d) The use of four-point restraint in violation of
this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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