New Alabama laws now in effect across the state

BY MICHELLE KEY
PUBLISHER

ALABAMA — A number of new Alabama laws took effect Oct. 1, bringing changes involving animal care, criminal penalties, vaping, highway safety, real-estate fraud, education and other areas.

The measures were approved during the 2026 legislative session and include several laws carrying familiar names, including Trey’s Law, Beau’s Law and the Child Predator Death Penalty Act.

Trey’s Law

Senate Bill 30, known as Trey’s Law, makes provisions in certain agreements void and unenforceable if they prohibit someone from disclosing an act of sexual abuse or facts related to the abuse.

The law applies to nondisclosure agreements, confidentiality agreements, employment agreements, settlement agreements and other agreements entered into, executed or amended on or after Oct. 1. The restriction applies only to portions of an agreement involving sexual abuse and does not invalidate unrelated provisions, such as compensation terms.

Beau’s Law

Senate Bill 361 establishes statewide standards for dogs that are tethered, confined or kept outdoors.

Among other requirements, dogs tethered to stationary objects generally must be attached through an approved trolley system and have access to adequate food, water and shelter. Logging chains, choke collars and pinch collars may not be used for tethering.

Outdoor shelters must protect dogs from weather, provide adequate ventilation and space and be kept free from accumulated waste, standing water and debris.

The law contains exemptions for certain veterinary practices, shelters, grooming facilities, service dogs, temporary events, hunting and working dogs and other specified situations.

Violations escalate from a Class C misdemeanor for a first offense to a Class B misdemeanor for a second and a Class A misdemeanor for a third or subsequent violation. Violators may also be responsible for boarding and veterinary costs.

Child Predator Death Penalty Act

House Bill 41 makes certain first-degree sexual offenses involving a victim younger than 12 capital offenses under Alabama law.

The law applies to first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and sexual torture involving a child under 12 and makes those offenses subject to Alabama’s capital sentencing provisions. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the measure in February.

Safe Streets Act

Senate Bill 169, formally called the Devinee Rooney and John Wesley Holt Safe Streets Act, changes penalties involving fatal impaired-driving cases and leaving the scene of serious crashes.

The law provides that causing a death while driving or operating a vehicle or vessel in violation of Alabama’s impaired-driving laws may constitute manslaughter. Criminally negligent homicide involving those offenses is classified as a Class C felony.

The law also increases penalties for certain hit-and-run offenses. A violation involving physical injury is a Class C felony, while one involving serious physical injury or death is a Class B felony. Victims of those offenses are also covered by state restitution provisions.

Highway Safety and Fairness Act

Senate Bill 242 creates new requirements and penalties involving commercial motor vehicle operators.

The law requires certain drivers operating under foreign commercial licenses to possess required U.S. work or entry documentation. Commercial drivers must also meet federal English-language proficiency requirements.

The measure creates offenses involving false foreign commercial licenses and operating commercial vehicles without proper documentation, and it provides fines and potential vehicle impoundment for violations.

Ivey signed the bill in March, and it took effect Oct. 1.

Digital driver licenses and identification cards

Beginning Oct. 1, Alabama law authorized the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, subject to available funding, to issue digital driver licenses and nondriver identification cards through an ALEA-approved mobile method.

The digital credential may be issued in addition to a physical license or identification card and must contain the same information. State and local government officials and law-enforcement officers must recognize an approved digital credential in the same manner as a physical card, although it may not be used in place of physical identification for voting. Showing a digital license does not, by itself, give an officer or government official permission to search other contents of the person’s electronic device.

Vaping added to indoor-smoking restrictions

Under Senate Bill 9, use of electronic nicotine delivery systems will be treated as smoking under Alabama’s Clean Indoor Air Act.

Beginning Oct. 1, vaping will generally be prohibited anywhere the state law already prohibits smoking, including many enclosed public places and workplaces.

The law does not create a blanket statewide vaping ban, and existing statutory exemptions remain. Private residences are not considered public places under the act.

Vapor products tax

A new statewide excise tax on consumable vapor products took effect Oct. 1 under Act 2025-377. The tax is 10 cents per milliliter on consumable vapor products sold at wholesale in Alabama or imported into the state for use, consumption or retail sale. Wholesalers and retailers responsible for collecting and remitting the tax must obtain a Vapor Products Tax License from the Alabama Department of Revenue. The tax is due monthly, with proceeds distributed among the State General Fund and eligible counties and municipalities after administrative costs.

Alabama Property Protection Act

Senate Bill 292 creates the Alabama Property Protection Act of 2026, aimed at combating seller impersonation and other forms of real-estate title fraud.

The law establishes identity-verification requirements for certain transactions involving vacant, non-owner-occupied and unencumbered property. It also gives the Alabama Securities Commission enforcement authority, makes fraudulent sale of residential real property a Class D felony in specified circumstances and provides procedures aimed at addressing fraudulent conveyance documents.

The act also changes some notary requirements and restricts remote notarization of deeds in certain transactions.

Temporary teaching certificates for veterans

Senate Bill 149 creates a Military Veteran Temporary Teaching Certificate for qualifying veterans.

Applicants must document at least 48 months of active-duty military service and an honorable discharge or medical separation. They must also complete a background check, receive a recommendation from a school superintendent or private-school administrator and meet education and testing requirements.

Those requirements include at least 60 college credit hours with a cumulative 2.5 GPA and a passing score on the appropriate Praxis content test.

The certificate is valid for five school years, may be issued only once and is nonrenewable.

Towed and unclaimed vehicles

House Bill 42 changes when and how towed and unclaimed vehicles are reported to the Alabama Department of Revenue.

Publisher’s Note: This article provides general public information only and does not constitute legal advice. These are brief summaries and may not include every requirement, exemption or legal consequence contained in the legislation. Anyone needing guidance about how a law applies to a specific situation should review the complete law and consult a qualified attorney.