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HB 143ALABAMASession 2026rsState Billin committee

High Impact

Alabama HB 143 raises vehicular homicide to a Class B felony and scales accident penalties by injury severity

Original title: Crimes and offenses; motor vehicle accidents, penalties for violations and restitution, revised

Last action · January 13, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of OriginSponsor: Margie Wilcox

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Would Do

Driver-caused criminally negligent homicide via vehicle or vessel is elevated from a Class C to a under HB 143. The bill also scales hit-and-run penalties from a for physical injury up to a for death, effective October 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Drivers convicted of causing fatal or injurious motor vehicle accidents face substantially longer prison sentences and expanded court-ordered financial obligations to affected individuals.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

drivers and operators of vehicles or vessels

Drivers and vessel operators face higher felony classifications and increased prison sentences if convicted of criminally negligent homicide or hit-and-run offenses.

Directly affected

motor vehicle accident victims

Individuals suffering damage or loss from motor vehicle accident crimes gain explicit statutory status as victims eligible for court-ordered restitution.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do the penalties for motor vehicle accident violations change based on injury severity?

Violations involving physical injury are a , serious physical injury violations are a , and violations involving death are a .

Who qualifies for restitution under this bill?

Any individual who suffers any damage or loss in connection with criminal conduct resulting in a conviction for motor vehicle accident violations is considered a victim for purposes.

When does this legislation take effect?

The act becomes effective on October 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

2 actions

Jan 13, 2026HouseCommittee
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Alabama

locationAlabama“Jurisdiction where the legislation is introduced.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance75
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz30
Current news / social attention level

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