The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama prohibits law enforcement from stopping or boarding vessels solely for safety or sanitation inspections
Last action · March 5, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Shane Stringer
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
Law enforcement officers are prohibited from stopping or boarding any vessel for the sole purpose of performing a safety inspection or , effective June 1, 2026.
Boat owners and operators will no longer be subject to routine administrative stops by law enforcement purely for safety or sanitation equipment checks unless another legal basis exists.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Vessel owners and operators
Vessel operators can no longer be stopped or boarded by law enforcement solely for safety or sanitation equipment inspections.
Law enforcement officers
Officers are prohibited from executing stops or boardings of vessels when the sole purpose is a safety or sanitation check.
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
Can police still stop my boat for any reason?
When does this new law take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law.
Procedural history
21 actions- Mar 5, 2026HouseEnrolledEnacted
- Feb 26, 2026HouseEnrolledDelivered to Governor
- Feb 26, 2026SenateSignature Requested
- Feb 26, 2026HouseEnrolled
- Feb 26, 2026HouseReady to Enroll
- Feb 26, 2026SenateFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 648
Show 15 earlier actions
- Feb 26, 2026SenateThird Reading in Second House
- Feb 12, 2026SenateRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Feb 11, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 5, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in Second House
- Feb 5, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary
- Feb 3, 2026HouseEngrossed
- Feb 3, 2026HouseFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 244
- Feb 3, 2026HouseMotion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 243
- Feb 3, 2026HousePublic Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute Offered
- Feb 3, 2026HouseThird Reading in House of Origin
- Jan 29, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Jan 28, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Safety and Homeland Security 1st Substitute
- Jan 15, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 15, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools