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HB 463ALABAMASession 2026rsState Billon floor

Alabama bans out-of-state transport of live catfish harvested from public waters and sets criminal penalties

Original title: Catfish; transfer out of state of those harvested in public waters prohibited; criminal penalties for violations established

Last action · February 19, 2026: Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarSponsor: Chris Sells

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Would Do

Alabama HB 463 prohibits anyone from transporting a live catfish harvested from public waters out of the state, effective October 1, 2026. Violations carry misdemeanor charges and mandatory fines starting at $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for subsequent offenses.

Why it matters

Commercial fishers, anglers, and live-haul transporters face new criminal liability and steep financial penalties for moving live catfish across state lines.

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

Anglers and Commercial Fishers

Fishers face criminal penalties and fines if they transport live catfish harvested from public waters outside of Alabama.

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 I transport a live catfish across state lines if I caught it in Alabama public waters?

No. HB 463 strictly prohibits transporting a live catfish harvested from public waters outside of Alabama starting October 1, 2026.

What are the penalties for violating the transport ban?

A first offense is a with a minimum fine of $1,000. Second and subsequent offenses are s with a minimum fine of $2,000.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 19, 2026House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Feb 19, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Feb 17, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry

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, House of Representatives

locationAlabama“Jurisdiction where the bill applies”Map →

OrganizationHouse of Representatives“Origin chamber for HB 463”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy15
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level

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