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Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama bill requires trial delays in criminal and civil cases when parties, attorneys, or witnesses are on active military duty
Last action · January 13, 2026: Pending Committee Action in House of OriginSponsor: Merika Coleman
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What This Bill Would Do
Alabama courts must postpone criminal and civil trials when a party, lead attorney, or necessary out-of-state witness is absent due to active military or National Guard service, and must set bail for certain defendants when the state requests such a delay.
Military service members, their attorneys, and witnesses involved in Alabama lawsuits gain statutory protection against forced trials during active deployments, while criminal defendants whose trials are delayed by the state gain a statutory right to request bail.
- Under existing Alabama court rules, trial judges hold discretionary authority over granting continuances in criminal and civil cases. context
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.
Military Personnel and Reservists
Active-duty members of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces guarantee their civil and criminal court cases or witness appearances are postponed during deployment.
Criminal Defendants
Defendants facing trial delays requested by the state due to military absences gain a statutory right to apply for and receive bail, subject to violent and capital offense exceptions.
Attorneys
Legal counsel on active military duty are guaranteed continuances for their cases, provided their clients submit the required oath.
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
What happens if my lawyer is deployed on active military duty when my trial is scheduled?
Does this bill guarantee bail if the state delays a criminal trial due to a witness's military deployment?
Are out-of-state military witnesses covered by this legislation?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 13, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate 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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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