MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers will address 12 bills related to criminal justice today in what will be the last meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee this year.
Including today, just three days remain in the 2024 legislative session, and the clock is ticking on a number of bills that will be heard by the committee today. Among them is House Bill 36, which would prohibit Alabamians from modifying firearms with trigger activators, which allow semi-automatic weapons to fire at similar rates to that of fully-automatic weapons.
Sponsored by Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, HB36 received the backing of a number of law enforcement agencies, including the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the District Attorneys Association, among others.
The Alabama House narrowly passed the bill last week with a vote of 60-38 where it received significant pushback from House Republicans, most of whom argued the bill potentially infringes on Second Amendment rights.
Undeterred, Ensler told Alabama Daily News Monday that he remained hopeful that his bill would make it out of the Alabama Senate, and that he would work closely with senators to try to “get this over the finish line.”
“I recognize there are many bills for the Senate to consider in the last few days of the session, but it is urgent that we take this meaningful step before session ends to save lives and enhance community safety,” Ensler told ADN.
“While HB36 will not stop every act of gun violence or every use of a trigger activator, it can stop some instances and for that reason alone, we can and must act now.”
Another is House Bill 165, which would prohibit minors from receiving vaccinations without explicit consent from a parent or guardian. The bill received some pushback when it passed out of the House in a vote of 81-17, all from House Democrats, who argued there were scenarios in which the requirement could impede a minor’s ability to get vaccinated.
Its sponsor, Rep. Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, told ADN Monday he is optimistic his bill would make it out of the Legislature before the session’s end.
“I am very hopeful we can get this done before we end this session,” Brown told ADN Monday.
“This is a bill that puts parents in charge of their children’s health care relating to what vaccines they receive. It’s an important piece of legislation that needs to be addressed.”
Two of the 12 bills on today’s judiciary agenda have public hearings. House Bill 227 is a proposed reform of the state’s ethics laws from Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, and House Bill 174, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, would increase penalties for those who fire into an occupied dwelling.
Other bills of note to be heard today in committee include House Bill 409, which would grant additional immunity to district attorneys from litigation, House Bill 100, which would increase criminal penalties for crimes against election officials, and House Bill 363, which expands the state’s manslaughter charge to apply to vehicle fatalities involving alcohol.
The committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. at the State House. The committee’s full agenda may be viewed online here.