[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6575532,"mediaKeyId","3095158-6ab2bb7d1f0d5cb7a4be5524f3d75c3d","parentId",3095158,"title","Committee hears divided testimony on bill clarifying officer immunity in use-of-force cases","audioSeconds",2086,"startMs",777000,"endMs",2863000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095158-6ab2bb7d1f0d5cb7a4be5524f3d75c3d&start=777&end=2863","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095158-6ab2bb7d1f0d5cb7a4be5524f3d75c3d/thumbnail_777000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6575532/Alabama/Committee-hears-divided-testimony-on-bill-clarifying-officer-immunity-in-use-of-force-cases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575532-de2f567701b6ffa44015dbc3644f3da2/orig.mp4?Expires=1773642859&Signature=mgTHcbVoCC7gv7-C2gWBKEappL61PUL-kcwvBnc7cR9Crahr0uUZSC-6H7OBQp8pQ-78021GUSKylZ0h3qBfPTubCYbEqEFOmWi7U3YDUjH9UixV6GpztqCh2IBnLUJ91RbfopWxUJJC-ZKlEmCVKFYQ6ydZ54XHnM9rhorxeEmtjOLY6XnonjBLFchu-QlaNffsP1ToQYELOKjwo9fZLDfvadPwJvALRgyNktpjxfrb4XntCxopNhRd0XCXws08aC5TVqL1VL5AZYJPpNy930OrpcuHfeNq2dl2F58SiYeey2M0ETXyn-k3mymPF9FXOrkEQjRwyxQ-diwXu1sEoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Senate Sessions","date","2025-04-23T14:56:50.74Z","article","HB 202, a proposed change to Alabama Code section 13-3-27, received a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee but will not be voted on this week. Representative Reynolds introduced the bill and supporters and opponents spoke during the committee’s public-hearing period.

The bill’s sponsor said the draft modernizes a statute last amended in 1979 and aligns state law with United States Supreme Court precedent. Tim Barfoot, testifying in support, said, “Law enforcement officers who use force constitutionally while carrying out their duties are immune from prosecution,” and that unconstitutional uses of force would remain prosecutable. Barfoot described a pretrial hearing mechanism in the bill and an amendment to require that a judge rule on an officer’s immunity within 45 days in some cases.

The bill drew several opponents during the public comment period. Jita Smith, a longtime reporter, said she opposed HB 202 and argued the measure was modeled on language distributed by the American Legislative Exchange Council. “Please take a step back,” she said, urging committee members to consider possible long-term consequences. Travis Jackson, identifying himself as an Iraq War veteran and racial-justice advocate, asked whether the bill would leave victims without avenues for compensation and said HB 202 “is the fatal opposite of” protections for several vulnerable groups. Jerome Deese, arguing from a civil-rights and legal perspective, said the bill’s expanded definition of an officer’s “discretionary authority” was “particularly concerning.”

Hoss Mack, representing the Alabama Sheriffs Association, testified in favor, saying the bill “does not give blanket immunity to law enforcement” and that it would align statutory language with current federal law and police academy training. Mack said the measure would not bar civil suits or appellate review and that it removes outdated “fleeing felon” language from the code.

Committee members probed how the bill would affect cases involving people with mental illness, whether the pretrial hearing would delay accountability and how discretionary authority would be interpreted. Senator Smitherman warned the bill could have disparate effects on Black Alabamians, saying “it’s a green light for black folks to get killed.” Representative Reynolds and supporters said the bill provides a pause for judicial review, not a blanket shield.

No committee vote was taken on HB 202 at this meeting; the chair said the public hearing is concluded and that the committee may consider voting next week.

Ending: The committee’s record will include the testimony and the sponsor’s 45-day hearing amendment; senators asked staff and counsel to continue work on the language before further action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee","oneSentenceSummary","HB 202, a proposed change to Alabama Code section 13-3-27, received a public hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee but will not be voted on this week.","taxTitle","Senate, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",62183,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":46,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6575530,"Committee advances bill that increases penalties for resisting arrest after debate about community risk",737,3600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3095158-6ab2bb7d1f0d5cb7a4be5524f3d75c3d&start=2863&end=3600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3095158-6ab2bb7d1f0d5cb7a4be5524f3d75c3d/thumbnail_2863000.jpg","/articles/6575530/Alabama/Committee-advances-bill-that-increases-penalties-for-resisting-arrest-after-debate-about-community-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6575530-7b8704063154cf911a4ea610d65d4726/orig.mp4?Expires=1773642859&Signature=ZTQx9D5-srZgzs5k88k636WMTFq2SoFfTx0gi05rk60d2MCJ~3Tk2EjL18er~0QZVNuiQ6pCxsoYjuLtqZIILWcmjrDwawYRYWTHdkSYbDK4DW0bjIguq4HwuExz9AgNhYCziLfJt2kiyxjbVzjlkLdnAgNWP13mYz1MkVKtvkWxfdfX1hfW0n6uQaA~EnPsAsf5POV1DLoLwLks-BBH1XwweDFz8oTmFcdylgcRcTbw-B1BTJYOpfvX-e9srWyUOJdps30B~OzbR~85FBUfZglkrlSrIF3W~ueI~PByx~pXYQh9ICQyyx-8yHwGPwGxtzVycQlJq6OZ0BgwRZOa4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to give HB 265 a favorable report after a public hearing and committee discussion. The bill was presented to the committee as a response to a perceived gap in Alabama law where an individual who resists arrest and causes injury to an officer or bystander is not adequately subject to heightened criminal penalties.

A sponsor who brought the bill to the committee said the measure reclassifies resisting arrest offenses: resisting arrest generally would move from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor; resisting while brandishing a weapon or when resistance causes injury to another person would be a Class D felony; and resisting while using or attempting to use a deadly weapon or when serious injury is caused would be a Class C felony.

Supporters told the committee the bill protects officers and bystanders. Several senators asked whether the measure could produce unintended consequences in split‑second encounters. Senator Singleton said she could not support the bill, calling it “a death sentence” for the people in her community if officers respond with lethal force in those situations. Senator Smitherman and Senator Figgers raised similar concerns about disparate impacts and prior cases where officers’ actions resulted in civilian deaths.

The committee held a roll-call vote at which senators recorded their positions. The clerk read votes including \"Senator Alberton,\" \"Senator Bell — Aye,\" \"Senator Connolly — Aye,\" \"Senator Coleman Madison — No,\" \"Senator Elliott — Aye,\" \"Senator Figures — No,\" \"Senator Gavann — Aye,\" \"Senator Singleton — No,\" \"Senator Smitherman — No,\" \"Senator Stutz — Aye,\" \"Senator Weaver — Aye,\" and \"Senator Barfoot — Aye.\" The chair announced the result as 8 to 4 and reported the bill favorably out of committee.

Ending: Sponsors and committee staff will draft any technical changes and the bill will move forward in the legislative process as a favorably reported item.","The Senate Judiciary Committee gave HB 265 a favorable report after testimony that the measure fills a legal gap for officers injured while effecting an arrest; supporters described newly elevated penalties for different forms of resistance, while some senators warned the changes could produce dangerous outcomes in encounters with police.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears divided testimony on bill clarifying officer immunity in use-of-force cases

Committee advances bill that increases penalties for resisting arrest after debate about community risk