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House restores judges’ ability to accept partial bonds in bail reform change
Summary
HB 42, which restores language allowing judges to accept partial cash bonds (percentage bonds) instead of requiring full payment, passed amid debate about bail‑bond industry practices.
The Alabama House passed HB 42 on April 9, restoring language in state bail law that allows judges to accept partial cash bonds (a percentage of the total bond) to secure a defendant’s release.
Sponsor Representative Mike England said the measure restores three words removed in an earlier amendment to the Alabama Bail Reform Act; restoring the phrase enables courts to accept partial bonds. Supporters said the change gives courts flexibility to secure fines, costs and restitution through partial cash bonds and helps ensure those amounts are available to the courts when defendants later fail to appear.
Several members raised concerns about exploitation by private bail agents and high fees charged to defendants. Representative Kirk Hatcher (questioner) and others said the bill does not address larger bail‑industry practices and called for additional reform. Representative England and others said HB 42 is a narrow technical fix restoring judicial discretion rather than a comprehensive overhaul of bail practices.
The House adopted the measure (final recorded vote was 66 yays, 32 nays) and sent the bill to the Senate.
