House passes bill letting cities, universities sue promoters of unpermitted events to recoup shutdown costs

The Alabama House passed House Bill 280, a contentious measure that allows municipalities and public institutions of higher education to seek reimbursement through civil suit from promoters of "unpermitted events" when local authorities incur extraordinary costs to shut them down.

Representative Allman of Tuscaloosa, sponsor of the bill, said the measure is narrowly targeted at parties and similar gatherings "that are advertised on social media. Tickets are sold. There's an undisclosed location of the party," and at the last minute large crowds arrive with alcohol being sold without proper licenses and insurance. "The purpose of this bill is to allow them in very particular narrow circumstances called unpermitted events...to file suit against the promoters of the event and attempt to recoup their costs," Allman said.

Critics warned the bill as written risked overbroad enforcement and First Amendment concerns. Representative Moore of Jefferson said the bill's current language was too vague: "I think that this could be an infringement of people,…