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Committee advances bill to let cities sue promoters of unpermitted "pop‑up" events and recover costs
Summary
Lawmakers advanced a bill to allow municipalities to pursue nuisance actions against organizers of unpermitted large gatherings and to seek attorney fees and costs, with amendments protecting uninvolved property owners and certain rural activities.
A House committee advanced legislation intended to let municipalities recover public‑safety and cleanup costs from organizers of unpermitted large gatherings commonly described as "pop‑up" parties. The bill, introduced with input from cities including Tuscaloosa, targets promoters who advertise ticketed events on social media that move to undisclosed locations and overwhelm unprepared properties.
The presenter describing the measure told the committee such events can draw hundreds of attendees to private property, creating safety risks and recurring costs for local governments. The presenter said municipalities sometimes spend “upwards of a hundred thousand dollars a weekend” responding to and shutting down such incidents.
Under the draft advanced by the committee, a municipality may commence a nuisance action against a promoter or organizer and, if successful, recover costs including attorney fees. Committee members and sponsors offered and adopted at least two amendments: one clarifying that the existing statutory definition of public nuisance governs the bill, and another protecting landlords, property managers and business owners who are not participating in or promoting the event from liability.
A further amendment was adopted to clarify protections for agricultural operations and other rural activities so ordinary farming or land‑use operations are not swept into the statute.
Committee members questioned enforceability and the likelihood of actually collecting money from out‑of‑state social media promoters; the presenter acknowledged plaintiffs may face practical hurdles but said municipalities and local stakeholders often know the identities of promoters and can pursue civil remedies. The committee emphasized that the bill is aimed at unpermitted, profit‑driven events rather than permitted public gatherings or peaceful protests.
The committee adopted the amendments and voted to pass the bill as amended by voice vote. Sponsors said they had worked with realtor groups and other local stakeholders on the clarifying language.
The bill now moves to the full chamber for further consideration.
