Senate committee hears emotional testimony on SB120 after Hartsell high-speed chase; no vote taken

The Senate Judiciary Committee heard emotional testimony and heated debate over SB120, the "Tristan Hollis Memorial Act," a bill that would limit law-enforcement vehicle pursuits to a narrow set of serious offenses and where an immediate threat to public safety exists. The committee did not vote on the bill during the session.

Senator Orr, sponsor of the measure, described the case that prompted the bill: a high-speed chase that ended on Main Street in Hartsell when a fleeing vehicle struck and killed 16-year-old Tristan Hollis. Orr said the bill is intended to provide "guardrails" about when pursuits are permitted and cited national guidance recommending that pursuits be limited to violent crimes and situations presenting an imminent public threat.

At the public hearing, Rachel Moore, who identified herself as Tristan Hollis's mother, described the Sept. 6, 2025 wreck and asked lawmakers for "awareness [and] accountability for the wrongful death of my son." Moore told the committee officers "should not have logically and responsibly exceeded the speeds of a 100 miles per hour down Main Street," and urged passage of the law in her son's memory.

A second proponent, Reginald Mackenzie, described a separate chase involving his grandson and voiced support for SB120 while acknowledging the challenges officers face. "We're not saying stop all police chases," Mackenzie said, adding he supports giving officers better tools and clearer rules.

Representatives of law enforcement and municipal governments urged caution or opposed the bill as written. Chief Partridge of the Alabama Association Chiefs of Police warned the committee that a statutory list restricting pursuits to a narrow set of violent offenses "would significantly hinder law enforcement's ability to apprehend criminals" and could be exploited by offenders. Baker Allen, director of governmental affairs for the Alabama League of Municipalities, said municipal departments consider many real-time factors when authorizing pursuits and raised concerns that a uniform statutory standard could increase litigation exposure for cities.

Several county sheriffs recounted incidents they said demonstrate the utility of pursuits. Escambia County Sheriff Heath Jackson said his experience in Florida showed restrictive pursuit rules led to a rise in crime, and Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims described a case in which a pursuit led to the capture of a suspect who later confessed to murder, saying that had the vehicle been allowed to go, "we wouldn't have known who he was." Montgomery County Sheriff Derek Cunningham urged the committee to work with law enforcement on a solution rather than pass a bill that would "handcuff" officers.

Committee members acknowledged the emotional testimony and the policy tension between limiting dangerous chases and giving officers tools to protect public safety. Several senators, including Senator Figures, urged lawmakers to avoid letting emotion alone drive policy; Senator Orr said he is open to meeting with law enforcement to revise the bill.

The chair told members that the committee would not vote on SB120 during the session and would return to the measure after further discussions with stakeholders.

The committee did not adopt SB120 or take a formal vote; members were invited to work with the sponsor and law-enforcement groups to produce language that addresses the concerns raised by both families and police.