AlabamaAlabama law counts certain pleas in repeat-felony sentencing
Starting October 1, 2026, Alabama law will treat certain no-contest and related plea-based convictions like guilty pleas when applying repeat-felony sentencing rules.
What it does
For repeat-felony sentencing, convictions based on no-contest, best-interests, or Alford pleas count like guilty-plea convictions, unless they have been expunged.
Argument forTreating these plea-based convictions like guilty pleas could help courts apply the repeat-felony sentencing rules consistently.
Argument againstCounting these pleas could expose people with prior convictions to harsher penalties when they are sentenced for another felony.
More detail
For this section, the law treats convictions based on certain pleas like convictions based on guilty pleas. This applies to repeat-felony sentencing under this section and covers convictions from Alabama or another state. The rule does not apply to a conviction based on one of these pleas if it has been expunged. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 15EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1322Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1322. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 9Ready to Enroll
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Feb 25Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 25Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Judiciary)Minor
- Feb 10Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 358. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 357. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 356. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered (Judiciary)Minor
- Feb 10Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 356Major
- Feb 10Robbins 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Feb 10Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 357Major
- Feb 10Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 358Passed House
- Feb 10Engrossed
- Feb 10Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 10Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)
- Feb 5Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Judiciary)Minor
- Feb 4Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Judiciary)
- Jan 14Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Jan 14Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Judiciary)Introduced
Criminal Justice