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HB 34

Professional licensing boards; continuing education tracking solution to monitor compliance of licenses with applicable continuing education requirements; establish

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dale Washburn

HB 34 makes it a crime to give false information or refuse to answer questions during police stops, impacting citizens and clarifying law enforcement's authority.

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Bill Summary · HB 34

Summary of HB 34: Crimes and Offenses

Bill Overview

Bill Number: HB 34
Title: Crimes and offenses; crime of giving false information to a law enforcement officer, established; crime of refusing to give a law enforcement officer information, established
Introduced: August 14, 2025
Status: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
Effective Date: October 1, 2026

Purpose and Intent

The primary purpose of HB 34 is to establish new criminal offenses related to interactions with law enforcement officers. Specifically, the bill aims to:
- Define the crime of giving false information to a law enforcement officer.
- Establish penalties for individuals who refuse to provide requested information during investigatory stops.

Key Provisions

1. Giving False Information to a Law Enforcement Officer

  • New Offense: The bill introduces Section 13A-10-9.2 to the Code of Alabama 1975, making it a crime to knowingly provide false information (such as a name, address, or date of birth) to a law enforcement officer during their official duties.
  • Penalty: A violation is classified as a Class A misdemeanor.

2. Refusing to Provide Information

  • New Offense: The bill adds Section 13A-10-3.1, which criminalizes the willful refusal to answer questions posed by a law enforcement officer during an investigatory stop, provided the officer has reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
  • Conditions for Violation:
    • The officer must identify themselves and explain the reason for the stop.
    • The individual must refuse to provide their name, address, date of birth, or an explanation of their actions.
  • Penalty: A violation is classified as a Class C misdemeanor.
  • Self-Incrimination Protection: The bill clarifies that individuals are not required to provide information that could be self-incriminating.

3. Amendments and Repeals

  • Amendment to Warrantless Investigatory Stops: The bill amends Section 15-5-30 to clarify the authority of law enforcement officers to stop individuals based on reasonable suspicion.
  • Repeal of Existing Law: The bill repeals Section 13A-9-18.1, which previously addressed giving false information to law enforcement.

Impact

Who Would Be Affected?

  • Law Enforcement Officers: The bill provides clearer guidelines and authority for officers conducting investigatory stops.
  • Individuals Interacting with Law Enforcement: Citizens may face criminal charges for providing false information or refusing to answer questions during a stop.

Procedural Aspects

  • The bill is currently pending committee action in the House of Origin (Public Safety and Homeland Security) as of January 13, 2026.
  • If passed, the provisions of the bill will take effect on October 1, 2026.

This summary provides an overview of HB 34, outlining its intent, key provisions, and potential impacts on both law enforcement and the public.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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