Governor signs the police immunity bill and the youth monitoring bill into law

May 15, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed both of the two remaining bills in the Safe Alabama public safety package, House Bill 202 and House Bill 199.

HB202 was sponsored by State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) and carried in the Senate by Senator Lance Bell (R-Pell City). It provides law enforcement with enhanced legal protections from criminal prosecution and civil liability as long as they don't act recklessly and the actions are taken in the performance of their duties. Sponsors say that the new police protections will allow officers to carry out their duties more courageously and effectively.

"I was very proud to have two former law enforcement agents sponsoring this important bill in the House and the Senate," said Gov. Ivey in a statement. "Rep. Rex Reynolds, a former police chief in Huntsville, and Sen. Lance Bell, a former deputy sheriff in St. Clair County, both did an excellent job moving the bill through the legislative process. I couldn't agree more with Senate-sponsor Lance Bell's remarks from the Senate floor yesterday when he so rightly stated, 'this is about protecting them while they're protecting us.' And as far as Backing the Blue goes, Rep. Reynolds was spot on with his comments yesterday when he said this bill will, 'restore some faith among our officers and show them that we have their backs in Alabama.' With HB202 signed into law, I am proud Alabama is now the most pro-law enforcement state in the country."

HB199, the Juvenile Accountability and Monitoring Act, was sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) and State Representative Travis Hendrix (D-Birmingham) to enhance pretrial detention and pretrial electronic monitoring of dangerous juveniles.

"I am pleased that our Safe Alabama public safety package passed with bipartisan support, and I am confident that each of these bills will help protect communities across our state," said Gov. Ivey. "In Alabama, unfortunately, juveniles are part of the crime problem, and HB199 is an important step to addressing this very real issue."

Wednesday was the last day of the 2025 Alabama regular legislative session. HB199 enjoyed bipartisan support; but many Democratic lawmakers warned that SB202 would lead to more Black men being shot by the police - a charge that sponsors denied.