Alabama House Passes bill expanding the Crime of Reckless Endangerment to a felony when multiple

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - February 26, 2026 - The Alabama House of Representatives has passed House Bill 266 (HB266) HB266, a public‑safety measure expands the state's definition of reckless endangerment and creates tougher penalties for conduct that threatens multiple people or involves the use of a firearm.

HB266 was sponsored by Rep. Chris Sells (R-Greenville). It was carried in the House by Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook) because Sells had to attend a funeral.

Under existing Alabama law, reckless endangerment applies when a person "recklessly engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another individual."

"Reckless endangerment of a single individual is a class A misdemeanor" under current law, Faulkner explained. "If multiple people are endangered this takes it to a Class C felony."

Representative Artis "A.J." McCampbell (D-Demopolis) expressed concerns that this may lead to more people being incarcerated.

"If you are recklessly driving and you have got three people in a car are we going to raise that to a felony," McCampbell asked.

Faulkner said, "The way I envision this is the people outside of the car. You make an interesting argument about the people in the car

McCampbell said, "My fear is that some young fellow is going to be driving a car with his three friends and he does something reckless that somebody is going to raise this to a Class C felony?"

"Have we been let out of the federal law suit on prisons?" said McCampbell. "In this section, we are raising more things that should remain as misdemeanors to the level of felonies. We are overcrowding our prison system and we are taking away people's right to vote."

McCampbell (a retired state trooper) said, "You're an attorney. We both know that the law is not equally applied. Lady Justice's eyes are not both blind."

"There are no simple bills in this house," said Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham). "Every bill that we pass in this House has a cause and effect."

"I understand where you are trying to go," said Givan. "We already have legislation on the books dealing with reckless, dangerous behavior. We need the judges on the circuit level, the district level, and the municipal level to do their jobs. We see it all the time with domestic violence. This is an overreach."

Faulkner said, "When you have endangered the lives of multiple people we are stepping up the penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony. Danny Carr, who is our DA (Jefferson County), wants this bill. The DAs want this."

"Name dropping doesn't mean anything to me," answered Givan.

"If you have endangered the lives of multiple people this steps it up to a class C felony," explained Faulkner. "If you use a weapon it raises it to a Class B felony."

Rep. Kenyatté Hassel (D-Montgomery) asked, "What is the definition of reckless

Faulkner answered, "Conduct that creates a serious risk of serious injury to another individual."

Hassell asked if that would apply to someone who went out shooting with his friends and accidentally shooting one of his friends in the leg.

"That would be a different crime," said Faulkner. "If somebody goes to a family reunion and starts shooting, but doesn't hit anyone that would be reckless endangerment. That would be a deadly instrument.'

HB266 would raise the charge to a Class B felony when multiple people are endangered recklessly with a weapon.

"All of this will be under a judge's discretion – its in the DA's discretion whether or not to bring this," said Faulkner.

"This is so broad that it can cause all kind of problems," said Hassell.

HB266 enhances penalties when multiple people are placed at risk, recognizing that some reckless acts-such as firing into a crowd or driving dangerously through a populated area-create broader public danger.

- Additional penalty enhancements when a firearm is used during the reckless act, reflecting legislative concern about gun‑related endangerment.

The bill amends Section 13A‑6‑24, Code of Alabama 1975, to incorporate these new categories and authorize higher criminal penalties when these aggravating factors are present.

HB266 was introduced on January 15, 2026, and referred to the House Judiciary Committee which gave it a favorable report.

The Alabama House of Representative passed HB266 84 to 0.

Afterwards the Alabama Gazette asked Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) if he was concerned about if passing bills that enhance criminal penalties will exacerbate the prison overcrowding situation in the state.

Speaker Ledbetter said, "Prison overcrowding has been a problem for a number of years. Governor Ivey has addressed that by building new prisons. One of them will open at the end of next year. The people of Alabama want bad people who do bad things to people to go to prison."

HB266 now goes to the Alabama Senate for their consideration.

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