MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Big 10 Mayors applauded the Alabama Legislature for passing and Gov. Kay Ivey for signing into law two bills that will improve public safety across Alabama.
“As mayors, there is no greater priority of ours than public safety,” said a statement from the Alabama Big 10 Mayors. “We commend this bipartisan effort to stand with victims, support law enforcement, and make Alabama’s cities safer places to live, work, and raise families.”
Senate Bills 118 and 119, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) and carried by Rep. Cynthia Almond (R-Tuscaloosa) in the House, received broad bipartisan support and mark a critical advancement in our state’s ability to fight crime.
“We are grateful to the Legislature and Governor Ivey for their continued commitment to the safety of our communities,” said the mayors. “These changes strengthen our laws to help law enforcement and the courts better protect our residents from repeat violent offenders.
“Across Alabama, we have seen how Aniah’s Law is keeping violent criminals off the streets, and by increasing penalties for firing into buildings, our law enforcement officials are able to better crack down on this senseless and dangerous act.”
The Big 10 Mayors advocated for Aniah’s Law in 2022. The new change to Aniah’s Law clarifies and enhances the law’s implementation, ensuring that the judicial system can more effectively detain individuals who pose a clear threat to public safety while they await trial.
Senate Bill 118 expanded and further strengthened Aniah’s Law, a change to the Alabama constitution that allows judges to deny bail to individuals charged with certain violent crimes.
Currently, under Aniah’s Law, judges are allowed to deny bond for individuals charged with particularly heinous crimes such as murder, kidnapping, rape, torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, aggravated child abuse and other crimes.
The update to the law, if approved at the ballot box for the 2026 primary election by Alabama voters, would add solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder as well as discharging a firearm or explosive into an occupied dwelling, building, vehicle, or watercraft to that list.
Senate Bill 119, introduces several significant changes to the state’s firearm and criminal laws. The bill elevates the offense of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, building, vehicle, or watercraft from a Class B felony to a Class A felony. It also to prohibits a person charged with certain felonies from possessing a firearm during or while awaiting trial.
The legislation creates criminal penalties and a revocation of bond or parole for those in possession of a firearm under these circumstances.
Representing the 10 largest cities in Alabama, the group works to find constructive solutions to the state’s and their cities’ most pressing problems.
The mayors are Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed, and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.
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