Alabama legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Alabama HB226: Habitual offender law; pleas of nolo contendere treated as a plea of guilty
Status: Signed into law, April 15, 2026
What the bill says
An Act, Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Section 13A-5-9, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the meaning of nolo contendere pleas for purposes of the habitual offender law.
From the enrolled text:
An Act, Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Section 13A-5-9, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the meaning of nolo contendere pleas for purposes of the habitual offender law. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. Section 13A-5-9, Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows: "§13A-5-9 (a) In all cases when it is shown that a criminal defendant has been previously convicted of a Class A, Class B, or Class C felony and after the conviction has committed another Class A, Class B, or Class C felony, he or she must be punished as follows: (1) On conviction of a Class C felony, he or she must be punished for a Class B felony. (2) On conviction of a Class B felony, he or she must be punished for a Class A felony. (3) On conviction of a Class A felony, he or she must be punished by imprisonment for life or for any term of not more than 99 years but not less than 15 years. (b) In all cases when it is shown that a criminal defendant has been previously convicted of any two felonies that are Class A, Class B, or Class C felonies and after such convictions has committed another Class A, Class B, or Class C …
Sponsors
- Colvin, William Brock (R, HD-026) · primary sponsor
- Faulkner, David (R, HD-046)
- Simpson, Matt (R, HD-096)
Latest actions
- : Enacted
- : Delivered to Governor
- : Signature Requested
- : Enrolled
- : Ready to Enroll
- : Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1322
- : Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- : Reported Out of Committee Second House
- : Pending Committee Action in Second House
- : Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary
Votes
- Senate Roll Call #1322 (April 9, 2026): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #358 (February 10, 2026): 105 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #357 (February 10, 2026): 105 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #356 (February 10, 2026): 103 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #355 (February 10, 2026): 101 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Crimes & Offenses
Common questions
- What is HB226?
- HB226 is a bill in the Alabama Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Habitual offender law; pleas of nolo contendere treated as a plea of guilty.
- What does HB226 do?
- In its own words: An Act, Relating to crimes and offenses; to amend Section 13A-5-9, Code of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the meaning of nolo contendere pleas for purposes of the habitual offender law.
- What is the status of HB226?
- Signed into law as of April 15, 2026. Latest action: Enacted (April 15, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB226?
- Colvin, William Brock (R, HD-026), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB226?
- On the Alabama Legislature website: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/instrument/2026RS/HB226
Source: official Alabama record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.