Alabama legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Alabama HB267: Alabama Forestry Commission; benefits of State Forester revised, burn permits process revised, penalties revised
Status: Signed into law, April 9, 2026
What the bill says
An Act, Relating to the State Forestry Commission; to amend Sections 9-3-5, 9-3-7, 9-13-3, 9-13-10, 9-13-11, 9-13-12, 9-13-140, 9-13-141, 9-13-142, 9-13-221, and 9-13-225, Code of Alabama 1975, and to add Sections 9-3-5.1 and 9-13-11.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to authorize the State Forester to earn sick and annual leave and receive reimbursement from travel; to remove the ability of the commission to appoint forest law enforcement officers; to refine the procedure for obtaining a burn permit; to provide penalties for conducting a prescribed burn without a permit…
From the enrolled text:
An Act, Relating to the State Forestry Commission; to amend Sections 9-3-5, 9-3-7, 9-13-3, 9-13-10, 9-13-11, 9-13-12, 9-13-140, 9-13-141, 9-13-142, 9-13-221, and 9-13-225, Code of Alabama 1975, and to add Sections 9-3-5.1 and 9-13-11.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to authorize the State Forester to earn sick and annual leave and receive reimbursement from travel; to remove the ability of the commission to appoint forest law enforcement officers; to refine the procedure for obtaining a burn permit; to provide penalties for conducting a prescribed burn without a permit; to provide penalties for violations of fire prevention measures in drought conditions; to require seized vehicles and equipment to be delivered to the State Forester or his or her designee; and to repeal Sections 9-13-5, 9-13-6, 9-13-7, 9-13-8, 9-13-9, 9-13-13, 9-13-14, 9-13-15, 9-13-24, 9-13-64, 9-13-223, and 9-13-226, Code of Alabama 1975, which govern forest fire wardens and provide procedures and penalties for the violation of certain fire prevention measures. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. Sections 9-3-5, 9-3-7, 9-13-3, 9-13-10, 9-13-11, 9-13-12, 9-13-140, 9-13-141, 9-13-142, 9-13-221, and 9-13-225, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows: "§9-3-5 It shall be the duty of the Alabama Forestry Commission Page It shall be the duty of the Alabama Forestry Commission HB267 Enrolled to appoint with the advice …