Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 88 into law, which will formally recognize the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles officers as state law enforcement personnel. 

Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Starnes, R-Prattville, a retired ABPP officer, and carried in the Senate by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, the bill amends Section 36-21-40 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to include the ABPP and it’s probation and parole officers in the definitions of “law enforcement agency” and “law enforcement officer.” 

While HB88 does not expand the powers, authority or benefits of ABPP officers, it provides clarity regarding their status. All ABPP officers are certified by the Alabama Peace Officers’ Standards and Training Commission and are required to maintain active training and education. Law enforcement personnel comprise over half of the Bureau’s staff. 

ABPP Director Cam Ward appreciated the legislation, stating, “We are proud of our officers and grateful for their commitment to keeping communities across our state safe. Their job is not easy, but these men and women have sworn to serve and protect the people of Alabama. They uphold that mission every day – regardless of the dangers and difficulties they may face, and this bill is one way we can show our appreciation while recognizing their courage.”

HB88’s passage aligns with this session’s legislative trend to reinforce support for local law enforcement. 

Recently, the Alabama Legislature approved HB202, dubbed the “Back The Blue” bill, which enhances legal protections for police officers by establishing stricter standards for the use of force and allowing officers to seek immunity in certain cases. While supporters argue that such measures provide clarity and support for officers making split-second decisions, opponents express concern over potential shielding of misconduct. 

HB88 is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, further solidifying the role of ABPP officers within Alabama’s law enforcement framework.

The Alabama Crimson Tide are in Gainesville to close the 2025 SEC baseball regular season against the Florida Gators in a Top 25 matchup that could have a major impact on NCAA Tournament seeding.

Alabama (39-13 overall, 15-12 SEC), ranked No. 16 in this week’s USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, is coming off a huge series win over the Georgia Bulldogs, a top five team in many rankings.

The Crimson Tide are one of many SEC teams hoping to make it to Omaha for this year’s College World Series, a place Alabama baseball hasn’t visited since 1999. Jim Wells was the Tide’s skipper back then, and CWS appearances had become fairly consistent with three in four years.

With regular season play wrapping up this weekend and conference tournaments for the Power Four leagues set to begin next week, USA TODAY Sports experts Eddie Timanus and Erick Smith unveiled their full 64-team projections for the 2025 NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

The two see Alabama as one of the 16 regional site hosts — barely. The Crimson Tide are the No. 15 seed in USA TODAY Sports’ projections, so a solid weekend in Gainesville and at the SEC Tournament in Hoover would go a long way in making coach Rob Vaughn’s team a lock as a regional host.

West Virginia (40-10), Southeastern Louisiana (37-14) and Fairfield (36-15) are the three teams Smith and Timanus project Alabama would face in a Tuscaloosa Regional, if tournament play began today.

More NCAA Tournament expert predictions for Alabama baseball

First pitch for Game 1 of Alabama vs. Florida is at 5:30 p.m. CT Thursday. Right-hander Tyler Fay (0-2, 5.44 ERA) is scheduled to start for Alabama against Florida’s Liam Peterson (8-2, 3.81). The game and series can be streamed on SEC Network+ and ESPN+.

Watch Alabama Crimson Tide vs Florida Gators live on ESPN+

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A bill to expand Alabama law on legal immunity for police officers passed in the final half-hour of the annual legislative session on Wednesday night.

HB202 by Rep. Rex Reynolds, a former Huntsville police chief, is a priority for Gov. Kay Ivey and Republican leaders in the House of Representatives.

The bill would rewrite Alabama’s law on police immunity from criminal prosecutions and from civil lawsuits.

Lawmakers have hashed out the bill in public hearings and when the House passed the bill after a three-hour debate in March. It has undergone changes.

But Republicans and Democrats remained on opposite sides.

On Wednesday night, the Republican majority in the Senate voted to end the debate on the bill shortly after 10 p.m., more than an hour into the discussion.

The Senate passed it by a vote of 25-6. That sent it back to the House.

At about 11:35 p.m., the House passed the bill 73-28.

That sends it to Ivey, who can sign it into law.

Reynolds and other supporters of the legislation say the legal protections are needed at a time when cities are struggling to hire and retain cops because of concerns that they will be accused of wrongdoing for split-second decisions that sometimes involve life and death.

Democrats have opposed the bill saying it will make it harder to hold police accountable.

Sen. Lance Bell, R-St. Clair County, handled the bill Wednesday night on the Senate floor.

Bell introduced a new version of the bill Wednesday night.

Bell, an attorney and former deputy sheriff, said the bill would clarify the law on immunity and would reduce frivolous lawsuits.

Bell said it would not protect police who act outside the scope of their jobs.

“To me this is about protecting them while they’re protecting us,” Bell said.

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, repeated assertions he made in committee, calling the bill “a license to kill Black people.”

Smitherman is an attorney who taught constitutional law for 25 years.

Smitherman said Black people are at risk of bad decisions by police who are scared or actions by cops who are racist.

“We as a people don’t get the benefit of the doubt at all,” Smitherman said.

Turning to his Black Senate colleagues to help make his point, Smitherman urged them to be cautious driving home after the Senate adjourns.

“Be careful, because you’re going to be DWB. Driving while Black,“ Smitherman said.

Smitherman repeated a story he has told before on the Senate floor, describing when he was stopped by a police officer in Montgomery even though he was driving below the speed limit.

The senator said the officer approached his car with his hand on his gun and gave him conflicting instructions, telling him to hold out his hands while also asking him to pull out his driver license.

Smitherman said the story was an example of how Black people can be at risk if they are not cautious during their encounters with police.

Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, questioned the need for the bill and said it would erode public trust.

Stewart brought up the scandal in the Hanceville Police Department.

A grand jury indicted a former police chief and several officers and said the department should be abolished because of a “culture of corruption.”

Stewart said he supports police.

“But to have power unchecked, that is unacceptable in a democracy,” Stewart said.

Democratic Sens. Kirk Hatcher of Montgomery and Merika Coleman of Pleasant Grover also spoke in opposition to the bill.