AL HB172

Renames the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017 to the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2021 and revises definitions and protections for historically significant buildings, memorial buildings, memorial schools, memorial streets, and monuments on public property.

Adds term limits to the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection, restricting members to consecutive terms and requiring a four-year gap before reappointment, and authorizes the committee to review and grant or deny petitions for waivers and petitions to raze protected structures.

Imposes fines of $10,000 per day for violations and $25,000 for failure to obtain required waivers, with fines collected by the Attorney General and deposited into the Alabama State Historic Preservation Fund.

Authorizes the Attorney General to collect fines and institute legal action, and permits individuals and organizations to commence lawsuits on behalf of the state for violations, with remedies including damages for injury to protected memorials, restoration costs, and punitive damages for intentional violations.

Requires that if a protected building is razed following committee approval, any replacement structure or public space must bear the original building's name, or a permanent memorial marker must be erected to commemorate the original purpose or honoree.