HB25 Summary

• Amends Alabama criminal sentencing law to allow discretionary (rather than mandatory) sentencing for offenders with two or more Class A or Class B felonies who commit a Class D felony, enabling judges to sentence them as if convicted of a Class C felony instead.

• Establishes that on a third or subsequent conviction for any Class D felony, an offender may be sentenced as if convicted of a Class C felony, changing prior mandatory sentencing requirements.

• Modifies Section 15-18-8 regarding probation and sentencing procedures for Class C and Class D felony convictions with sentences of 15 years or less.

• Changes mandatory language ("must") to permissive language ("may") in relevant sentencing provisions to grant judges greater discretion in sentencing decisions.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.