AL SB139

Extends the deadline for felony defendants to demand a preliminary hearing from 30 days to 45 days following arrest, and allows a pretrial detention hearing to satisfy the preliminary hearing requirement

Requires pretrial detention hearings to be scheduled within 10 days of arrest for defendants charged with serious offenses including murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree rape, human trafficking, and terrorism

Limits continuances of pretrial detention hearings to a maximum of 21 days unless both parties file a joint motion for a longer delay

Mandates courts to create and preserve audio or stenographic recordings of all pretrial detention hearings until the appeal period expires

Directs appeals of pretrial detention orders to the Court of Criminal Appeals, or to circuit court de novo if an adequate record does not exist; effective date May 15, 2026