Mary Claire Wooten

6 days ago | alreporter.com | Mary Claire Wooten

The Alabama Senate passed two bills, SB186 and SB187, both sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville. SB186 aims to establish that, starting Jan. 1, 2027, all new smartphones or tablets made and sold must have a built-in content filter that automatically blocks obscene content when the user is identified as a minor. The legislation defines “obscenity” using language from existing Alabama code and applies specifically to internet-connected devices such as smartphones and tablets.

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Mary Claire Wooten

SB53, sponsored by Sen. Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, proposes a new criminal offense for human smuggling, prompting opposition at a House Judiciary Committee hearing last week. The bill, which has already passed the Senate, carries a potential prison sentence of one year and one day to ten years.

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Mary Claire Wooten

A bill giving consumers and independent repairers the right to electronic device repair resources received mixed opinions during the House Judiciary Standing Committee. HB476, sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, proposes a “right to repair” for electronics. It requires manufacturers to provide parts, tools and instructions needed to fix devices, whether by consumers  or by independent repair shops.

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Mary Claire Wooten

The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles released its March 2025 Monthly Statistical Report, which offers a detailed view of community supervision, parole outcomes and correctional programming across the state. As of the end of March, probation remains Alabama’s primary form of supervision, accounting for 80 percent of all supervised individuals. This includes more than 35,000 offenders across both active and inactive statuses.

1 week ago | alreporter.com | Mary Claire Wooten

Alabama has officially introduced its Right to Repair Act. This marks a significant milestone for the national right to repair movement, which began over a decade ago and has grown into a significant grassroots effort in every state. Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville, introduced HB476, designed to give consumers and independent repair providers the right to access documentation, software and tools on fair and reasonable terms to make appropriate repairs to electronic devices.