Week 4 Session Recap: Self-Defense Bill Passes Unanimously, Key Legislation Advances

I know - I’m a few days late on the update. We’ve been busy! We had a productive fourth week of the 2026 Legislative Session, with one of my bills clearing the House floor with unanimous bipartisan support and several others taking major steps forward.

HB 192: Requiring Accountability for Deadly Force

The biggest news this week was the passage of HB 192, which I carried on behalf of Alabama's district attorneys and the Office of Prosecution Services. The bill passed 104–0, with every member of the House chamber voting in favor - Democrats and Republicans alike.

This is a straightforward, commonsense bill. If you commit a violent act against another person and claim self-defense, you need to keep the weapon you used. If you dispose of that weapon, the court will presume that you did not use it in self-defense. That is what we call a rebuttable presumption - it means the burden shifts to you to explain why you no longer have the weapon.

A lot of people have started calling this the "don't dump the gun" bill, and while I can’t take credit for that name, I do think that captures it well. District attorneys across the state have had a real problem with individuals who claim self-defense but then get rid of the weapon they allegedly used. This bill addresses that head-on.

Now, I want to be clear: this is a presumption that can be overcome. I think this is where it has gotten a little off track in some conversations. If the weapon fell into a lake during the incident, or if someone else took it from you during the altercation, you can present those facts to the court and overcome the presumption. The law simply says that if you do not have the weapon and cannot explain why, then the court is going to presume you did not use it in self-defense.

This was my second bill to pass off the House floor this session, and it has now moved to the Senate. I was enthused to carry this bill, and the unanimous vote reflects that this is legislation that makes sense for everyone.

Trey's Law Heads to the Governor

This week I expect to pass Senator Matt Wood's Senate version of Trey's Law on the House floor. Because his bill is identical to mine, passing the Senate version means the bill goes directly to the Governor for her signature. This is the final legislative step, and I am confident Trey's Law will soon become Alabama law.

This has been a meaningful journey, and I am grateful to everyone who helped make it happen - especially Elizabeth Phillips, whose tireless advocacy on behalf of her brother Trey made this legislation possible.

Sarah Marsh Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act: Committee Hearing This Week

The Sarah Marsh Heaven's 27 Camp Safety Act is up in the State Government Committee on Wednesday at three o'clock. I am very excited to present this bill, and I have been working closely with county governments and various stakeholders to ensure it is in the best possible shape. I will be offering some amendments in committee that reflect reasonable input we have received, and I believe the bill is stronger for it.

Sarah Marsh's mother, Jill, will be in Montgomery for the hearing. Sarah's family lives in Mountain Brook, and this bill is deeply personal to me. Honoring Sarah and the other 26 girls who are part of Heaven's 27 by saving lives going forward - that means an awful lot.

I expect the bill to move to the House floor early next week, likely Tuesday or Thursday.

Computer Science: From Classroom to Graduation Requirement

I also passed my computer science graduation requirement bill out of committee last week, and it is now ready for the House floor. This is a bill I have been working on for years, and it represents the next step in a journey that has positioned Alabama as a national leader in computer science education.

Let me give you a little history. Several years ago, I started with legislation mandating that every high school in Alabama offer computer science courses. Then I expanded that to middle schools and junior high, and then down to elementary schools. Alabama became the first state in the nation to meet all nine of Code.org's minimum requirements for computer science in state law. We were not the first state to mandate that computer science be offered - we were about the sixth - but we were the first to meet all nine of the Code.org benchmarks.

This new bill takes us to the tenth requirement: making computer science a graduation requirement. The State Board of Education has already moved in this direction, but this legislation codifies it into Alabama state law. That means it is not just a board policy - it is the law of the land.

I want to note that certain math and science courses, like AP classes, can satisfy the computer science graduation requirement. And while computer science is not, in and of itself, a college and career readiness indicator, it is now a graduation requirement. I expect this bill to move through the House quickly.

I tried to get this bill across the finish line last year and ran out of time before it reached the Senate floor. This year, I intend to see it through.

Other Committee Work

In addition to these major bills, I passed two other pieces of legislation out of committee this week. One was a bill for the Veterans and Military Committee that makes technical updates to positions in the Office of Legal Services for the Alabama National Guard. I also moved an Alabama Law Institute bill updating our state's laws on guardianships and conservatorships. Alabama Law Institute bills are heavily vetted, and I am confident this one will do well as it advances.

Looking Ahead

This is shaping up to be a busy stretch. Trey's Law should be signed into law soon. The Camp Safety Act is moving through committee this week and should be on the floor next week. My computer science bill is ready for a floor vote. And HB 192 is now in the Senate's hands.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve District 46, and I look forward to keeping you updated as these bills continue to advance.

Until the next update,
David
Alabama House District 46

‍