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Alabama law (Act 2023‑507, HB289) sets a narrow, subject‑centered disclosure regime for police body‑worn and dash‑cam recordings: recordings are not treated as personnel files and are not generally available to the public. Only the person whose voice/image appears in the recording — or that person’s personal representative (parent, guardian, spouse, attorney, estate representative, etc.) — may request and receive disclosure, and then only the portion relevant to the request. Agencies must respond “as promptly as possible,” may redact and charge a reasonable fee, and may refuse disclosure if doing so would interfere with an active investigation. Media or other third parties are not listed as eligible requesters under the statute; to obtain footage they generally must rely on the subject’s consent, a court order, civil discovery, or other legal process. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Summary
Primary Law or Policy
Alabama’s enacted statute governing law-enforcement audio/video recordings is Act 2023-507 (enacted as HB289), codified at Code of Alabama, Title 36, Chapter 21, Article 10 (sections beginning at 36-21-210). The Act (HB289 / Act 2023-507) creates a separate disclosure framework for recordings made by body‑worn cameras, dashboard cameras, or similar devices and states those recordings are not personnel records. The general Alabama Open Records statute (Alabama Open Records Act, Ala. Code § 36-12-40 et seq.) remains the state’s baseline public‑records law, but Act 2023-507 provides the statutory rules specific to law‑enforcement recordings. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Who Can Request
Requester Eligibility
The custodial law‑enforcement agency may disclose a recording only to: (1) the individual whose image or voice is in the recording; or (2) a personal representative of that individual (a parent, court‑appointed guardian, spouse, attorney, etc.) — including certain special rules for minors, incapacitated adults, and deceased persons’ estates. The requester must submit a written request to the head of the custodial law‑enforcement agency identifying the recording with reasonable particularity (date/time or other identifying information). The Act does not list the general public or press as eligible requesters absent their being the subject or a personal representative. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Request Process
Process Notes
Use the listed official source when possible: HB289 (Enrolled) / Act 2023-507 (official enrolled act PDF, Law text establishing the recordings rules). Requester notes: The custodial law‑enforcement agency may disclose a recording only to: (1) the individual whose image or voice is in the recording; or (2) a personal representative of that individual (a parent, court‑appointed guardian, spouse, attorney, etc.) — including certain special rules for minors, incapacitated adults, and deceased persons’ estates. The requester must submit a written request to the head of the custodial law‑enforcement agency identifying the recording with reasonable particularity (date/time or other identifying information). The Act does not list the general public or press as eligible requesters absent their being the subject or a personal representative. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf)) Deadline notes: The statute does not impose a fixed numeric deadline for disclosure. Upon receipt of a written request the custodial law‑enforcement agency must, “as promptly as possible,” either (1) disclose the portion of the recording relevant to the request or (2) notify the requester it will not disclose because disclosure would affect an ongoing active investigation or prosecution. Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for redaction/editing. (Statutory text: HB289 / Act 2023-507 §4.) ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Deadlines
Release or Response Deadline
The statute does not impose a fixed numeric deadline for disclosure. Upon receipt of a written request the custodial law‑enforcement agency must, “as promptly as possible,” either (1) disclose the portion of the recording relevant to the request or (2) notify the requester it will not disclose because disclosure would affect an ongoing active investigation or prosecution. Agencies may charge a reasonable fee for redaction/editing. (Statutory text: HB289 / Act 2023-507 §4.) ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Common Exemptions
- Recordings are not personnel records of law‑enforcement employees (statutory). ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
- Recordings of internal‑investigation interviews or interviews/interrogations of suspects or witnesses are excluded from the Act’s definition of “recording.” ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
- A custodial agency may refuse disclosure if disclosure would substantially interfere with an ongoing active law‑enforcement investigation or prosecution. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
- The Act does not govern exchange of recordings between law‑enforcement or prosecuting agencies (that exchange is excluded). ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
- General statutory exemptions under the Alabama Open Records Act (Ala. Code § 36-12-40 et seq.) continue to apply where they explicitly cover a record type (but Act 2023-507 is the operative statute for these recordings). ([law.justia.com](https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/title-36/chapter-12/article-3/?utm_source=openai))
Appeal Path
Appeal or Review Process
Act 2023-507 (HB289) does not create a specific administrative appeal timeline or detailed judicial‑review procedure within the Act itself. The Act does state that nothing in it limits application of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 45, etc.), which means requesters may pursue court processes available under existing law (e.g., civil discovery/subpoena, court motions, or suits to compel records under applicable statutes or common‑law remedies), but the Act itself limits statutory disclosure to subjects/personal representatives. Because the Act restricts who may receive disclosure, third parties (including reporters) generally must rely on other legal avenues (e.g., a court order, discovery in litigation, a subject’s consent, or a successful legal challenge) to obtain footage. There has been litigation and court unsealing in high‑profile Alabama cases after initial non‑disclosure. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Researcher Notes
Practical points for reporters: (1) Act 2023‑507 restricts statutory disclosure to subjects and their personal representatives — the press is not an eligible requester under the statute by itself. (2) If you represent the subject or obtain their written consent/authorization, submit a written request to the head of the custodial agency that identifies the recording with date/time and asks for the relevant portion; cite HB289. (3) Act 2023‑507 allows agencies to redact and to charge a reasonable fee for redaction/editing — ask for an estimate and an itemized explanation if charged. (4) Because the statute permits agencies to withhold where disclosure would affect an ongoing investigation, requesters should inquire whether an investigation is open and what redactions (if any) the agency proposes. (5) If an agency refuses, reporters should consider: (a) seeking the subject’s consent for release; (b) pursuing a court order (example: there have been court unsealing actions in Alabama after litigation); or (c) using civil discovery if involved in litigation — consult counsel. (6) Act promptly: retention is governed by the records retention schedule, so time‑sensitive requests (e.g., before deletion/automatic purge) are important. ([alison.legislature.state.al.us](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdfdocs/SearchableInstruments/2023RS/HB289-enr.pdf))
Last reviewed: Jun 2, 2026
