Alabama EMA updates county administrators, attorneys on two new life-saving safety laws

Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Smitherman updated nearly 100 County Administrators and County Attorneys from across the state on Alabama’s implementation of two new life-saving laws regarding camp safety and dam safety.

Camp safety has become the focus of state and national legislation after the Camp Mystic tragedy in Texas last year. The Alabama Legislature passed and Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act which designates the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to help overnight camps develop and implement plans to keep children safe at camps across the state.

Director Smitherman was joined by additional AEMA team members who are working daily to implement both laws. These experts were available for one-on-one consultations about both laws in the break following the Director’s comments.

The session at the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center were part of the County Government Education Institute’s third annual course on “Recently Enacted Laws Impacting Counties.” The course is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of the new laws passed during the State Legislature’s 2026 Regular Session.