State Rep. Donna Givens Pre-Files Bill to Increase Penalties for Harassing or Threatening Public Officials

Alabama State Representative Donna Givens (R-Loxley) has pre-filed a bill for the 2026 legislative session that would substantially increase the penalties for harassing and threatening current and former public officials, including candidates for public office.

At a press conference in Montgomery on Wednesday, Givens introduced the bill by saying, “we’re here to discuss a bill that is both timely and necessary—legislation that will enhance protection for those who serve the public, both in and out of office.”

“Across the country, and right here in our State,” Givens went on, “we’ve seen an amazing rise in threats, harassment and even violence targeting public officials. These are the very people who have stepped up to the plate to serve you. They deserve to work, to serve without fear of physical harm to themselves or their families. This bill assures that they can.”

Givens continued, saying, “this legislation is not about politics. It’s not about silencing criticism. It’s about setting a clear and a firm boundary between free speech—which we wholeheartedly protect—and criminal behavior, which we cannot allow.”

Givens described how this bill was inspired by recent episodes of stalking, harassing and threatening behaviors directed at her friend, Christina Woerner McInnis, who is currently a candidate for Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.

Saying of McInnis, “her threats began long before Charlie Kirk’s death,” Givens told how McInnis had called her from the campaign trail several months ago, to ask Givens to help provide security for her children in Baldwin County. Givens did so, and involved Sheriff Anthony Lowery in protecting McInnis’ family.

“When this started with Christina, I started working on this. I met with the Sheriff, I met with the DA, I met with Speaker Nathianel Ledbetter,” all of whom were highly supportive of the bill, Givens said. 

As ALPolitics.com has reported, McInnis has experienced stalking and harassing first hand. In late August, Clate Clark Jr. pled guilty to stalking and harassing charges against McInnis and her family. He admitted to creating more than 27 fake social media profiles which he used to harass and threaten McInnis, her children and other women over a six month period. He received a 90 day sentence, of which he served only 7 days, and paid a $50 fine.

McInnis also spoke Wednesday in support of Givens’ bill.

“I’m a candidate. I'm a parent, and like many of you, I’m someone who wants to make a difference in my community. When I decided to run for office, I expected to face opposition. I expected hard questions, maybe even tough criticism. That’s part of democracy, and I welcome that,” McInnis began.

“What I did not expect, and what no one ever should expect, was to receive sexually-explicit threats targeting me and my children,” she went on.

“These were not political arguments. They were not anonymous critics venting frustration. These were deliberate, vile, criminal messages meant to break me, to scare me and to silence me, or even get me out of the race.” McInnis went on to acknowledge that “it was shaking” because “no one…should ever have to ask ‘are my children safe just because I’m running for office?’.

McInnis said that she was supporting this bill because current Alabama law does not adequately protect public office holders and candidates, not their families.

“It does not silence free speech,” McInnis said. “It does not silence protests. What it does is draw a bright line between disagreement and abuse.”

The bill increases the penalty for harassment or hassling communications against a public official from a Class C to a Class B misdemeanor. It increases the penalty for intentional assault causing harm against a current or former public official from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class C felony. The bill would bring these protections in line with those already existing for firefighters, police officers, health care workers, utility workers and teachers.

McInnis acknowledged that, had this bill been in effect during her recent ordeal, the outcome—specifically the punishment for her family’s stalker—would have been quite different.

When asked if she expected local Sheriffs, the Alabama Sheriff’s Association and other law enforcement organizations to support this bill during the session, Givens emphatically stated “absolutely.”

While the bill has been pre-filed, it is not yet available on the Legislature's ALISON system for public review. 

The full press conference may be viewed on the Elect Donna Givens Facebook page at THIS LINK.