MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Victims of violent crimes in Alabama, and their families, will see increased financial support for various losses starting next week. The Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission (ACVCC) voted Thursday to raise payout limits for financial losses, lost wages, and funeral and medical expenses, according to an administrative code change.
Under the new rules, which will take effect next week, individuals filing claims in October or later for economic loss or lost wages may be eligible for up to $600 per week, with a maximum payout of $15,000. This is an increase from current limits, which stand at $400 per week for claims filed before October 2025 and $500 per week for claims filed after that date, as stated in filings on the Legislative Services Agency website. Claims submitted before October of this year will be compensated at the previous rate.
Medical expense benefits also saw an increase. Victims may now receive benefits to cover half of their medical expenses resulting from a violent incident, a rise from the previous 30 percent coverage. The maximum payout for medical expenses has been raised from $6,000 to $10,000 by the commissioners. Similar to lost wage claims, those who filed medical claims before October will receive compensation at the earlier rate.
Further changes approved by the ACVCC include an increase in the maximum payout for funeral expenses, which moved from $5,000 to $7,000. Maximum benefits for moving expenses related to a crime incident were also nearly doubled, from $1,000 to $2,500.
Additionally, the window for victims to apply for claims with the commission has been extended from one year to two years in the administrative code. This change follows the passage of HB 255 by state lawmakers. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-Alabaster, was passed two days before the legislative session adjourned for the year.
Darlene Hutchinson, a commissioner with ACVCC, expressed enthusiasm for the updated compensation structure. According to Hutchinson, "I am so excited to do so because we had needed these changes for a long time."
Earlier in the year, the board voted in May to approve these changes for public comment with the Legislative Services Agency, a necessary step before their final adoption. The increase in compensation limits and extension of the application window are part of ongoing efforts to support crime victims across the state.
The legislative effort to expand victim support has seen previous attempts. In 2025, a similar version of HB 255 passed the Alabama House of Representatives but did not receive approval in the Senate before the session concluded that year.
In February, survivors of crime victims gathered at the state capitol for a rally. They urged lawmakers to pass HB 255 and called for the state to expand outreach and enhance services provided to victims of crime.
