State Meeting Notes – February 21, 2026

DIXIE ABATE STATE MEETING NOTES: 2/21/26 Bill-E’s Bacon, Fairhope, AL
SIGNED-IN ATTENDEES:
Kris Cook
Shane Coker
Michael Stieber
Michael Moon
Autumn Martin
Erica Jones
Matt Deerman
Ben Childers
Cheryl Childers
Drew Davis
Noel Neonard
The meeting was called to order by Shane at 2 PM in the meeting room at Bill-E’s Small Batch Bacon.
The meeting notes from 12/20/25 are accepted; likewise the Treasurer’s report.
Everyone introduced themselves.
Our state director, Shane Coker, has proposed a 2026 mileage challenge as follows. Shane was funding the rewards, but now Freddy Wheeler has doubled the rewards! So the rider with the most mileage gets $250.00 and the rider with the second most mileage gets $150.00. This contest is open to paid-up members. You must make a donation to Dixie ABATE to enter. You’ll need to get a picture of your odometer, that you can text to Shane or Kris, or you can post it up on Dixie ABATE’s Facebook page. On December 1, we’ll need a picture of your ending odometer, which will tell us how many miles everyone has ridden over the course of the year. Good luck to all who enter!
Since the legislature is in session, most of this meeting was focused on both state and federal legislation. Freddy held the floor for most of the meeting, discussing HB56 / SB238 (appended to these notes), which would require helmet use by autocycle drivers. Sponsored by Rolanda Hollis, of Jefferson County, this legislation is moving rapidly. HB 56 was read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security on 1/13. It was read for the second time and placed on the calendar on 1/21. On 1/27 it was adopted with a roll call vote in the House. It moved to the Senate side on 1/27 and was referred to the committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety. On 2/12 it was read for a second time on the senate floor and placed on the calendar. That means it may very well pass, despite us being against it. It was
the top issue on our position paper that we handed out to all legislators on 2/4. I don’t think a single legislator reached out to us to discuss it. Boy have we got work to do to be taken seriously in Montgomery! And according to Freddy, the person who was killed in an autocycle wreck was thrown out because he failed to wear his seat belt. A helmet probably wouldn’t have helped.
Freddy reminded us to learn about what our legislators are involved in and to find something we DO like about what they are doing, and contact them to tell them so.
Freddy’s three priorities are Safe on Red, making violation of the HandsFree law a primary violation, and reforming licensure laws. Remember that our legislative priorities are set by our participating membership, and are subject to change. YOU can have a big effect on what we pursue. Our legislative agenda is NOT set by the board members and handed down.
We want the training scholarship to also include taking an advanced rider course. Some years ago we set it up so that Dixie ABATE would pay half of the fee. We need to publicize that. We were excited that Drew Davis, recent recipient of the Freddy Wheeler Motorcycle Training Scholarship, was at the meeting. We want to advocate for riders to go get training any way we can.
There is still discussion about whether a riding test conducted at slow speed in a parking lot has any value in proving that a rider is competent out on the road.
Shane reported that Tesla is scaling back their term “autopilot” on their technology.
The MRF Report: The Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill, also known as the “highway bill” is up for renewal this year. It comes up every five years, so at the federal level, motorcyclists have a chance to pack it with subjects that advance our agenda. Our top 5 priorities for consideration by the House Transportation Committee are:
1. Profiling: Update prohibitions on motorcycle-only checkpoints, ensuring that motorcyclists are not profiled because of their clothing or mode of transportation
2. Definition of a Motorcycle: Using the proposed language in Rep. Van Orden bill, update the 58-year-old definition to reflect the realities of what’s on the road today. Rep. Van OPrder introduced H.R. 3385 in May 2025 (119th Congress), which directs the Secretary of Transportation to update the federal definition of a motorcycle. The bill specifies a motorcycle as a motor vehicle (as originally manufactured) that:
Has a seat/saddle requiring the rider to sit astride.
Is designed for 3 or FEWER wheels in contact with the ground.
Features handlebar steering and handlebar/foot-operated acceleration and braking.
Is capable of speeds greater than 30 mph.
This legislation has been referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. If this bill becomes law, 3-wheeler autocycles like the Polaris Slingshot, which use a steering wheel, wouldn’t count as motorcycles. Nor would they count as cars. The Motorcycle Industry Council is fighting this tooth and nail.
3. Autonomous Vehicles: Ensure motorcycles are mentioned by name in any legislation surrounding automated driving systems. Any automated vehicle o the road should be required to identify and respond to motorcyclists.
4. MAC (Motorcyclist Advisory Council): In August, NHTSA canceled the MAC without even having a meeting. We expect it to be re-established. This council advises the Secretary of Transportation (NHTSA) and the Federal Highway Administration on issues affecting motorcyclists, focusing on motorcycle safety, roadway design, and intelligent transportation systems. It provides recommendations every two years regarding how to improve infrastructure and safety, covering topics like barrier design, road construction, and maintenance practices. This council consists of 13 members with expertise in
motorcycle safety, highway engineering, and safety analysis, including representatives from government agencies, manufacturing associations, and riding organizations. Jay Jackson, Executive Director and Motorcycle Safety Director of ABATE of Indiana, will sit on this committee. Jay is also the Vice President of the MRF (Motorcycle Rider’s Foundation). 5. Expand NHTSA Lobbying Ban: Current federal law prohibits the use of NHTSA funds for direct lobbying activities and grassroots lobbying activities that specifically target pending state or local legislative bills. We believe expending that ban to the entire Department of Transportation is appropriate and all0ows states to move freely pursue their objectives without interference from the federal government.
Michael reported on ABATE of Florida’s Legislative Weekend in Tallahassee. They had state meetings on Sunday for 6 hours, then had their 19th annual Freeom Ride to the capital on Monday, with hundreds of participants, and then had private appointments with legislators on Tuesday. Contrast that with our 7 member turnout on February 5, where we had a rough time storming the capital.
We have several members who vehemently oppose any mandate to take a rider course. We noted that we do not propose that for Alabama, but noted that it IS a law in Florida. Also, in Florida, you cannot get a motorcycle endorsement unless you are over 16 years of age, where you can do it in Alabama if you are at least 14.
Freddy mentioned Marilyn Lands’ bill, HB 14, that proposes a citizen-led ballot initiative. This doesn’t have anything to do with rider rights, but it is on our radar because it is one more avenue for changes to be made. This bill would allow for a citizen seeking to initiate a general law to file a concise summary with the Secretary of State, along with a preliminary petition signed by at least 1,000 qualified Alabama voters and a $1,000 filing fee. The fee would be refundable if the initiative is successfully adopted or enacted. There is much more to this bill – we invite you to acquaint yourself with it. It is a good bill.
Erica and Matt are going to set up at Hooligan Harley-Davidson at the Rumble on the Loop this year.
2026 is the last year of the quadrennium for the Alabama Legislature. This means that all 105 House seats and all 35 Senate seats are up for re-election, resulting in a faster, more focused legislative session designed to wrap up four year of work quickly. Lawmakers want to finish business early to return home to campaign for the March 19, 2026 party primaries. This session began on the second Tuesday in January, January 13, rather than the typical February/March start. They aim for a “no-drama” session, which means that contentious issues are often avoided to prevent angering voters just before an election.
So since the next few months will kick off the election cycle in Alabama, now is the time to make friends with your legislator.
Dixie ABATE’s next meeting is at 2 PM on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in the meeting room at the Canton House Chinese Buffet located at 609 14th Street SE, Decatur, AL 35601. The phone number there is 256-350-8868. Come at noon and eat with us before the meeting starts! The only way we got the room free is if we are going to eat there.