State Meeting Notes – December 20, 2026

DIXIE ABATE STATE MEETING NOTES: 12/20/25 Bill-E’s Bacon, Fairhope, AL
SIGNED-IN ATTENDEES:
Tim Smith
Kinsley Smith
Doc Holladay
Evo Chico
Trae Wade
Neil Bruyn
Fran Barber-Bruyn
Richard Comston
Austin Sidwell
Cheryl Childers
Ben Childers
Aden Childers
Freddy Wheeler
Paul & Liz Hebda
Kris Cook
Jeff Wheeler
The meeting was called to order by Kris at 2 PM in the meeting room at Bill-E’s Small Batch Bacon.
The meeting notes from 10/18/25 are accepted; likewise the Treasurer’s report. We had a moment of silence for Gee Jay, who left us on 12/18/25 as a result of a bike wreck in the fog. Gee Jay was a long time member of Dixie ABATE.
Everyone introduced themselves.
Austin Sidwell spoke – he is running for congress in Alabama’s First Congressional District. The primary election is May 19. He was a pilot – he flew helicopters and was based at Moody Air Force Base.
*****THIS WAS NOT DISCUSSED – PLEASE TAKE NOTE.
Our state director, Shane Coker, has proposed a 2026 mileage challenge as follows. Shane is funding the rewards, but to enter, a donation to Dixie ABATE has to be made. Contact Kris for ways to pay.
The contest: “$125 for the most miles in 2026, $75 for second place. Must make a donation to Dixie ABATE to enter. Message him or text him or post on ABATE’s Facebook page your beginning mileage plus a description
of which bike. If changing bikes, then send a picture of new bike entered to replace old one. Contest ends December 1. Winner announced at 2026 December meeting.”
Our condolences go out to ex-state-director Matthew Schroeder in the loss of his wife, Carolyn.
Freddy reported that there is a helmet bill for auto-cycles pre-filed for this legislative session in Alabama. It’s HB-56, sponsored by Representative Rolanda Hollis, D. She is on the public safety and homeland security committee (house). The synopsis:
An autocycle is a type of motor vehicle with
three wheels.
Under existing law, an individual operating an autocycle is exempt from motorcycle protective gear requirements when operating the vehicle. This bill would require the operator of an autocycle to wear protective headgear and shoes in compliance with motorcycle protective gear requirements when operating or riding in the autocycle.
Update on hands-free legislation in Alabama: There wasn’t new statewide hands-free legislation in Alabama during 2025, as the main law (passed in 2023, fully enforced in June 2024) was already active, but there was significant focus on its implementation, with cities like Huntsville celebrating one year of enforcement and discussing its impact on reducing distracted driving, indicating continued efforts to change behavior rather than new laws in 2025.
• Huntsville Ordinance: The city’s specific hands-free ordinance, effective since early 2024, saw its first full year of enforcement in 2025, with officials noting positive changes in driving habits.
• Enforcement Updates: Law enforcement continued to issue citations, with thousands statewide reported in the first year of strict enforcement of the state law.
• Focus on Behavior: The discussions centered on the success of changing driver behavior, with goals beyond just writing tickets, aiming to save lives, noted WSFA.
• No New Law, Just Enforcement: The news from 2025 focused on the existing law’s impact, not new legislation being passed, highlighting the ongoing transition to hands-free driving.
Motorcycles are still classified as Class II property and are assessed for tax purposes at 20% of their market value. Cars are Class IV property and are assessed for tax purposes at 15% of their market value. In other words, a car and a bike worth the same amount, say $10,000, at the same millage rate, say 0. 58, would be assessed different al valorem tax amounts. The car would be $87.00 and the motorcycle would be $116.00. Dixie ABATE is opposed to this disparity and has rough plans to try to get it changed. Our motorcycles are transportation, not recreational vehicles.
This is Freddy’s last year as legislative liaison. We need someone to step up and join the board of Dixie ABATE. The work isn’t hard and it IS rewarding. You just have to stay after it, during the session and also and especially when it is NOT in session.
We need to get the word out. Can we run a spot on someone’s podcast? Someone mentioned Scuttlebutt Network, but it looks like it’s aimed toward veterans.
Who is my state senator? ___________________ Can you answer this question without even having to think about it? What senate district do you live in? Freddy challenged each one of us to make sure we know this person, and are on a first name basis with them.
Last year we talked about AL 2025 SB 11, which was going to add additional registration fees on motorcycles, to fund public infrastructure. It would have added $7.00 to the cost of a motorcycle registration. The bill died in May at the end of the session.
Kris Cook to cycle out of her board positions in 2026. Tim Smith volunteered to take over the positions of secretary and membership director. Thank you, Tim! We will begin a thorough and gentle transition process within the next few weeks. Kris has been the Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Director for the past 16 years. She wants to pursue other interests and leave Dixie ABATE in the hands of younger members.
In 2026, we need to get back into classrooms to teach drivers ed students. Kris to work with the state board of education as time allows.
In 2026, we need to be more closely aligned with the Alabama Traffic Safety Center. Kris to visit them and see if we can’t re-convene the motorcycle consortium as time allows. We need all players to be involved if we’re going to ask the legislature to institute a riding test for the M endorsement. We need numbers and knowledge. As it is, we have no idea how much money the ATSC gets from the state from M endorsement registrations.
We need to set up at bike nights and events. Let Kris know of any events so she can coordinate setup.
The next meeting is at Bill-E’s Small Batch Bacon, at 19992 AL-181, Fairhope, AL 36532. The phone number there is 251-209-2129. The meeting is from 2 PM to 3:30 PM on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Come at noon so that we can all eat lunch together! We have to be out promptly at 3:30 so they can set up for another event.