The bill amends Sections 31-2A-15 and 31-2A-19 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which govern military punishment, to clarify the ranks of military personnel eligible for certain disciplinary measures and to specify the types of punishments that can be imposed. Notably, the definition of "day" is revised to clarify that it means any active duty military payday for pay purposes and one calendar day for all other purposes. The bill expands the authority of commanding officers to impose disciplinary actions, allowing brigade or battalion level commanders to impose a wider range of punishments, including a reduction in pay grades for enlisted members E-4 and below, and introduces new provisions for the reduction of enlisted members E-6 or below by up to two pay grades.

Additionally, the bill modifies the jurisdiction of special courts-martial, allowing them to adjudge punishments for military-specific offenses while prohibiting certain severe penalties such as dishonorable discharge or confinement exceeding six months. The rank reduction for soldiers or airmen is adjusted, allowing reductions for those E-9 and below to E-1, while removing the previous provision that allowed reductions for E-7 through E-9 to E-4. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.