SB1 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve French

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Joint Transportation Committee, civil disputes or conflicts between Transportation Department and private business person or entity, administrative hearings authorized, Sec. 29-2-4 am'd.

Summary

SB1 would give the Joint Transportation Committee power to hold administrative hearings and issue advisory opinions in civil disputes between the Department of Transportation and private businesses, while expanding the committee’s oversight of highway planning and budgeting.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill allows the Joint Transportation Committee to call administrative hearings involving civil disputes between the Department of Transportation and private business entities and to issue advisory opinions. The committee would be able to compel witnesses and documents, conduct hearings with fairness, and may use dispute-resolution guidelines. After hearings, the committee would issue advisory opinions, and remedies under the act would not be the exclusive path and parties would not have to exhaust other remedies. The act also expands the committee’s oversight of long-range highway planning, budgeting, reporting, and funding recommendations, and sets an effective date after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• The Alabama Department of Transportation would be subject to increased oversight and require committee approval for certain plans and projects, and may be involved in administrative hearings and advisory opinions.
• Private business persons or entities that have civil disputes or conflicts with the Department of Transportation would have the right to participate in administrative hearings and may receive advisory opinions, with the ability to present witnesses and documents.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Joint Transportation Committee to call for and conduct administrative hearings involving civil disputes or conflicts between the Department of Transportation and private business individuals or entities, and to issue advisory opinions.
• Allows the committee to compel attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and data necessary for hearings.
• Requires hearings to strive for judicial equity and allows guidance from the Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, though not required to follow those guidelines.
• After hearing and reviewing evidence, the committee shall issue an advisory opinion; remedies under this act are not exclusive and parties are not required to exhaust administrative remedies.
• Expands oversight duties: the committee reviews and concurs in the five-year highway plan (including deviations), reviews and concurs in annual plan updates, budgets, and must ensure plans are updated and publicly available; DOT cannot proceed without express committee approval for programs or projects.
• The committee may retain outside consultants, hold public hearings, file reports comparing actual performance to the plan, and provide funding recommendations beyond existing funds.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month following passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Transportation Department