SB127 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Phillip W. WilliamsBill HoltzclawPaul BussmanDick BrewbakerShadrack McGillGreg J. ReedHarri Anne SmithBobby D. SingletonArthur OrrRusty GloverPaul SanfordTrip PittmanBen H. BrooksJ.T. WaggonerClay Scofield

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Term limits, members of Senate and House of Representatives limited to three consecutive full terms, const. amend.

Summary

SB127 would amend Alabama's constitution to limit legislators to three consecutive full terms in the Legislature, counting two-year terms as a full term and providing a grandfather clause for pre-2010 service.

What This Bill Does

It would cap any person’s elected service in the Legislature at three full consecutive terms, with terms across both the Senate and House counted together. If a person serves in the Senate or House for at least two years, that period would count as one full term toward the limit. It includes a grandfather provision stating that service before November 2010 would not disqualify a person from serving after that date. The change would take effect only if approved by voters in a constitutional amendment referendum.

Who It Affects

• Current and future members of the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives would be subject to the new three-term limit, with the total counting across both chambers.
• Voters in Alabama, who would see this as a constitutional amendment on a ballot and would decide whether to adopt the term-limit change.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'service' to include either chamber or cumulative service in both chambers combined.
• No person may be elected to the Legislature for more than three full consecutive terms.
• An election to the Senate or House of Representatives in which the member serves at least two years counts as a full term for the limit.
• Service prior to November 2010 would not disqualify or otherwise prevent future service after that date (grandfather clause).
• The amendment would become part of the Constitution only if approved by a majority of voters voting on it.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments