SB131 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Residency, declaration by persons outside the state on military duty, mission assignment, etc., filing with judge of probate, not effective for election purposes

Summary

SB131 lets Alabama residents serving away from the state designate an Alabama residence, but that designation cannot be used for voting or running for public office.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes a person absent from Alabama on military duty, mission assignment, or similar purposes to designate a place in Alabama as their residence by filing a notarized declaration with the county judge of probate; the person and their dependent children become residents of that designated place for all legal purposes. The declaration must be recorded in the public record, and the designation cannot be used to register to vote or qualify for elected office unless the person otherwise meets legal requirements, though they may register or qualify at the designated residence if eligible. The act also states the designation does not establish permanent residency for GI benefits eligibility, repeals conflicting laws, and becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Service members and their dependent children who are outside Alabama and want to designate an Alabama residence, making them residents of the chosen place for most legal purposes.
• People who may later be eligible to vote or run for office; they may register or qualify at the designated residence only if they meet all other legal requirements, otherwise the designation alone does not grant voting or office eligibility.

Key Provisions

• Allows absent persons to designate an Alabama place of residence by filing a notarized declaration with the county judge of probate; the person and their dependent children become residents of that place for all legal purposes.
• The judge of probate records the declaration; the designation cannot be used to register to vote or qualify for elected office unless other legal requirements are met, but eligibility can be addressed at the designated residence if those requirements are satisfied.
• The declaration does not create permanent residency for GI education benefits purposes; the act repeals conflicting laws; it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Judge, Probate