HB227 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe Hubbard

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Legislature, vote required to override gubernatorial veto, increased, procedure for gubernatorial vetoes, altered, Section 125 (Section 125, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended) am'd., const. amend.

Summary

HB227 would amend Alabama's constitution to require a 3/5 vote in each house to override a governor's veto, end certain pocket vetoes near adjournment, and extend the governor's time to act from 10 to 15 days.

What This Bill Does

If passed, it would change the veto override requirement to three-fifths of the whole number elected in each house. It would eliminate the governor's pocket veto for bills presented within five days of final adjournment. It would extend the governor's window to approve or disapprove a bill from 10 days to 15 days after final adjournment. The amendment would be decided by statewide voters in an election and, if approved, would become part of the Alabama Constitution.

Who It Affects

• Legislature (state House and Senate) – overriding a veto would require a three-fifths vote of all members elected to each house, making overrides harder to achieve.
• Governor and statewide voters – the governor would lose pocket veto power for late-session bills and gain a 15-day period to act on bills after adjournment; voters would decide the amendment in a future election.

Key Provisions

• Amend Section 125 to require three-fifths of the whole number elected in each house to pass a bill over a governor's veto.
• Eliminate the governor's pocket veto for bills presented within five days of final adjournment.
• Extend the governor's time to approve or disapprove a bill from 10 days to 15 days after final adjournment.
• Provide that the proposed amendment must be approved by a majority of qualified electors voting on it in a statewide election to become law.
• Describe the ballot language and description to be used in the election.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments