HB537 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joseph C. Mitchell

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Legislative record, Clerk of the House to establish procedure to implement and maintain, record to contain committee discussions, floor debate, and other material

Summary

HB537 would require the Clerk of the Alabama House to create and maintain a formal legislative record of the legislative process, including discussions and votes.

What This Bill Does

The Clerk would establish procedures to create and keep a legislative record. The record would include verbatim committee discussions, committee reports, committee votes, floor debates, public hearing discussions, and member-stated explanations for votes or actions, plus other materials on request. It could be published with the journal, as a separate publication, or in digital form, similar to the U.S. Congressional Record. The Clerk must consider cost, accessibility, usefulness, accuracy, and historical preservation, and must compile, index, and publish the record after adjournment sine die (and may publish at shorter intervals). A reasonable publication fee may be charged to cover costs.

Who It Affects

• Members of the Alabama House of Representatives, whose committee discussions, votes, and personal statements would be recorded and preserved as part of the legislative record.
• The public, researchers, and journalists, who would gain access to a formal, potentially digital, record of legislative proceedings for transparency and historical reference (subject to any fees).

Key Provisions

• The Clerk must establish procedures to implement and maintain the legislative record.
• The record includes verbatim committee discussions, committee reports, committee votes, floor debates, public hearing discussions, and member-stated explanations for votes or actions, plus other materials on request.
• The record may be included in the journal, published separately, or provided in digital form, and may resemble the U.S. Congressional Record.
• Factors to consider when establishing the record: cost effectiveness, accessibility, usefulness, accuracy, and historical preservation.
• The Clerk must compile, index, and publish the record within a reasonable time after adjournment sine die (and may publish at shorter intervals).
• The Clerk may charge a reasonable fee for the record, with proceeds used to cover publication costs.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and approval, or when it becomes law.

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

Subjects

Legislature