SB585 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Roger Bedford, Jr.Bobby D. SingletonJerry L. Fielding

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Senate, redistricting pursuant to 2010 federal census, venue for legal action challenging to be in Montgomery County Circuit Court, official maps of districts retained in Secretary of State Office and printed with Acts, use for Legislative intent, Sec. 29-1-2.3 repealed; Sec. 29-1-2.3 added

Summary

SB585 redraws the Alabama Senate into 35 districts for the 2014 and 2018 elections, designates Montgomery County for challenges, and preserves official district maps.

What This Bill Does

It repeals and reenacts the Senate districting provision to create 35 districts with boundary descriptions based on specified census tracts and blocks. It sets Montgomery County Circuit Court as the exclusive venue for any legal challenge to the redistricting plan and requires transfer or re-filing of related actions to that court. It directs the Secretary of State to keep the official maps and print them as part of the Acts, with maps’ boundary descriptions prevailing over tract-based descriptions in case of conflict, and it remains in effect for the 2014 and 2018 elections until the next reapportionment under the Constitution.

Who It Affects

• Voters in Alabama (residents within the 35 Senate districts) – their state Senate representation would be determined by the newly drawn districts for the 2014 and 2018 elections.
• Litigants and political/legal actors (candidates, campaigns, attorneys, and organizations) – any legal challenge to the Senate redistricting would be heard in Montgomery County Circuit Court, and they would rely on the official maps maintained by the Secretary of State for boundary descriptions.

Key Provisions

• Provision establishing 35 Alabama Senate districts with boundary details (as listed in Sec. 29-1-2.3) to govern elections in 2014 and 2018.
• Provision designating Montgomery County Circuit Court as the venue for all challenges to the Senate redistricting plan, requiring transfer of pending actions from other courts, and preserving official maps in the Secretary of State's office with maps prevailing over census-based descriptions in case of conflict.

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

Subjects

Senate